Download the Training Provider Side-by-Side Comparison Worksheet
A free Excel worksheet with the 8 Buyer's Guide questions already set up, so you can compare up to four training programs as you research.
Download Worksheet (.xlsx)8 Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Botox and Filler Training Provider
Aesthetic training courses vary widely in who teaches them, where they are held, what they include, and what they leave for later courses. These eight questions are based on the A-T.com Buyer’s Guide criteria, the same standard applied to every training provider reviewed on this site. Ask them of any program before you register, and expect a specific answer to each one.
📋 Want to see how specific programs answer these questions? Each provider review applies these same eight criteria using the provider’s own published information. Start with the Buyer’s Guide criteria →
aesthetic-training.com is owned by AT Holdings, which shares common ownership with PracticalCME. Every training provider, including PracticalCME, is reviewed against the same published criteria.
1. Who will be my hands-on instructor, and is that person licensed in this state?
Ask for the instructor’s name and credentials for your specific date and location, before you pay. A named instructor is the only way to verify a license, experience, and disciplinary history with the state licensing board, and the person supervising your injections should hold an active license in the state where the training takes place. A complete answer names the instructor, their license type, and the state where they are licensed.
2. What is the exact address of the training site, and what kind of facility is it?
Ask for the venue name and street address for your date. A published address lets you plan travel, confirm the setting, and know exactly what you are paying for. A complete answer gives the street address and tells you whether training takes place in a clinical treatment space or a hotel meeting room.
3. Is the course CME accredited for my profession, and by whom?
Ask which accredited provider or joint provider awards the credit, which credit types apply, such as AMA PRA Category 1 for physicians and ANCC contact hours for nurses, and the approval or release dates. Licensing boards recognize accredited continuing education for renewal requirements, and employers and liability carriers often ask for it. A complete answer names the accredited provider, the credit type and hours for your license, and confirms the credit is current on your training date.
4. How many attendees will each hands-on instructor supervise?
Ask for the maximum number of attendees per instructor for your date, not a general description such as small groups. Fewer attendees per instructor means more supervised injections and more direct feedback for you. A complete answer gives a specific number, ideally 6 or fewer attendees per instructor.
5. Is neurotoxin and filler for hands-on training included in tuition?
Ask whether product is included and how much you will personally inject. Included product means no surprise costs on training day and confirms that every attendee has product to inject. A complete answer states the amount of neurotoxin and filler included for each attendee.
6. Will I treat a patient I bring, or a model recruited by the training company?
Ask who provides the hands-on patients and whether you may bring your own. Treating someone you know lets you handle consent, aftercare, and follow-up, the same responsibilities you will have in practice. If the company recruits models, ask which licensed practice is responsible for their treatment and follow-up care. A complete answer confirms you may treat a patient you bring and know.
7. How long will I have access to the online course materials, and are updates included?
Ask how long online access lasts after the course and whether content updates are included. Ongoing access lets you review technique and dosing after training and stay current as products and evidence change. A complete answer confirms at least 12 months of access to accredited online materials, with updates included.
8. Does the foundational course cover everything I need to start safely, or is part of it saved for an advanced course?
Ask for the published course outline and compare it with the A-T.com Core Curriculum. A foundational course should cover the FDA-approved toxin indications, including glabellar lines, crow’s feet, forehead lines, and platysma bands, along with lips, nasolabial folds, and vascular occlusion recognition with a hyaluronidase protocol, without requiring a second course. A complete answer shows each Core Curriculum item in the foundational course outline.
No single program can train every clinician entering aesthetic medicine. While the “best” program may not have the price, availability or location to meet your needs. This is why researching so many programs is so important. Do I train now with my second choice? or wait and train with my first choice? Only you can answer that question. Whichever program you choose, asking these questions first helps you get safe, complete training and start your practice on solid footing.