Empire Medical Training Review Summary: Empire Medical Training is a high-volume aesthetic education provider with wide course offerings and membership mixed with limited transparency around hands-on practice, instructor credentials, and training depth. Below is a detailed breakdown of strengths and weaknesses.
Updated March 9, 2026
Review Methodology Explained
Aesthetic training programs can produce very different outcomes for clinicians depending on prior clinical experience, learning style, and access to mentorship after the course. Because of this variability, it is difficult to label any single training program as universally “best” or “worst.”
Instead, this site focuses on objective factors that are transparently available online at the training provider’s website that clinicians commonly evaluate when selecting post-graduate Botox® and dermal filler training, including:
Instructor credentials and licensure
CME accreditation status
Hands-on training structure
Class size and supervision
Patient model recruitment practices
Transparency of pricing and program structure
Our reviews rely primarily on information publicly available on each training provider’s website, including course descriptions, FAQs, and terms and conditions. When important details are unclear or not disclosed, those areas are identified so prospective students know which questions to ask before enrolling, and consider reasons why they might not be disclosed up front online in full transparency.
Because training programs change over time, readers are encouraged to confirm current policies directly with the provider band consider asking why those answers are not readily available on the company website.
Key Empire Medical Training Facts at a Glance
- One of the largest and oldest aesthetic training companies.
- No guarantee of hands-on practice opportunities even in basic courses.
- Course size often appears to exceed 10–20 participants in class photos.
- Memberships and “AAOPM” board certifications (AAOPM is owned by Empire) are bundled sales tactics.
- Unclear instructor identity or credentials listed per date.
- Locations often generic hotel venues for aesthetic courses.
Conclusion
For practitioners seeking volume and broad access at scale, Empire offers many options. But for those who need guaranteed hands-on practice, instructor transparency, and single-course certification without upsells, smaller boutique programs—like those with broad CME accreditation, clinic-based hands-on training, and public instructor rosters—are worth evaluating. Read on for more detailed information and links…
Empire Medical Training is one of the longer-standing private training organizations in the aesthetic and wellness education space, with origins dating back to the late 1990s. Historically, the company relied heavily on direct-mail marketing campaigns promoting courses in aesthetics, integrative medicine, and osteopathic-related techniques.
Empire introduced a membership-based model allowing participants to attend multiple live courses over a defined period. While this structure can appear attractive in theory, prospective participants should carefully evaluate course availability, geographic distribution, and scheduling logistics. As with any membership-based educational model, the practical value depends on how frequently courses are offered in accessible locations and whether the scheduling aligns with the participant’s availability.
Online reviews over the years have reflected mixed experiences, including complaints related to communication, scheduling, and course fulfillment. As with any training provider, prospective students should review multiple independent sources—including consumer protection forums and the Better Business Bureau—to understand the range of reported experiences and to assess patterns over time. Historical reviews should be weighed in context, recognizing that businesses evolve, but also considering that ownership and leadership structures have not materially changed for this company.
Empire offers training in a broad array of niche topics. Prospective attendees should independently assess whether certain advanced procedures—such as ultrasound-guided injections or complex body contouring techniques—can be appropriately learned in short-format CME settings, and whether additional mentorship, proctorship, or specialty training may be advisable before clinical implementation.
It is also important to clarify the distinction between independent specialty boards and organizations that are affiliated with or operated by a training company. A credentialing organization called AAOPM and Empire are organizationally connected to together, rather than functioning as independent third-party certifying authorities. Practitioners should carefully evaluate what type of recognition an AAOPM credential carries, and whether it has regulatory or peer-recognized standing.
As with any for-profit training organization, due diligence is essential. Prospective participants should review refund policies, written agreements, course calendars, terms and conditions, and the specific scope of training being offered before committing substantial upfront payments.
Multi-Point Review of Empire Medical Botox Training and AAOPM Botox Training
Each Category compares publicly available information on Empire Medical and AAOPM and compares it to an ideal industry training.
Empire Ownership: Osteopath (DO). Other investor involvement is unknown.
1. 🟢CME Accreditation for MD, DO, NP, PA, RN's
The word "certification" is used prominently by this training program, yet it has no formal legal meaning. It just means receipt of a piece of paper. The standard for post-graduate education is CME or CEU-accredited training that is peer reviewed and backed by an organization called a "joint sponsor" who is authorized to award AMA Category 1 Credits which are the only credits accepted for physicians, NP's, PA's and nurses.
Empire appears uses a joint sponsor called AKH who is authorized to award AMA Category 1 level certification for physicians, nurses and PA's. Not all Empire Courses carry the CME designation, but the most common and popular introductory courses appear to have this CME accreditation. Empire does not appear to have accreditation for their online offerings, or for all of their training courses, but the ones that do are clearly marked. For example, a basic course like lip fillers is typically CME-accredited, but at Empire, it is not.
If you are considering taking an Empire class that does not list CME credit, please contact them first and confirm.
2. 🟡Faculty Qualifications and Transparency
Empire has always prided itself in using an all MD and DO faculty. However Empire has a long history of listing people in their faculty bio's who do not actively teach courses on a regular basis. Some of these are listed as "Knowledge Leaders" and "Celebrity" physicians who may not have any active training opportunities.
It is impossible to know who is teaching any one given Empire Medical Training course offering because they never list the faculty for a given date and location. Therefore you will not know the qualifications of your instructor in advance.
Empire in general has had many talented faculty members in the past, and many rotate in and out of teaching for them. If you plan on registering for an Empire Medical Training class, please contact them first and ask for the name and degree of the instructor.
3. 🟡Completeness of the First Level Course.
It is difficult enough to calculate the cost of training when factoring in your time commitment and travel. However, when training is incomplete, or you have to purchase the product for hands-on (See Point 4 below), that makes it even harder.
The standard here is to teach everything that is FDA-cleared and off-label indications that work in the level 1 course. Empire's course outlines for their basic Botox and Fillers courses are low on specifics, so it is difficult to assess exactly what will be taught in the basic vs the advanced course. Moreover, taking both courses requires additional time off and often travel to a different city where the advanced course will be offered. Looking at the limited information taught in Level 1, and the important basic information reserved for Level 2, it is apparent that their business model is to sell higher-priced memberships and force people to take multiple courses (but at a "discount") instead of selling a comprehensive single training at a competitive price.
If you are planning to take an Empire training course, please call and check the full course outline before registration.
4. 🔴Transparency Regarding Hands-On Product Provided in Tuition Cost.
Empire's basic and advanced toxin/filler courses do not guarantee any amount of hands-on product to be provided or guarantee that an attendee will be able to do hands-on at all. Buried at the bottom of their course agendas are statements like... "live demonstrations on patients". A "demonstration" is not hands-on practice required for true hands-on certification that many medical malpractice insurance carriers require. Their basic Botox course, which only meets for 4 hours, also does not guarantee any amount of hands-on practice with real product. They state "some courses will feature anatomical models or live models to enhance the learning experience." They also state that the final agenda will be emailed 3 days in advance. Even they do not guarantee the agenda in advance, or perhaps it is based on the class size as booked. The ideal standard is to provide a certain amount of toxin and filler for hands-on use included in the tuition price.
If you are considering taking an Empire hands-on training, consider calling and getting the amount of hands-on product you are entitled to from your tuition in writing before registration.
5. 🔴Maximum Hands-On Class Size
Looking here it appears that the class can be quite large with what appears to be a single faculty instructor. Their website and social media are scattered with photos of rooms with 10 or more attendees in a class, some photos have 20-30. This could be too large for a 1-day training.
The ideal for a training course should be a cap of around 5-6 providers per instructor for the best hands-on treatment experience. If an organization has more demand, they should open more dates, or add more faculty, not just add more seats.
If you are considering an Empire hands-on training, try to get an assurance in writing of the maximum class size.
6. 🟢Location Transparency
Locations for toxin and filler courses are generally hotels, but the locations are listed to allow the attendee to prepare travel arrangements prior to registration. Some 2026 Yelp reviews have stated that location information is incomplete and venues are difficult to access in some locations.
7. 🔴No Unaccredited Board Claims, Society Claims, or Membership Upsells
Empire Medical Training was among the early organizations to introduce membership-based education models in the aesthetic CME space. It also spawned a credentialing entity known as the American Academy of Procedural Medicine (AAOPM) in 2008.
Prospective participants should understand that continuing “membership” is not a regulatory requirement to maintain prior training. Educational coursework, once completed, does not expire unless a specific credentialing body requires periodic re-training or maintenance of certification, typically not needed for procedural or aesthetic CME. Training itself is distinct from licensure, and state medical or dental boards regulate professional practice—not private membership organizations like Empire or AAOPM.
It is also important to distinguish between independent specialty boards and credentialing bodies that are organizationally affiliated with a training company. Independent boards are typically governed by diverse, externally positioned professionals and operate separately from any single commercial education provider. In contrast, when a credentialing organization is closely aligned with or created by a training company, prospective applicants should evaluate whether it functions as an independent certifying authority or as an internally administered designation.
Aesthetic medicine is not recognized as a formally accredited specialty by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). As such, no single private organization serves as the regulatory authority for the field. Practitioners should carefully assess what any offered “board certification” represents—specifically, whether it is independently governed, whether it is widely recognized by peers, and whether it carries regulatory standing beyond the issuing organization.
Before enrolling in any membership or credentialing pathway, clinicians are advised to review governance structures, disclosure documents, ownership affiliations, and the practical benefits of the designation relative to its cost.
8. 🟡Offers a Blended Online plus Live Learning Environment
Empire offers a "livestream" membership but it is not clear how often each livestream course is actually given and there is no independent CME accreditation listed on their website for these livestreams.
In addition, Some of Empire's courses mention reviewing of material through a "portal" prior to attending the live date, but again these courses are not listed as accredited. Only the live contact time in a limited number of basic courses is CME accredited.
There is no evidence that these online learning modules have any standalone accreditation because when you try to click on one, it takes you to the general course page which only has a live agenda listed. If there was more online course detail or if these on-demand materials are independently CME-accredited, these online courses would potentially meet the ideal for online aesthetic training.
9. 🟢No Risk of Paid Models at the Live Training
Empire does not guarantee any level of hands-on practice for any attendee. However they also state in some course agendas that volunteers may be present for either demonstrations or for actual hands-on. It is unclear if these volunteers are other attendees or patients from the community. However, since they do not publicly recruit patients to pay for treatments like some other programs, this is a good feature.
Still one interested in Empire training should call and ask if an attendee can perform a treatment on a patient she brings to the course and how much product will be included. Training programs ideally should not refuse this request.
10. 🟡General Transparency and Accessibility
Empire Medical Training lists several medical schools and academic institutions as “academic venues” on its website. Prospective participants should seek clarity regarding the nature of those relationships. In many cases within the industry, cadaver-based courses are conducted at university-affiliated facilities because those institutions provide access to anatomy labs and required infrastructure. This typically reflects a facility-use agreement rather than academic sponsorship, endorsement, or curriculum oversight by the university itself of hotel based aesthetic injection courses. Attendees should confirm whether any listed institution formally sponsors, accredits, or approves the educational content, or whether it is simply serving as a venue provider.
When evaluating any training organization, it is advisable to review the terms and conditions carefully, particularly refund policies, scheduling policies, and dispute resolution language. The tone and structure of those agreements can provide insight into how the organization manages cancellations, rescheduling, and financial disputes. Payment policies—such as limitations on credit card usage or additional processing fees—should also be reviewed in advance so participants understand their financial protections.
Marketing elements such as five-star graphics, satisfaction statistics, and testimonial videos are common across the continuing education industry, and Empire has used them liberally for years. Prospective students should look for transparency regarding how satisfaction metrics are calculated and whether claims are independently verifiable. As with any provider, reviewing a broad range of third-party feedback, both positive and negative, can provide a more balanced perspective.
For high-cost training programs that require substantial upfront payment, clinicians may wish to consider whether any immediate deliverables are provided, such as accredited online modules, preparatory coursework, or other tangible educational materials prior to live attendance.
Finally, any disclaimers regarding the accuracy or completeness of website content should be read carefully. Such language is common in online terms of service, but prospective participants should ensure that key representations about course content, faculty, CME status, and scheduling are clearly documented in writing before committing funds.
Empire may offer programs that are appropriate for certain clinicians depending on timing, location, and educational needs. Their breadth of course offerings has always been large. However, as with any significant professional investment, due diligence, including independent verification of claims, careful contract review, and evaluation of total cost versus educational value is strongly recommended. If you are considering a membership, look first at the available schedules for the courses you wish to attend and estimate the time off and travel needed to fulfill this agenda before purchasing any membership.
Final Recommendation… If you see a course that nobody else teaches, then consider Empire for that course only, but be very careful of memberships and the logistics of attending multiple courses, or getting the guaranteed, small-group training that you will need as a foundation to launch your aesthetic career. Otherwise, you may have better options.
Empire Medical Training – Frequently Asked Questions
What is Empire Medical Training and how is it structured?
Empire Medical Training is one of the largest providers of aesthetic and medical training courses in the U.S. They offer a wide variety of topics, often taught in hotel conference rooms, and promote membership packages that allow access to multiple courses. However, over the years, Empire has faced criticism for frequent course cancellations, lack of transparency about faculty qualifications, limited verifiable accreditation, and upselling of memberships or “advanced” courses that are not required to practice. Their associated “board certification” entity, AAOPM, is not recognized by any state or national medical or nursing board, nor are they an independent national authority of record in aesthetics.
Who actually teaches Empire Medical Training courses?
Empire does not list the specific instructors for each course date or location, making it difficult to confirm who will be teaching your session. While their website maintains a faculty page, some listed instructors are not actively teaching, and many classes are taught by less-experienced nurses rather than the advertised experts. This lack of transparency makes it important for prospective attendees to ask directly about the qualifications of the trainer for their scheduled course.
How much hands-on training can I expect with Empire Medical Training?
Empire’s training model often emphasizes lecture and demonstration over supervised hands-on practice according to their own published agendas. Some attendees report only observing demonstrations rather than performing procedures themselves. Agendas may vary depending on attendance and profitability of the class date, and the final schedule is sometimes only released days before the event. Prospective students should confirm in writing the number of guaranteed supervised injections and the qualifications of the supervising instructor before registering.
Is Empire Medical Training accredited?
Empire lists accreditation for some courses, but independent verification is limited. Accreditation quality and type vary depending on the course, and some accreditations are not accepted by certain state licensing boards or liability insurance carriers. For practitioners seeking CME-accredited Botox or filler training, it is critical to verify whether the course meets your state’s professional requirements.
