Best Microneedling Course and Certification Options for Med Spas (2026): 7 Compared
Best microneedling course options for med spas in 2026: PracticalCME, Empire Medical Training, National Laser Institute and 4 more compared on CME and price.
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For med spa owners, medical directors, nurses and estheticians adding microneedling. Updated October 22, 2026 · Prepared by Prospyr. Prospyr makes practice software, not microneedling training, and none of the course providers below is a Prospyr product or partner. This guide compares seven microneedling course and certification options, from accredited CME programs for licensed clinicians to one-day hands-on classes for estheticians. Each summary reflects what the provider publishes on its own website, checked October 2026. Dates, tuition, credit hours and eligibility change, so confirm everything in writing before you register.
What should a med spa look for in a microneedling course?
A good microneedling course teaches skin assessment, contraindications, depth and device selection, infection control and aftercare, then has you treat a real patient under supervision before it issues a certificate. The certificate itself is a record of training, not a license: who may perform microneedling, and under what supervision, is set by each state and varies widely. Courses differ in four ways that matter to a practice: who they admit (licensed clinicians only, or estheticians too), whether they carry accredited CME or nursing contact hours, how much live hands-on time you get, and whether the course is tied to buying a specific pen.
The 7 microneedling course options at a glance
| # | Provider | Course and who it suits | Published pricing or terms | Worth a call if you want … |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PracticalCME | Regenerative Aesthetics (microneedling, exosomes, PRP) for MDs, DOs, PAs, NPs, RNs and dentists | $2,499 (Cincinnati) to $2,595 (Long Island) for online plus hands-on | Accredited CME plus a small-group class with a patient you bring |
| 2 | Empire Medical Training | Complete Facial Aesthetics (microneedling, peels, microdermabrasion) for licensed professionals | $799 per livestream date (regular $849) | A broader skin course from a large CME training company |
| 3 | National Laser Institute | One-day Microneedling Add-On Day, often paired with laser training | Not published; call for tuition | Hands-on work on paying patients in a working med spa |
| 4 | Southeastern Health & Wellness Institute | Medical Microneedling with PRP for CCMAs, LPNs, RNs and NPs | $2,000 ($1,500 alumni) | A 32-clock-hour course over four weeks |
| 5 | La Vida Laser & Aesthetics Institute | Hybrid microneedling class in Houston, taught in Spanish | $495 tuition | An affordable hybrid course with a live-model day |
| 6 | MDPen | Manufacturer training for practices using MDPen devices | In-office training from $1,595; workshops free for current customers | Training delivered in your own office |
| 7 | Skincare Factory | One-day Advanced Microneedling Certification for licensed estheticians and others | $649 sale price (regular $799), pen included | An esthetician-led class that sends you home with a pen |
How we chose this list
We searched for US microneedling courses and kept providers whose own websites describe the course content, the format, and who may attend. We then compared four things a practice manager can check before paying: whether the course states accredited CME or nursing credit, how much supervised hands-on time is described, whether tuition is published, and whether the provider tells students to confirm their state's scope-of-practice rules. We left out online-only courses with no hands-on option, providers based outside the US, aggregator listings we could not confirm on the provider's own site, and course platforms that also sell practice software. We put accredited clinician programs first and esthetician-focused classes last. The order is our editorial view, not a measure of results.
1PracticalCME#
PracticalCME runs a Regenerative Aesthetics FAST TRACK hands-on certification that combines microneedling, exosomes and platelet-rich plasma (PRP). Its Cincinnati listing describes 12.75 total hours: a 7.75-credit online module, which must be finished before the live day, and a 5-hour hands-on session that ends in a separate certificate of completion.
What stands out:
- Accredited online credit. The Cincinnati page lists AMA PRA Category 1 credit for physicians and PAs, AANP credit for nurse practitioners and ANCC contact hours for RNs on the online module.
- Hands-on with your own patient. Attendees perform variable-depth microneedling on a patient they bring, and PRP is spun on site for injection and topical treatment under MD supervision.
- Small classes, many cities. The Cincinnati page caps the class at five attendees, and the site lists hands-on locations including Atlanta, Long Island, the Washington DC area, Charlotte, Orlando, West Palm Beach, Chicago, Houston, Scottsdale, Seattle, the San Francisco area, Orange County and San Diego.
- Published prices. As of October 2026, its listings show $2,499 for Cincinnati (next dates November 14, 2026 and January 9, 2027) and $2,595 for Long Island (February 27, 2027), with Affirm financing at checkout.
Right for: nurses, NPs, PAs and physicians who want accredited credit and a supervised treatment in one course. Ask: the exact class size for your date (pages give different caps), which microneedling device is used, and whether dentists in your state may attend, since PracticalCME says practice authority depends on your home state board.
2Empire Medical Training#
Empire Medical Training, based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, states it has trained more than 200,000 physicians and healthcare professionals since 1998. Microneedling is taught inside its Complete Facial Aesthetics for Medical Professionals course, which also covers chemical peels and microdermabrasion.
What stands out:
- Microneedling detail. The course page lists collagen induction protocols, depth settings, needle configurations, customization by skin concern and pairing with topical serums.
- Practice building. It also covers consultation, pricing, menu development, patient retention and marketing.
- Published price. The livestream course is $799 per date (regular $849), with dates listed for October 26, 2026 and June 12, 2027.
- Wide eligibility. The page names physicians, NPs, PAs, RNs, dentists, pharmacists, estheticians and med spa owners.
Right for: a provider adding a full skin menu, not just microneedling, who wants a CME company with a long track record. Ask: the CME hours for this course (the page says it is CME-accredited but does not list hours), and whether hands-on practice is part of the livestream date or a separate in-person session.
Choosing vendors for your practice?
Prospyr runs the practice they plug into: booking, charting, packages and payments on one patient record. We move your data over for you.
3National Laser Institute#
National Laser Institute, headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, with locations in Dallas and Oak Brook, Illinois, offers a one-day Microneedling Add-On Day. Its classroom portion covers treatment guidelines, pre- and post-care, patient selection, indications, contraindications and safety.
What stands out:
- Treating real patients. The page says students treat paying patients in a retail medical spa with instructor guidance.
- Business materials. Tuition includes a course manual, sample history, consent and policy forms, a certificate of training, and access to its online medical aesthetics library.
- Pairs with laser training. The institute also teaches microneedling within its broader cosmetic laser courses.
Right for: laser technicians and nurses already training with National Laser Institute who want to add microneedling in a single extra day. Ask: tuition (not published), whether CE credit is offered for this day, and which pen you will train on.
4Southeastern Health & Wellness Institute#
Southeastern Health & Wellness Institute in Columbia, South Carolina, runs a Medical Microneedling with PRP Certification Course over four consecutive Wednesdays, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, for 32 clock hours.
What stands out:
- Longer format. The curriculum covers microneedling at depths up to 2.5 mm, microchanneling up to 1.5 mm for serums and PRP, venipuncture, and preparing patient-derived PRP for facial and scalp work.
- Clear prerequisites. The course is open to certified clinical medical assistants, LPNs, RNs and nurse practitioners.
- Published price. $2,000, or $1,500 for alumni.
- School accreditation. The institute states it holds national accreditation through the Council on Occupational Education for its active programs.
Right for: Southeast practices that want a nurse or medical assistant trained over several sessions rather than one day. Ask: the next start date, and whether this course is covered by the institute's COE accreditation.
5La Vida Laser & Aesthetics Institute#
La Vida Laser & Aesthetics Institute in Houston, Texas, offers a hybrid Microneedling Collagen Induction Therapy course: four hours of self-paced online lecture with skills assessments, then four hours of in-person practice on a live model. Its listing for this course is Spanish-instructed.
What stands out:
- Published tuition. $495, with Klarna, Affirm and Afterpay payment plans.
- State approval. The page describes La Vida as a Texas state approved training facility accredited by the Texas Workforce Commission.
- Plain about supervision. It calls microneedling a medical-level treatment and states a medical director is required to provide treatments independently.
- Scheduled dates. In-person days are listed for November 7 and December 5, 2026, with more in January 2027.
Right for: Houston-area practices training Spanish-speaking team members on a budget. Ask: the refund terms in writing (a $100 processing fee applies to cancellations) and whether an English-instructed version is running.
6MDPen#
MDPen, which its site places at an Atlanta headquarters, sells microneedling devices to practitioners and runs its own training. Device purchases include three seats in its online didactic course.
What stands out:
- In your office. In-office training starts at $1,595 and includes up to four hours of hands-on training and up to four patient treatment appointments with a licensed educator.
- Virtual option. A live online session includes two hours of virtual training and a device demo.
- Ongoing workshops. Advanced microneedling workshops are held in different cities, free for current customers.
- Honest about credit. MDPen says its certificate may support continuing education records but tells practitioners to confirm with their licensing board whether a course qualifies.
Right for: practices that want the whole team trained on the pen they are buying, in their own treatment rooms. Ask: the FDA 510(k) number and cleared indication for the device you would buy, since its training and home pages do not state one, and the workshop price for non-customers.
7Skincare Factory#
Skincare Factory, which describes itself as an esthetician-led skincare store, professional supply hub and education center in Tempe, Arizona, runs a one-day Advanced Microneedling Certification from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
What stands out:
- Kit included. Registration includes a professional microneedling pen, cartridges, numbing cream, a training manual and a certificate of completion, with a bring-your-own-device option.
- Published price. $649 sale price (regular $799) as of October 2026.
- Licensed attendees only. The page says the class is for licensed estheticians, cosmetologists, medical professionals and skincare providers, and that each attendee must follow their own state board guidelines.
Right for: Arizona estheticians and skin-focused practices that want a short class and a starter pen. Ask: the brand and FDA status of the included pen, the next date, and the refund policy (course purchases are final unless stated).
Questions to ask any microneedling course
- Who may perform microneedling in your state, and under whose supervision? Rules differ by license and by state, and a course certificate does not change them. Read our state-by-state microneedling guide and confirm with your medical director and state board.
- Is the credit accredited, and by whom? Ask for the accrediting body and the exact hours (AMA PRA Category 1, AANP, ANCC or another), and whether hands-on hours count.
- How many patients will you treat yourself? Ask for the class size and whether you bring a model or the school supplies one.
- Which pen will you train on? Training on the device you plan to buy saves time. Compare cleared devices in our list of professional microneedling pens, and check the 510(k) number in the FDA database.
- Does the course cover infection control? Cartridges, cleaning and bloodborne pathogen steps belong in every protocol. Pair the course with OSHA and bloodborne pathogen training.
- Is RF microneedling included? Most basic courses teach needle-only pens. If you plan to add energy devices, see our list of RF microneedling devices and ask for device-specific training.
- What are the refund and reschedule terms? Some providers on this list state that tuition, deposits or fees are non-refundable.
Where Prospyr fits
A microneedling course gets a provider ready to treat; a series of visits is what makes the service pay. Prospyr lets a practice sell microneedling as a series through packages, track cartridges against each visit in inventory management, and chart depth, pass count and treatment area in the aesthetic EMR so the next provider can repeat the settings. For a quick reference while you build protocols, see our microneedling depth chart and microneedling aftercare handout, or book a practice demo.
Frequently asked questions
Does a microneedling certification let me perform microneedling?
No. A microneedling certificate shows you completed a course, but whether you may perform the treatment, and under what supervision, depends on your license and your state's rules. Several providers on this list say so on their own pages. Check our state-by-state microneedling guide and confirm with your medical director.
How much does a microneedling course cost?
Published tuition on this list ranges from $495 for La Vida's hybrid Houston class to $2,595 for PracticalCME's accredited online and hands-on course, as of October 2026. Courses that include PRP, accredited CME or several days of training cost more. Ask whether a pen, cartridges and a model are included before comparing prices.
Can estheticians take a microneedling class?
Some courses admit estheticians and some admit only licensed clinicians. On this list, Empire, La Vida and Skincare Factory name estheticians or welcome non-clinical applicants, while PracticalCME and Southeastern Health & Wellness Institute list nursing and medical licenses. Taking a class does not settle whether an esthetician may microneedle in your state.
Is an online microneedling course enough?
Most providers on this list pair online theory with a supervised hands-on day, and we left out online-only courses for that reason. Treating a patient under an instructor's eye is where depth control, technique and complication recognition are practiced.
Do microneedling courses include PRP?
Some do. PracticalCME and Southeastern Health & Wellness Institute teach microneedling with PRP, which adds venipuncture and PRP preparation. For dedicated PRP programs, see our list of PRP and hair restoration training.
Want your company considered?
We review this list quarterly. Companies that run microneedling courses for US med spas, nurses or estheticians 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 provider's public website, checked October 2026 with AI-assisted research. Providers did not review this article before publication. It is not legal or medical advice, not a guarantee of results, and not a substitute for checking accreditation, references and your state's scope-of-practice rules. Read our methodology or report a correction.