
Explore our Atlanta campus inside Lenox Square Mall and discover all the beauty and wellness programs we offer.

Visit our spacious Dunwoody campus and see how our programs prepare you for success in the beauty and wellness industry.

Explore our Atlanta campus inside Lenox Square Mall and discover all the beauty and wellness programs we offer.

Visit our spacious Dunwoody campus and see how our programs prepare you for success in the beauty and wellness industry.
At Elaine Sterling Institute, students train in esthetics, cosmetology, massage therapy, nail care, and more, guided by internationally trained founder Elaine Sterling. Our programs go beyond the basics, combining European educational traditions with modern techniques to build the skills, professionalism, and confidence employers value.
Visit our Atlanta Buckhead or Dunwoody campus to tour student clinic areas designed to look and feel like a real salon or spa, and see firsthand how our licensed instructors support your personal and professional growth. Contact us to schedule a tour.
International Technique, Contemporary Training
Choosing the right beauty school means finding a place where what you learn leads to a real career. At Elaine Sterling Institute, we nurture your passion for beauty and wellness and transform you into a polished professional with a deep understanding of your chosen trade.
Our programs go beyond a basic beauty school education. You’ll train with advanced products and techniques used in luxury spas, medical practices, and high-end salons — gaining the real-world experience and strong technical foundation needed for premium positions in the industry.
We care about professionalism — in our school and in how our students serve clients. Our programs are built for students who want to sustain a long-term career, supported by professional learning environments and meaningful industry partnerships.
Our curriculum is guided by CIDESCO and ITEC-certified founder Elaine Sterling, reflecting a world-class approach to technique, professionalism, and client care. Graduates are prepared to meet the standards of luxury spas, medspas, salons, and wellness centers.
Our campuses are clean, modern, and equipped with the latest industry tools and equipment. Clinic floors and treatment areas are designed to look and feel like a luxury spa or salon — helping students transition seamlessly 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.
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.
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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