Top 10 Aesthetic Nurse Residency and Preceptorship Programs in 2026

For nurses. Updated October 2, 2026 · Prepared by Prospyr. Prospyr makes practice software, not nurse training, and none of the programs below is a Prospyr product. Each summary reflects what the provider publishes on its own website, checked October 2026. Prices, dates and eligibility change, and what a nurse may do in aesthetics depends on your state and license, so confirm everything in writing before you enroll.

What is an aesthetic nurse residency or preceptorship?

An aesthetic nurse residency or preceptorship is a training program that puts a nurse beside experienced injectors for weeks or months, with supervised treatments on real patients, instead of a single weekend course. "Residency" is not a regulated title in aesthetics, so programs that use it vary widely. The ones worth paying for state three things up front: how many days you spend in a working clinic, how many patients you treat or assist on, and how long a mentor stays available after the hands-on portion ends.

The 10 aesthetic nurse residency and preceptorship programs at a glance

How we chose this list

We looked for programs whose own websites describe training for nurses that goes past a one-time course: clinic shadowing, multi-week structure, ongoing mentorship, or a professional credential. Then we checked:

1. Clinical time. Does the program state days in a clinic or the number of live models?
2. Duration and follow-up. Weeks or months of contact, not just one weekend.
3. Nurse eligibility. Does it name RNs or NPs as eligible?
4. Published terms. Price, location and dates you can see before a sales call.

We excluded programs whose posted course dates had already passed. Several of these providers also run standard injector courses, which we cover in our list of Botox and filler training courses. The order is our editorial view, not a measure of results.

1. Elite NP

Elite NP runs an Aesthetic Medicine Certificate Program for nurse practitioners that also accepts RNs, PAs and practice owners. It combines online courses with three days of hands-on injections on live patients. The program is directed by Tara J. Delle Chiaie, DNP, FNP-BC.

What stands out:

• Structure. Four courses: upper and mid-face neurotoxin, mid-face filler, lips and lower face, and consultation and treatment planning. Most participants finish in 3 to 6 months, with up to a year of access.
• Clinical days. The next listed session is November 7–9, 2026, in Scottsdale, Arizona. You can book all three days or single days.
• CE. 32 ANCC contact hours.
• Published price. $5,999 for all three days, or $1,999 to $2,999 per day, as of October 2026. It includes a year of monthly webinars and weekly office hours.

Right for: NPs and RNs who want a nurse-led program with CE hours and support after the clinical days. Ask: how many patients you inject each day, and note that you need an active license in the state where training takes place.

2. Injectology Institute

Injectology Institute, founded by Eliana Lopez, RN, runs The Injector's Mastery Coaching and Mentorship Program from its clinic in Murrieta, California. Of the programs we reviewed, this one is closest to a true residency format.

What stands out:

• Six clinic days. Six full-day shadow-and-assist sessions in a clinical setting over six months.
• Hands-on. One full-day lecture on anatomy, safety and injection theory, plus accredited hands-on training with four live models.
• Ongoing contact. Monthly 60-minute Zoom roundtables and six months of text and phone mentorship.
• Practice tools. Access to its protocols, consents and treatment videos, plus business coaching.
• Published price. $5,000, as of October 2026.

Right for: an RN who wants repeated time in a working clinic, not a single class. Ask: who is eligible (the page does not say), how many patients you treat yourself during the shadow days, and whether CE is included.

3. The Aesthetic Mentor

The Aesthetic Mentor offers the Aesthetic Intensive Certificate Program, an 8-week course in Boston, Massachusetts and Hartford, Connecticut. It is open to licensed physicians, nurses, NPs, PAs and dentists with active, unrestricted licenses. The schedule runs from facial anatomy and a cadaver dissection week through neurotoxins, fillers, adverse events, consultation and business development. Training is led by plastic surgeon Dr. Joseph Russo or trained clinical instructors. It lists 20+ live models at a 2:1 student-to-instructor ratio, and a price of $10,000, as of October 2026. Its separate nurse courses list 13.25 CE credits for neurotoxins and 13.5 for fillers.

Right for: nurses in New England who want a defined 8-week program with a large number of models. Ask: whether CE credit applies to the full Aesthetic Intensive and how many injections you perform yourself.

4. Injectables EDU

Injectables EDU, led by Suzanne Jagger, DNP, CRNA and Cassie Lane, CRNA, DNAP, runs a 6-month mentorship for APRNs and RNs. Tracks are split by practice size: one for injectors building their first patient base and one for established practices. The program includes monthly group Zoom calls, monthly one-on-one sessions, a cohort chat and one shadow day. Shadow days are also sold separately at $950 each in Richmond, Virginia and Portland, Oregon, as of October 2026. A shadow day covers consultations, chairside observation and business operations.

Right for: nurses who already inject and want mentoring while they build or grow a practice. Ask: the mentorship price, which is not published, and whether you inject or only observe on shadow days.

5. Empire Medical Training

Empire Medical Training runs the Xperience Empire Preceptorship at its learning center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It is a one-day, small-group session (3 to 6 attendees, or one at the Elite tier) with up to four patients for injection practice, covering techniques from neurotoxin and filler to PDO threads, PRP, Sculptra, Radiesse and lasers. It requires at least three years of professional experience. Listed prices are $7,600 (Essential), $11,600+ (Ultimate) and $20,600 (Elite), as of October 2026. Empire also offers a one-day Clinical Fellowship from $4,599.

Right for: experienced nurse injectors who want advanced, private training rather than a first course. Ask: whether RNs are eligible for the tier you want; the page describes the audience as physicians and advanced aesthetic professionals.

6. Aesthetic Training Academy

Aesthetic Training Academy is run by the team behind SDBotox, which founder Dr. Alex Roher started in 2012 and reports has grown to eight locations and 20 providers. Its Botox and Filler Certification Course for new injectors pairs four weeks of online education with hands-on training on more than 25 live models, and lists physicians, RNs, NPs and PAs as eligible. Its home page states the course is accredited by the California Board of Nursing, and it lists shadow opportunities as a separate offering.

Right for: California RNs who want a high model count from a multi-location injection practice. Ask: price, the shadow-day format, and the BRN provider number for your CE records.

7. Injector Coach Institute

Injector Coach Institute is led by Marlee Bruno, PA-C, in Pensacola, Florida. Its 2-day Fundamentals (October 10–11, 2026) and Advanced (November 14–15, 2026) courses each list at $5,000 with 16 Category 1 CME hours. Each student gets their own model, and the price includes continued mentorship and an integration session with the instructor three weeks after the course. It also lists Botox and filler shadowing.

Right for: nurses who want a short course with structured follow-up instead of being on their own after day two. Ask: whether RNs are eligible (the page does not say) and what the shadowing option costs.

8. The Aesthetic Immersion

The Aesthetic Immersion, led by Dr. Gideon Kwok and Lori Robertson in Brea, California, offers CE-certified hands-on classes, virtual didactic training, virtual mentorship and a webinar library. Its courses include Foundations for Aesthetic Injectors and Dissecting Aesthetics, an intermediate-to-advanced course with cadaver and injection training.

Right for: Southern California nurses who want anatomy depth and remote mentoring between hands-on classes. Ask: price, length and CE hours, none of which are on the home page.

9. ISPAN

ISPAN (International Society of Plastic and Aesthetic Nurses) describes itself as the definitive voice for plastic and aesthetic nurses, and its core membership is licensed registered nurses. It publishes the PAN Journal, runs an annual meeting and a member app, and ISPAN membership lowers the CANS exam fee (see below).

Right for: any aesthetic nurse who wants a professional home, peer contacts and a route to certification. Ask: whether local chapters or members can help you find a supervised clinical position.

10. PSNCB

PSNCB (Plastic Surgical Nursing Certification Board) awards the Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist (CANS) and Certified Plastic Surgical Nurse credentials. It reports 504 active CANS holders. To sit for CANS, an RN needs a full, unrestricted license, at least two years of nursing experience in the core specialties, and at least 1,000 practice hours in the last two years working with physicians board-certified in plastic or aesthetic surgery, ophthalmology, dermatology, cosmetic surgery or facial plastic surgery, plus a letter of recommendation. The exam is $325 for ISPAN members and $495 for nonmembers, plus a $25 application fee, as of October 2026.

Right for: nurses who have finished their clinical years and want a credential that shows it. Ask: whether your current supervising physician's specialty counts toward the 1,000 hours.

Questions to ask any aesthetic nurse residency program

1. How many days will I spend in a working clinic? Count clinic days, not online modules.
2. How many patients will I treat myself? Ask the difference between observing, assisting and injecting.
3. Who is eligible, and in which state? Some programs require a license in the state where you train.
4. What CE comes with it? ANCC contact hours and CME credits are not the same; check what your board accepts.
5. How long does mentoring last after the hands-on part? Get the format and response time in writing.
6. Does it help with a supervised job? Residency graduates still need a medical director and protocols where they work.
7. What are the refund and reschedule terms? Especially for programs that depend on model availability.

Where Prospyr fits

Training gives a new nurse injector the technique; the practice they join supplies the protocols, charts and supervision. Clear injection charting and before-and-after photos make it easier for a medical director to review a newer injector's work. If you're setting up that workflow, see Prospyr's charting and our med spa licensing guide, or book a practice demo.

California nurses can also use our RN credentialing checklist for med spas. If you plan to add devices, see our list of laser certification courses.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an official aesthetic nurse residency?

No. "Residency" is not a regulated title in aesthetics, and programs using it range from two-day courses to six-month mentorships. Judge each program by its clinic days, patient count and mentoring period, not its name.

How long does an aesthetic nurse residency take?

The programs on this list run from one day (Empire's Xperience preceptorship) to six months (Injectology Institute and Injectables EDU). Elite NP lists 3 to 6 months and The Aesthetic Mentor runs 8 weeks.

How much does an aesthetic nurse preceptorship cost?

Published prices on this list range from $950 for a single shadow day to $10,000 for an 8-week certificate, with premium preceptorships listed up to $20,600, as of October 2026. Several programs do not publish prices.

How do I become a Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist (CANS)?

You apply to PSNCB after at least two years of nursing experience in the core specialties and 1,000 practice hours in the last two years with a board-certified plastic surgeon, dermatologist, ophthalmologist, facial plastic surgeon or cosmetic surgeon. You also need a recommendation letter and an exam fee of $325 (ISPAN members) or $495.

Can an RN inject on their own after a residency?

Not on the strength of a training certificate. What an RN may do, and under whose supervision, is set by your state's nursing and medical boards, so check your state's rules and work under a medical director's protocols.

Want your company considered?

We review this list quarterly. Companies that serve nurses can send their website and what they offer practices to info@prospyrmed.com; inclusion is editorial and not paid.

Editorial scope

This list is based on each program's public website, checked October 2026 with AI-assisted research. Programs did not review this article before publication. It is not a guarantee of results, legal advice about nursing scope of practice in your state, or a substitute for checking references and licensure. Read our methodology or report a correction.