Botox is a prescription therapy used by doctors for both aesthetic and medicinal reasons. Patients are increasingly interested in Botox injections and treatments. Earning certification to give Botox injections helps you to integrate these treatments into your medical practice and address the needs of a large number of patients. In this post, we’ll go over how Botox works, what degree you need to give botox injections, and credentials you’ll need to offer Botox injections, and how you may get a botox certification to do so.
What Degree Do You Need To Give Botox Injections?
Botox injections may only be administered by a qualified physician (MD or DO), physician assistant, dentist, registered nurse, nurse practitioner, or registered nurse. You must be fully licensed to practice in your state or country. In most states, registered nurses must practice with a physician overseeing their practice and under a treatment protocol. Some states also require physician supervision for Nurse Practitioners. Botox and Dermal Fillers are classified as prescription agents in the USA and Canada, and therefore must be ordered by someone who has prescription privileges. While registered nurses can administer a medication, they do not typically have the rights to order the medication.
Licensed Practical Nurses, Aestheticians, Nursing Assistants, Chiropractors, and other health-related fields cannot perform these procedures since they cannot work with prescription drugs.
What Training is Necessary?
You need to complete an Accredited Training Program with hands-on Certification and CME credits. This is best achieved with small-group learning and MD instruction. The reason is that you cannot be trained by someone who has a lower level licensure than you do. Therefore, and RN cannot train a PA or MD, and an NP cannot train an MD. But MD’s can supervise anyone in a training as well as a clinical setting.
Should Nurses be trained by Doctors or by Other Nurses?
If you are an RN or Nurse Practitioner, this is the most important decision you can make. Physicians make the best trainers for a number of reasons…
- Physicians all hire and supervise nurses. They know what physicians want in their nurse injector and will train you to have the most marketable skillset. Other nurses will not be hiring and overseeing you. MD’s will be.
- Botox Injections are an art. There should be flexibility in treatment design. Many Nurses start out working under a strict protocol and nurses who then teach the procedure often stick to rules and protocols that are too rigid and might not help you get the best results as a new trainee.
- Physicians typically teach the anatomy, pharmacology and function of the Toxins and the metabolism of fillers. Physicians also have more experience teaching about managing complications as they see more complications referred to them from other practices. They know the best way to manage complications is by knowing how to PREVENT them.
Your Course Must be Accredited. You must know before registering….
- Who Accredits the course (AAFP, AMA, AANP, ANCC, etc). If it is not stated, then their certificate is worthless.
- If the hands-on is taught in groups of more than 10, then you will likely not have enough one-on-one time. If they don’t mention maximum class size, not register.
- Finally, if you don’t know the names and qualifications of your faculty members before submitting payment, then you cannot be sure you are getting experienced training and not someone reading off a protocol sheet.
Avoid Training courses that….
- Insist that they provide “models” for you to inject, especially if you are from out of state. Trial lawyers have “planted” patients into training courses only to claim bad outcomes and sue the out of state trainee who will face tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees to defend even the most frivolous lawsuit. BRING A FRIEND or RELATIVE TO INJECT. Do not inject a stranger.
- Do not give you the full learning materials up front when they take your registration fee. Don’t pay for a “promise”. You want to attend the course already knowledgeable. We retain only 10-20% of what we hear live the first time. That increases to 70% when you know the material the first time. All of PracticalCME’s courses blend online learning at your own pace followed by live hands-on when you are knowledgeable.
See why PracticalCME is the only provider of fully-Accredited, small group Botox Training along with Fillers, PRP and Microneedling Certification, all using blended Online plus live hands-on and a 2-year membership to all of our Certification training materials so you can learn at your own pace. Check our Training Schedule for a Class near you.
For more information on training in aesthetic procedures, and a review of major training programs, please check out Aesthetic-Training.com.
How Does Botox Work?
Botox is a neurotoxin that affects the neurological system by interfering with particular nerve transmission mechanisms that induce muscle contraction. Botulinum toxin is injected directly into the skin or muscles by healthcare practitioners after being diluted with saline. Botox may have a multi-day lag before becoming effective. Depending on the treatment, the effects of cosmetic Botox might persist from three to four months.
Why Does Someone Get Botox?
Botox is used by healthcare providers for two reasons: cosmetic and/or medical purposes.
For Cosmetic Reasons
Botox is often requested by patients to smooth out fine lines and wrinkles in the forehead and around the eyes. While doctors may provide Botox injections in other regions such as the neck, lips, and chin, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has only authorized the injections for use around the eyes and on the forehead.
For Medical Reasons
Botox is used for a variety of medical issues in addition to aesthetic objectives. The injection can treat neck spasms, excessive sweating, overactive bladder, and lazy eye. Botox injections may also aid in the prevention of persistent migraines.
How to Get Botox Certification
You may seek a Botox certification to give injections if you have completed the educational and licensing requirements for your chosen path. Botox certification courses typically take one to two weeks to complete, however you may choose for an expedited program to get certified more quickly.
To get a Botox certification, follow these steps:
- Comply with the course or program prerequisites for certification.
You must be a physician, physician assistant, registered nurse, dentist, or medical professional with a current medical license to participate in Botox certification classes. Please check with your state medical board for any extra requirements.
- Take Botox training classes with PracticalCME
Botox training courses and programs are available for medical professionals to select from. It is critical to investigate the program and the university before choosing your courses. It is preferable to enroll in a respected, CME-accredited, blended online plus live hands-on, and expert-led school, like ours. Clinical experience courses are advantageous since they offer you vital hands-on knowledge with the Botox injection technique.
- Graduate from Botox training classes.
After successfully completing your Botox training classes, you will be awarded your certification. You’re qualified to give Botox injections to patients in a clinical environment if you’ve completed your state’s mandated training hours. Botox administration is governed by the laws of each state. In certain areas, for example, physician assistants and registered nurses are required to administer Botox while beneath the supervision of a physician.
What Is Covered In Botox Training Courses?
Course contents may differ significantly from one program to the next, but the following essential subjects remain constant:
- Patient care and safety
- Assessments of patients and treatment consultations
- Extensive training on the anatomy, neurophysiology, muscle, and circulatory system of the face, mouth, and jaw.
- Methods of sterilization
- Understanding the dangers, potential side effects, and problems
- Pain control and post-procedure care
- Training for injection
Typically, injection training focuses on the following components of injection administration:
- Problem-solving
- Treatment Planning
- Dosing
- Practice on Dummy Patients
Enroll Today
PracticalCME offers comprehensive training for Botox and Dermal Fillers. Reserve your seat now by visiting our website.