Frequently Asked Questions

What sets SBMA apart from other schools?

Our instructor team, curriculum variety, schedule flexibility, affordable payment options, internship program, supportive administrative team, and plethora of skincare products all set SBMA apart from other schools.

Our full-time instructors collectively bring together over 100 years of esthetics experience. Each of our instructors is friendly, helpful, knowledgeable, and dedicated to helping you be the most professional and skilled esthetician. They have knowledge and experience with every technique we teach, but they also have specialties within the industry that we highlight and share in classes and at clinic.

Our curriculum is unique because it combines the best in medical, corrective skincare techniques and the best in natural and holistic skincare techniques. You’ll learn: Facials (Natural & Medical), Anatomy & Physiology of the Skin, Skin Analysis, Aromatherapy, Business & Ethics, Retailing, Waxing + Brazilian Wax, Back-tials, Makeup (Natural, Bridal, & Fashion), State Board Prep, Ingredient Knowledge, Brow & Lash Tinting, Brow Lamination, Lash Lifts, Cupping, Gua Sha, Reflexology, Herbal Compresses, Hand & Foot Treatments, & Body Treatments.

We also offer 4 incredible, Post-Licensure Advanced Classes, exclusive only to SBMA Alumni. These advanced exfoliation classes are: Dermaplaning, Microdermabrasion, Chemical Peels & Microneedling.

Our schedule is self-paced and created for those that need schedule flexibility. The program is a hybrid program, where you do some hours at-home, online, and then you come in-person to practice at our clinic. The online portion has live zoom classes, but students can watch the recordings at a later time if the live zoom class doesn’t work for them. The in-person hours at our clinic are flexible as well. We have our scheduled clinic days/times, and you can come to as many or as few as you can each week, as long as you graduate within the 18 month window.

Our tuition is competitively priced, and we offer discounts to pay in full, a discount to pay a 12-month, zero interest payment plan, and a zero-interest 18-month payment plan. Our goal is to offer students tuition-payment options and to meet students at their varied financial situations.

Our internship program is unlike anything other schools are doing. We have robust professional connections with our Internship Partners, which are esthetics businesses throughout Colorado that bring on our students to intern and work at their business as a student esthetician, while the student is in school and for school practicum hours. Our Internship Program is an incredible way for students to work with real work situations, to explore the work environment they like best, to learn from other esthetics professionals, to learn invaluable business and communication skills, to improve on their clienteling capabilities, to add experience to their resumes, to have a potential job lined up immediately upon graduation, and to have professional connections for life.

Our administrative team is dedicated to the life cycle of the students – that means from the moment they reach out to us in admissions, to every detail and question they have along the way as a student, to their graduation experience, and beyond that to supporting them as alumni. This administrative team is supportive, caring, understanding, helpful, highly communicative, and an overall ally for every student. They do regular check-ins with students as well as schedule meetings to review any and all aspects a student may need help with.

We love skincare products, and we have many different kinds of products for students to practice with and learn about at clinic. We have 7 different product lines that include face care, body care, makeup, pre- and post-waxing products, and essential oils. We have a balance in the product lines we carry – some of them are more medical and some more natural so that we can educate our students on a variety of ingredients. Our education on products revolves around ingredients, the science of ingredient knowledge, and how those ingredients should be used with varying skincare pathologies. All of the products used at clinic are included in the cost of tuition. We also teach about retailing and how to comfortably educate your clients about products and to have another stream of income with your esthetics practice. We believe the best sales strategies start with being well-informed about ingredients and their uses.

How much does the program cost?

The based tuition is $10,400. We offer tuition discounts when paying in full as well as interest-free payment plans that allow students to pay month by month. We also offer a discounted bundle for our advanced classes if you’d like to include those in your tuition. See detailed tuition information on our tuition page.

How long does the program take to finish?

The program is all self-paced, so students get to decide how quickly they finish. We give students 18 months to complete the program, so they can take the full year and a half, or finish in as little as 4 months! For example, a student who completes the 600 hours in 6 months would need to complete around 25 hours a week.

Can I continue working full-time while completing the program?

We have had many students work full-time while completing the program since it is all self-paced and self-scheduled. All of the classes are done online via Zoom. This way, students can either attend the live session or watch a recording at their convenience. Then the hands-on portion is all self-scheduled. Students will have 18 months to complete the program, so they can take their time and continue working.

How do you help prepare students for employment after graduation?

Our internship program gives students the opportunity to earn their hours working on public clients, allowing them to build a foundation with businesses that could hire upon graduation. We also send out job leads and contacts with trusted businesses or partners that are hiring after students graduate.

Do you accept FAFSA?

While we are not able to accept any FAFSA, federal aid, or military benefits, we do offer interest-free payment plans that allow you to pay month by month without accruing interest. We are also happy to accept any personal loans or any scholarships that you’re able to find through your own organizations, businesses, etc, as long as they don’t require FAFSA participation.

Do you have financing options available?

Our school has one of the most competitive and affordable tuition of all esthetics schools in Colorado. We have low deposit requirements and accept tuition through interest-free payment plans. We don’t participate in federal accreditation for student loans and grants in order to keep our costs down and maintain a private school status.

What’s the difference between a cosmetologist and an esthetician?

A cosmetologist is trained in a broad range of beauty services, including hair, nails, and skin, while an esthetician has a more specialized focus on skincare treatments. Estheticians can offer a variety of services, including facials, waxing, makeup, lash and brow services, body treatments, backtials, and advanced treatments.

Can I complete the program if I live in another state?

While you can complete up to 400 hours of the program online from another state, a minimum of 200 hours must be completed hands-on here in the state of Colorado. You can choose to do more of these hours hands-on, but all hands-on hours must be completed within Colorado. Since our school is approved through the state of Colorado, you would need to test for licensure here and transfer your license to the state of your choice.

Can I transfer to another state?

Every state has different hourly requirements for licensure. If you want to transfer, reach out to the esthetics board in your state to see what they would require for that process. Typically, students find that it is best to test and get their license here in Colorado, and then transfer the license. If that state requires more hours, you may need to complete continuing education.

What are your State Board pass rates?

Our current State Board pass rate is 98%. We’ve devoted endless time and energy to perfecting our State Board preparation for students. State Board preparation is a significant part of our program curriculum to prepare students for this exam and provide them with study resources. We provide our students with the kit that they will use to test, have classes focused on the State Board practical and written tests, have focused in-person clinics to practice both portions, and we keep them up to date with the most current testing protocols to ensure success. Our graduates return to tell us how well-prepared they felt for both the practical and written tests, and that they are proud to be an SBMA alumni and have such support for passing their boards.

Do you offer continuing education?

Yes! We offer four advanced certification courses to our graduates: Microdermabrasion, Microneedling, Chemical Peels, and Dermaplaning. These are only available to alumni of our 600-Hr program, who also receive discounts for bundling all four classes. We do not offer any other continuing education classes such as lash extensions, injectables, lasers, etc.

If I’m already a licensed esthetician, can I take your advanced classes?

Yes. We offer advanced medical aesthetics and online courses for licensed estheticians.

How much do the advanced classes cost?

While these can be purchased individually, students will receive a 40% discount if they choose to include all four classes in their tuition when they enroll. If not, they can purchase them later and will receive a 20% discount if they buy all four as a bundle:
Chemical Peels, 24 hours, $650
Dermaplaning, 16 hours, $550
Microdermabrasion, 14 hours, $400
Microneedling, 8 hours, $600
All four classes, included in tuition (40% discount): $1,320
All four classes, purchased later (20% discount): $1,760

What services will I learn in the core curriculum?

Students learn a variety of modalities in our curriculum that combines the best in medical, corrective skincare techniques and the best in natural and holistic skincare techniques. You’ll learn: Facials (Natural & Medical), Anatomy & Physiology of the Skin, Skin Analysis, Aromatherapy, Business & Ethics, Retailing, Waxing + Brazilian Wax, Back-tials, Makeup (Natural, Bridal, & Fashion), State Board Prep, Ingredient Knowledge, Brow & Lash Tinting, Brow Lamination, Lash Lifts, Cupping, Gua Sha, Reflexology, Herbal Compresses, Hand & Foot Treatments, & Body Treatments.

What prerequisites do I need to start?

Our only requirement is that students are 18 years or older to enroll. We do not require a high school diploma or GED.

What times are the student clinics open to complete my hands-on hours?

The student clinic scheduling is all self-paced, so you get to pick your schedule and attend clinic when it works best for you. The clinic is open six days a week, Monday – Saturday, with two shifts:
Morning shift: 10am to 2pm
Afternoon shift: 2:30pm to 6:30pm

How many classes do I need to complete to start coming in for hands-on practice?

You’ll need to complete your first four classes: Facials 1, Facials 2, Facials 3, and Machines. Once you’ve completed that first section of classes, then you can start coming into the clinic to practice all six facial services.

Can I get any credit for previous experience in a related field?

We offer comped hours for varying levels of experience, from cosmetologists to registered nurses. This allows students to move quicker through the program by reducing the number of required hours. If you think this could apply to you, feel free to reach out for more information.

Can I transfer credits from a previous school?

Credits from another institution will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. SBMA does not guarantee transferability of our credits to another institution. Get in touch with us if you have previous credits that you want applied.

Are you accredited?

We are certified by the Division of Private and Occupational Schools. This is the only certification necessary for a school to be an occupational school in the State of Colorado. We don’t participate in federal accreditation for student loans and grants in order to keep our costs down and maintain a private school status. Accreditation merely gives a school the means to accept loans and grants but does not determine the status of a school, the quality of the school’s education, or affect the future employment of a student who has attended the school.

What happens if I can’t make it to every class?

While students have a live session available to them, our online classes are recorded so you can watch them at your own convenience. Graduating from our program does require 600 hours of work, but you have 18 months to finish.

Where can I work as an Esthetician?

The options are limitless with Esthetics. You can work in medical esthetics, spas, salons, waxing studios, facial bars, makeup studios, private practice, and beyond. We offer assistance throughout the program with business and goal-building courses as well as job search assistance. Also, our Internship Program, while a student is an incredible asset in trying out different work sites, for practicum hours to see which work environment you prefer.

What can I do after I graduate and get my license?

After you finish our program and take and pass your state board exams, you can apply for your license. With your license, there are many different avenues you can take, including working at a medical esthetics office, at a day spa, at a salon, at a waxing studio, at a facial bar, as a makeup artist, in private practice, opening your own studio, and so many other options! We are glad to also help you find your career path even after you’ve graduated.

Is it Aesthetics or Esthetics?

Both spellings of the word are used and correct. For our school name, we chose to use the spelling with the “A” – Aesthetics. We chose the spelling with the “A” because that’s the traditional spelling that is used more in academic contexts – with art and philosophy. The spelling with the “E” – Esthetics is a modern spelling and used in the beauty and spa industry. Yes, we are part of the beauty and spa industry, but we also like the traditional context that’s associated with the “A” spelling. We see what we do as Art – so the spelling should have a more artful connection as well. In Britain and Europe, “Aesthetics” is used more, while in America, “Esthetics” is more commonly used. When Aesthetics was first introduced in America, the education was more European & Eastern European inspired and taught, so the Aestheticians that have been around longer tend to also use the spelling with the “A” as the Europeans use that spelling. We’ll use “Esthetics” for this page as that’s the more common spelling in America and currently.

How long is the esthetician program?

The program is structured to encourage schedule flexibility so students can complete it in 4 months but have up to 18 months to graduate. It generally takes most students 8-10 months to complete the program. Each cohort has a combination of online and in-person learning experiences: Zoom classes for front-loading theory and lecture, In-person trades for each subject taught on Zoom, and Practicum hours that can be completed In-person at our student clinic via distance learning and In-person at an approved internship.

Where can I park at the School?

At our 1221 Galapago St location (for CE classes & Admin/Admissions), we have 16 parking spots available at this location—4 spots in the front of the building & 12 spots in the back of the building. There are typically enough spots for our students. If the parking lot is full, there is free street parking.

At our 1124 Santa Fe Dr location (very close to Galapago, Student Clinic ), we have 19 parking spots adjacent to the building, and there is surrounding, free street parking as well. Typically, we have enough spots for our students.