Program Page – Full Specialist2025-12-29T18:04:22-06:00

Full Specialist Program

Explore the world of facials, waxing, gel/acrylic nails and more at
our campuses in Largo, St. Petersburg, and Bradenton, Florida

The Dynamic Duo: Skin Care & Nails

Do you have a passion for skin care? Do you love to do your nails? Is your skin care routine tailored to your skin type and the season? If you answered, “Yes!” to any of these questions, a career as a full specialist might be right for you! At American Institute of Beauty (AIB), we offer a program that combines the skills of an esthetician and a nail technician to help you become a well-rounded beauty professional who has been trained in both skin and nails! You will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience through in-person interactions with guests in our school spa. Learn the art of facials, microdermabrasion, LED light therapy, acrylic nail enhancement, gel nails, 3D nail art, encapsulations, and much more!

AIB Student

Take The First Step!

Wondering if the beauty and wellness industry is right for you?

“I attended AIB for the Full Specialist program and it was everything I expected and more! I went for the Full Specialist program and completely fell in love with NAILS special thanks to Ms. Mare, her passion for nails and her expertise really inspired me to want to be a professional nail tech along with being an esthetician. I’m forever thankful!” – Tahnijah B.

AIB Student

What Can I Learn in AIB’s Full Specialist Program?

The full specialist program at AIB is jam-packed with fun! Learning should be enjoyable and educational. We’ve developed our curriculum to focus each half of the 600 hours on two separate sets of skills- nails and skin.

Phase 1

  • Advanced nail enhancement 
  • Nail art and design 
  • Gel nails 
  • Acrylic nails
  • Encapsulations
  • Spa manicures
  • Spa pedicures
  • Natural nail care
  • Electric filing
  • Polishing techniques
  • Safety/sanitation/disinfection

Phase 2

  • Standard facials
  • European facials
  • Facial waxing
  • Skin care analysis
  • Color analysis
  • Skin tone analysis
  • Extractions
  • Back facials
  • LED light therapy 
  • Microdermabrasion
  • Ultrasonic skin spatula
  • Body waxing
  • Lactic, Glycolic, Salicylic peels 
  • Lash/eyebrow tinting
  • Brazilian waxing (elective)
  • Health and wellness/aromatherapy 
  • Spa coordination
  • Product knowledge
  • Product application
  • Diseases & disorders of the skin
  • Sanitation/disinfection

Phase 3

Dermalogica
Partnership School

American Institute of Beauty is a Dermalogica Partnership School. Training with professional grade skincare products can enhance your learning experience tenfold! All of our skin care students receive training from the Dermalogica educators from the International Dermal Institute to best recommend treatments and products for their client’s journey to healthy skin. The benefits of Dermalogica Skincare products include:

  • Cruelty-free
  • Paraben-free
  • Phthalate-free
  • Gluten-free
  • No Artificial Fragrances or Colors

*Photo is an example only and does not depict the exact student kit*

Tech-Forward Beauty Education

At AIB, we know that in today’s day and age, part of becoming successful in the beauty industry is understanding and using technology. That’s why we use the Milady CIMA digital learning platform. This platform enhances the in-person classroom experience, offering additional tools and educational content on top of the training you receive from our knowledgeable, licensed educators. Each of our programs includes 24/7 access to the comprehensive, mobile-friendly, easy-to-use, digital platform.

Our Milady CIMA program offers a visual and collaborative experience that promotes the use of technology, efficiency, and the delivery of educational content that supports various learning styles.

Why Choose AIB?

Full Specialist school is a big step in starting your journey to becoming a licensed professional. Picking the right school can help you set your future career up for success and ignite your passion even more!

See how we can help you pursue what you love, learn the skills necessary, and live your future career as a licensed beauty professional. Reaching your full potential is right around the corner- we want you to Love itLearn it, and Live it!

We’re all about diversity, inclusivity, and accessibility. AIB is more than just a beauty school; we offer a real and authentic educational experience.

AIB Student Working on Nails

What Does a Future as a Full Specialist Look Like?

Where oh where will you go? You’ve got a passion, and now you want a career. Here are a few potential opportunities you could pursue after licensure!

AIB Student

Potential Careers

  • Salon owner
  • Spa owner
  • Salon manager
  • Spa manager
  • Freelance skin or nail care professional
  • Product line owner/creator
  • Nail artist
  • Skin care specialist
  • Waxing technician 
  • Eyelash extension specialist
  • Makeup artist
  • Skin care consultant
  • Product manufacturer
  • Beauty blogger
  • Social Media Influencer
  • Brand ambassador
  • Educator

Start The Enrollment Process

Have you decided American Institute of Beauty may be the right school for you? Contact our admissions team by giving us a call or filling out the form. From there, we’ll reach out to you to schedule your personal tour, so you can get an inside look of our school and start the enrollment process. We can’t wait to meet you and help you get started on your future as a full specialist!

Full Specialist School FAQs

When you’re looking to enroll in a full specialist program, there are a few questions you’ll want answered right away. We’re here to address the most commonly asked questions about starting beauty school so you can get the info you need to make a decision that changes your life. You want to do this, and we want to help!

How Long is the Full Specialist Program?2025-04-30T13:56:12-06:00

The full specialist program at AIB is 600 clock hours. 300 hours are dedicated to teaching you skin care theoretical and practical skills, and the remaining 300 hours are concentrated on the theory and practice of nail care.

How Long Will It Take to Complete the Program?2025-04-30T13:56:29-06:00

You can complete our full specialist program in as little as five months*! 

*Based on a full-time schedule.

What Schedules Are the Programs Offered In?2025-04-30T13:56:46-06:00

You can take our full specialist program in one of three different options: full-time day, part-time day , and part-time evening .

If you have time to dedicate to your education as a full-time commitment, we offer a full-time program.

If you need to work during the day or have other obligations, we have a part-time night program.

If you need to work school into your schedule in another way, we have a part-time day program, too. We believe that your education should fit seamlessly into your life.

What locations provide the full specialist course?2025-04-30T13:57:11-06:00

The Full Specialist program is offered at our Largo and St. Petersburg campus locations.

How do you transfer to AIB?2025-04-30T13:57:29-06:00

For questions on transferring to American Institute of Beauty from your current full specialist school institution, please contact our Admissions team!

Largo Campus: 727-532-2125 | St. Petersburg Campus: 727-826-0969

When do classes start?2025-04-30T13:57:48-06:00

Class start dates vary by program. Due to the popularity of our programs, early enrollment is suggested to ensure seat availability!

What Are My Options for Funding My Education?

Financial Aid2025-10-08T11:34:21-06:00

Financial aid is available to those who qualify. All campus locations in Largo, St. Petersburg, and Bradenton offer financial aid.  Your future is worth funding. Don’t be afraid to learn more about what options are available for investing in a career you love.

Veterans’ Training2025-03-31T13:38:31-06:00

American Institute of Beauty is approved for veterans’ training by the Veterans Administration. We accept many different types of VA benefits, including your POST-9/11 GI Bill®, at our campuses. You’ve dedicated your life to making the lives of others better, and you can continue that lifestyle with a career in beauty! Contact us to learn more about using veterans benefits at AIB.

Dependents and spouses of veterans may also be eligible. GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

Florida Prepaid2025-03-31T13:38:59-06:00

Florida Prepaid is a great way to fund your education, and it’s not limited to traditional colleges. If your parents have put money away for you to invest in yourself, you can use it to help fund your beauty education at AIB! www.myfloridaprepaid.com/

Scholarships2025-05-28T15:10:27-06:00

External Scholarships

AIB provides access to many different external scholarships to students who have enrolled in our programs. Each external scholarship has its own requirements and availability throughout the year. The criteria for each external scholarship is unique. For more information visit: Beauty Changes Lives | Scholarships

Testimonials

See what students and graduates have to say about their experiences in our Full Specialist program!

The Extras at AIB

We like to go above and beyond in providing for our students. That’s why we offer a few extras at AIB!

Twice a year, AIB hosts industry-leading employers in our communities from all aspects of the beauty industry to come in and connect with our students on career days. You can meet potential employers, do mock interviews, and you might even land a job before you graduate!

We offer lifetime career placement assistance. You can come back any time after you graduate and we’ll help you find opportunities. We can also help you mock interview and fine-tune your resume.

We bring in guest speakers, such as Dermalogica representatives, to talk about expectations, desired skills, and their experience in the beauty industry. We also bring in industry leaders to demonstrate what is trending and is hot in the beauty industry. You can have the chance to meet and interact with beauty industry professionals!

From building your own business to developing highly specialized skills, there are so many directions a career in massage therapy can take you💆‍♀️✨ Our Largo Massage Therapy future professionals recently welcomed Alison Lynch, owner of @animainterna, to share insight from her years of experience in the wellness industry.

As a business owner herself, Alison spoke with our future professionals about opening and operating a massage therapy business, touching on requirements specific to the massage industry and offering a firsthand look at what goes into taking your skills from the treatment room to a business of your own.

The class also had the opportunity to learn about one of Alison’s specialties: Craniosacral Therapy. This highly specialized, gentle hands-on approach uses very light touch and focuses on the craniosacral system, the membranes and fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Alison demonstrated what a Craniosacral Therapy session can look like, giving our future professionals exposure to a modality they may not encounter every day.

She also briefly demonstrated visceral manipulation, another specialized hands-on approach involving gentle work with the body’s internal organs and surrounding connective tissues. Alison’s background also extends into other areas of holistic wellness, including certification in Reiki.

Guest speakers like Alison give our future professionals an opportunity to see just how expansive the massage therapy field can be. Whether they’re interested in entrepreneurship, continuing education, or eventually developing a specialty of their own, there are so many ways to continue growing beyond their foundational training!❤️

Thank you, Alison, for sharing your experience, expertise, and time with our Largo Massage Therapy future professionals!
📣Important Hours Update for AIB ST. PETE!📣We’re making a change to our campus schedule! Saturday, September 12 will be the final Saturday that our St. Pete Campus is open.

Beginning Monday, September 14, our updated hours will be:

🕘 Campus Hours: Monday–Friday | 9:00 AM–9:00 PM
✂️ Salon Hours: Monday–Friday | 10:30 AM–8:00 PM
*Services not offered after 3:00 PM on Mondays

If you regularly visit us on Saturdays, please keep this change in mind when planning your next appointment or service❤️

Thank you to our clients and St. Pete community for your continued support. We look forward to seeing you during our new Monday–Friday schedule!
Today marks 25 years since September 11, 2001, a day that forever changed our nation and the lives of so many Americans.

As we reflect on the passage of a quarter century, we remember the nearly 3,000 lives lost, the families and loved ones who have carried their absence every day since, and the first responders and ordinary people who showed extraordinary courage, compassion, and selflessness in the face of unimaginable tragedy.

Twenty-five years may have passed, but the significance of that day has not faded. Today, we pause to remember the lives behind the numbers, honor the heroes who answered the call, and reflect on the strength and unity shown in the days that followed.

We remember the lives. We remember the bravery. We remember the way people came together when it mattered most. May we continue to carry their memories with us, not only today, but for generations to come.

September 11, 2001. Forever remembered. Never forgotten. 🇺🇸
September’s spotlight is shining on some of the incredible people who help make AIB what it is!❤️🎉This month, we’re excited to introduce a few of the team members who bring their own talents, experience, and dedication to our campuses each day👏 

Get to know our September In the Spotlight staff members! 🌟
A little self-care doesn’t have to take all day✨ Our Express Facial may be quick, but it still packs plenty into one refreshing service! From an in-depth cleanse and exfoliation to a mask, toner, and moisturizer, our future professionals get to practice the steps that help leave your skin feeling fresh, clean, and cared for🫧

Shoutout to Ally C. (@bare.by.ally), one of our Advanced Esthetics future professionals, for capturing and creating this Reel!🎥 Ally did a beautiful job showcasing both her esthetics skills and creativity. We LOVE seeing our future professionals find their own ways to share the skills they’re building and putting into practice at AIB❤️

Ready for YOUR refresh? Come experience an Express Facial at AIB for just $20!😮 Call to book your appointment 👇️ 

Largo Campus: 727-532-2125
St. Pete Campus: 727-826-0969
Bradenton Campus: 941-222-0456

*All services are performed by students under the supervision of licensed professionals*
Today, we’re celebrating 3 amazing years of Asia at AIB!❤️As our day Skin Care Educator at the St. Pete campus, Asia has spent the last three years helping future professionals turn their interest in skin care into the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to begin building careers of their own.

Being an educator is about so much more than teaching what’s in a textbook. It’s answering the questions, demonstrating a technique one more time, celebrating the moments when everything finally clicks, and encouraging future professionals through every step of their journey. Over the past three years, Asia has been there for so many of those moments🎓️✨

With every class she teaches and every future professional she guides, Asia is helping shape the next generation of skin care professionals and leaving her mark on an industry she loves. The knowledge and encouragement she shares in the classroom today will continue forward through the careers of the future professionals she’s helped prepare💆‍♀️

Asia, thank you for three years of dedication to your future professionals, your program, and our St. Pete campus. We’re so grateful to have you as part of the AIB family and to celebrate this milestone with you!

Happy 3-Year AIB Anniversary, Asia!🎉🥳 Here’s to the future professionals you’ve already impacted and all those still to come! 🥂❤️
Today, we celebrate the hard work, dedication, and passion that keep our communities moving forward❤️💙🤍

From the professionals already making their mark to the future professionals working toward the careers they love, we’re proud to recognize the talent, creativity, and commitment behind every craft.

Happy Labor Day from all of us at American Institute of Beauty!💪✂️ Stay safe and we'll see you back at school again tomorrow🏫
There’s always more to learn behind the chair✂️ Our St. Pete Cosmetology and Barbering future professionals recently had the opportunity to learn from Ashly Rose (@scissorsandash) during a special education class presented by @hanzonation!💈

Ashly joined our classes for hands-on haircutting education, demonstrating two different layered cuts—one with longer layers and one with a shorter, more shaped finish. Throughout each demo, she broke down the techniques behind creating a well-balanced haircut, showing our future professionals how to strategically remove weight, build movement, and use different types of shears to achieve the desired result.

Beyond the finished cuts, Ashly gave our future professionals a closer look at how the right tool, and knowing how and when to use it, can completely change the way a haircut comes together💇‍♀️

A huge thank you to Ashly Rose and Hanzo Shears for spending time with our St. Pete future professionals and sharing your skills, wisdom, and passion for the craft!❤️

We’re grateful for every opportunity that brings industry education directly into our classrooms and gives our future professionals another chance to learn, ask questions, and continue sharpening their skills✨
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AIB. The Place to Be.

AIB. The Place to Be.

Whether you prefer hairstyling, skincare, nail technology, or a little bit of everything we have a class for you.

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