How to become a botox injector nurse

Consider becoming a Botox® injector. If you’re already a registered nurse, physician’s assistant, nurse practitioner, or other licensed medical professional authorized to administer Botox injections in your part of the United States, the process of becoming Botox certified is straightforward. 

If you’re not yet an aesthetic nurse or physician’s assistant, plan on spending an additional two to four years in training. That could be time well spent — the average NP and PA earns a six-figure salary. 

Here’s how to become a Botox injector and find work doing what you love.

Who Can Administer Botox?

Regulations governing Botox treatments vary by state. Most jurisdictions allow registered nurses, NPs, PAs, medical doctors, dentists, and plastic surgeons to administer Botox. 

Often, registered nurses and PAs perform Botox injections under the supervision of medical doctors or surgeons. Depending on the practice setting, these nurses may be aesthetic nurses or plastic surgical nurses. Each follows distinct training tracks to prepare for work in their chosen specialty.

Botox injection regulations apply to both types of commercially available Botox:

• Botox Cosmetic, the formulation approved by the FDA to treat glabellar lines, nasolabial folds, and other cosmetic procedures of the head, face, and neck.
• Botox Therapeutic, the formulation approved to treat nervous and musculoskeletal issues, such as blepharospasm and urinary incontinence.

How to Become a Botox Injector

So, you’ve decided to become Botox certified. Here’s what you need to do to complete your training and begin looking for work as an injector.

Get Your Nursing Degree

If you haven’t already, your first step is to get a degree in nursing. 

The quickest way to become a registered nurse is through a two-year associate’s degree in nursing (ASN) program. However, many employers prefer to hire nurses with bachelor’s or master’s degrees in nursing.

Pass the NCLEX-RN Exam

Next, study for and pass the NCLEX-RN exam to officially earn your RN license in the state where you plan to practice. 

Be sure to fill any state-required prerequisites. Check with your state medical licensing board for details.

Enroll in a Botox Course

Look for an accredited Botox course taught by board-certified medical professionals — preferably medical doctors or plastic surgeons — with years of experience in the field.

It never hurts to seek out free Botox certification courses. But make sure they offer both in-depth classroom instruction on Botox treatments and hands-on training in the art and science of botulinum toxin injection.

If you’d like to learn complementary skills at the same time, look for advanced Botox and dermal filler training courses that offer combined training in two of the most popular types of cosmetic treatments around. 

Earn Your Botox Certification

After successfully completing the course and meeting your state’s training hour requirements, you’ll have your Botox certification in hand. You’re now ready to find work as a Botox injector.

Find Work As a Botox Injector

Botox injectors generally work under the supervision of medical doctors or plastic surgeons in medical aesthetic practices or medical spas. 

Check job postings for aesthetic nurses or certified Botox injectors, or look for apprenticeship opportunities in medical aesthetic settings. If you don’t yet have your aesthetic nurse or plastic surgical nurse certification, working under a board-certified provider is a great way to get your foot in the door.

An aesthetic or cosmetic nurse assists in and performs different non-surgical procedures and treatments to assist patients who are looking to enhance their appearance.

The role is quite similar to a plastic surgery nurse, but the focus is more on in-office and non-invasive cosmetic treatments, and not surgical procedures.

Some of these procedures that a cosmetic nurse performs are laser removal, chemical peels, and dermal fillers and injectables.

If you’re looking to get certified as an injectable nurse, take a look at our injection certification courses and keep reading to learn more about what steps are needed.

What Does a Cosmetic Nurse Do?

An injectable, cosmetic, or aesthetic nurse has several duties and roles. They usually work under a physician and are responsible for the following tasks:

•  Recording and assessing a patient’s medical history before the procedure
• Managing situations where patients suddenly become unstable
• Assessing recovery and determining if there are any adverse reactions to the current treatment course
• Monitoring a patient’s status during a procedure
• Ensuring a clean and sterile environment
• Preparing equipment and area for the procedure
• Helping patients understand the treatment, including what they can expect during and after the procedure
• Checking the patient’s vital signs

Educational and Licensing Requirements

Cosmetic nurses are, first and foremost, registered nurses. That means they have to complete all the educational requirements for registered nurses before they can legally practice.

In particular, they need to complete the following:

• Earn an RN degree by completing either a 2-year Associate's Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a 4-year Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN). It’s important to note, however, that many clinics and medical spas prefer to hire BSN nurses. Before deciding on their educational pathway, aspiring nurses should always take into account their career goals and needs.
• Get licensed by passing the NCLEX-RN within two months after they’ve graduated from nursing school
• Some RNs may also choose to pursue further education to be a Nurse Practitioner (NP). To do this, they’ll need to earn at least a Master's of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. NPs usually are given more autonomy and responsibility, but this will typically vary depending on in which state they’re based. For instance, an NP can prescribe medication in all 50 states. 

Certification or Credentials

Although it’s not required, most cosmetic nurses choose to earn certifications and credentials.

They may choose to specialize in a certain area, such as dermatology, Botox, or fillers.

Here are some examples of the common certifications:

1. A certified aesthetics nurse specialist can administer Botox and other dermal fillers.To obtain this credential, an RN should complete the following:
   - 2 years of supervised work under a board-certified physician
   - An up-to-date license
   - At least 1,000 practice hours
2. Cosmetic nurses who work in medical spas and other private practices usually have a Botox and filler certification. Those who wish to obtain one will need to undergo around 8 hours of certification courses. There are plenty of providers who offer courses that can be completed within one day or over the weekend.

As mentioned above, these certifications are not required for an RN to administer cosmetic treatments, but most organizations and practices will require them for their staff members. 

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