Becoming a beauty professional is a journey, and our beauty schools can give you the start you need. As a student at Elaine Sterling Institute, you can learn esthetics, massage therapy, cosmetology, nail care, makeup, and more. Our comprehensive programs dive deep into the theory and skills within each subject, going beyond the basics, so you can enter the beauty industry with strong technique, professionalism, and a deep understanding of beauty and wellness. Guided by internationally-trained Elaine Sterling, we follow global standards of beauty, combining classical European traditions with American scientific technology.
You can begin your enrollment journey by visiting either our Atlanta Buckhead campus or our Dunwoody campus. Both campuses are equipped with high-end tools and products that are used in professional settings. During your visit, you can tour the student clinic areas, which look and feel like a real salon and spa.
Envision yourself practicing your skills on clients under the direct supervision of licensed instructors who are committed to your personal and professional growth as a beauty practitioner. Contact us to schedule a school tour!
International Technique, Contemporary Training
When you are choosing a beauty school, you look for expertise and professionalism. Find a school that ensures what you learn can lead to a real career. Elaine Sterling Institute can nurture your passion for skincare, beauty, and service, and transform you into a polished professional with a deep understanding of your chosen trade. See what our school does differently that sets us apart from the rest.
We offer more than a basic beauty school education. You can learn from experienced instructors while training with advanced, reputable products and techniques that are used in luxury spas, medical practices, and high-end salons. Our programs are a combination of rigorous training, real-world practice, and strong technique development, allowing you to gain a deep and structured learning experience that will prepare you for premium positions in the industry.
We care about professionalism in our school and in the way our students provide services to clients. Our programs are an excellent choice for students who want to grow into beauty professionals with the ability to sustain a career for many years. We provide professional settings for our students to learn in, and we embrace meaningful industry partnerships to help them prepare for real careers. Licensed professionals also come to us for continued education programs and instructor programs.
Our school is guided by Elaine Sterling, an internationally-trained CIDESCO and ITEC-certified professional. In the spirit of what she has learned and mastered over the years, our curriculum reflects a world-class approach to technique, professionalism, and client care. Because students are expected to follow the rigorous standards informed by international certifications, they can become reliable employees for spas, salons, medspas, and wellness centers.
Our campuses are clean, modern, and equipped with some of the latest machines and equipment in the industry. Multiple clinic floors and treatment areas are designed to look and feel like a luxury spa or salon, giving both students and clients the pleasure of being in a high-quality environment. This can also help students easily transition from school to the workplace.
Elaine Sterling, the founder of our school, is a licensed esthetician, massage therapist, and nail technician. She is internationally trained and holds prestigious CIDESCO and ITEC certifications, which represent the highest global standards in esthetics and beauty therapy. Her international education helps shape our curriculum with a broader and more advanced perspective. Under her guidance, students can benefit from techniques, standards, and philosophies that are recognized worldwide, not just within the United States. Elaine’s credentials give our school a level of credibility, depth, and quality that sets it apart in the local and national market.
Our school’s mission and vision statements are integral to the future success of our educational programs and ultimately our graduates’ success in the workplace. The instructional and administrative staff realize they must be committed to the Institution’s mission and vision in order to attain the objectives and goals of the strategic plan.
The mission of the Elaine Sterling Institute is to be the global leader in Spa education by combining classical European traditions of barbering, cosmetology, esthetics, nail care, and massage therapy with modern American scientific technologies. We do this through providing educational excellence to our students with a long-term commitment to their personal and professional development.
The vision statement of the Elaine Sterling Institute is to provide programs of educational excellence and to instruct our students in the competencies set by the state board of cosmetology and massage therapy, equipping students with the required skills to pass the state board examinations and to enter the workforce. Realizing this vision will ensure ESI has programs that are of the highest standard, and its graduates will be sought by employers in the spa and medical spa industry.
Marisa Costigan
I am really glad I took the laser class offered at The Elaine Sterling Institute. Elaine’s school is very nice & professional. Tony Stanfill is an excellent instructor and she is very thorough in teaching laser safety and education. I thought there was plenty of hands on experience with the different lasers. After taking the class, I got offered a position at a dermatology practice.
Natasha Harvey
I have really enjoyed Ms. Gina's online class! She is an awesome teacher and breaks down the material for comprehensive and does not overwhelm.
Janice Laster
Just wanted to touch base with you and say thank you so much for your classes at TIEGA!! EVERYONE LOVED YOU!!! You are a wonderful educator, knowledgeable and entertaining, especially in the way you teach!! We are looking forward to the GACTE Conference in July! Take care and again thank you very much!
Cher Clark
Elaine, it was my pleasure to get to know you and have you as my mentor during my time as your student during my introduction to esthetics. Without your expertise and approval I may not have had the confidence I needed to face such a major career change. Thank you so much!
Lisa Easton
Elaine Sterling has not only been a great instructor, but has continued to lead her students. I now own a medical spa and Elaine continues to provide guidance and clinical advice for me. I appreciate and admire her ambition in this field and look forward to her continued support.
Yes, Elaine Sterling Institute is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education (COE), which means we have met very vigorous standards set by our accrediting body to assure that we offer quality education.
We are also licensed by the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology, and we are in compliance with the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission (GNPEC).
We have a very active job placement department. At Elaine Sterling Institute, we believe networking with industry leaders is vital to our students’ ability to be placed upon graduation. While we cannot promise anyone a job, we can connect students and graduates with potential employers and assist with resume and interviewing skills.
Our student body forms a diverse group of individuals ranging from 18-65 years of age. Some students join us right after high school, while others decide to get a beauty school education later in life, as a way to change their career, open up new career possibilities, or follow a passion for beauty.
CIDESCO (Comité International d’Esthétique et de Cosmétologie) is the World Standard for Beauty and Spa Therapy. Membership is open to the leading schools, colleges, beauty salons, and spas of the world. Earning a CIDESCO certification requires completion of training at a registered CIDESCO school, a 2,500-4,000 word project with case histories, a multiple-choice exam, and a final practical exam.
ITEC (International Therapist Exam Council) is an international certification that is recognized in over 37 countries worldwide, allowing candidates to work internationally. The ITEC curriculum is included in all programs, and a certification class can be taken for an additional cost as a post-graduate course. This certification ensures that your training is current and meets international standards.
Whether you wish to work overseas or stay in the United States, you can get the top internationally recognized certifications at Elaine Sterling Institute, the only beauty school in Georgia that offers these certifications.
We do offer tutoring as needed, but our curriculum is set up in such a way that tutoring is not usually needed. We have a systematic methodology to our educational process, and students can learn in multiple ways, from listening to classroom lectures, watching instructor/guest speaker demonstrations, and experiencing hands-on training in the student clinic areas. We make learning fun!
3393 Peachtree Rd NE #1003B, Atlanta, GA 30326 (Located inside Lenox Mall in the Dining Pavilion)
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