With so many changes in the industry—salons and spas opening and closing, schools going remote, and new legislation to promote the safe practice of advanced esthetics—it’s hard to know whether estheticians should take the time and the money to advance their education. In this episode of ASCP Esty Talk, we sit down with industry expert Mary Nielsen, vice chair of the Oregon Board of Certified Advanced Estheticians and diplomat with the American Board of Laser Surgery in Cosmetic Laser Procedures to determine why it is so important for estheticians to continue their education throughout their career.   About Mary Nielsen:   Mary Nielsen has a unique perspective in providing laser and esthetic service training. She has worked as a technician and nurse and was instrumental in the introduction of lasers and esthetics beyond cosmetic surgery. Since 2006, Mary has worked as a clinical trainer, providing education and training confidence to new laser operators in the Pacific Northwest and Canada. Her point of view and experience as a business owner has built successful management and marketing tools that she shares to help estheticians prosper.   Mary is the owner and a primary educator at Spectrum. She is a licensed esthetician in Oregon, a master esthetician in Washington, a licensed esthetic instructor in Oregon, and a licensed practical nurse. Mary was selected to the Oregon Board of Cosmetology Rules Advisory Committee for Esthetics and also serves on the Board of Certified Advanced Estheticians. Mary is also the author of A Compendium for Advanced Esthetics: A Guide for the Advanced or Master Esthetician, as well as several policies and procedure manuals for medical spas. She is also the founder and executive director of Fearless Beauties, Skintelligent Resources, and Cascade Aesthetic Alliance.   In her spare time, she enjoys being a grandma, hiking, fishing, and camping with her hubby and family.   Connect with Mary:   Website: www.spectrumlasertraining.com   Website: www.fearlessbeauties.org   Website: www.skintelligentresources.com   Website: www.cascadeaestheticalliance.org   LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mary-nielsen-7748b52   About Associated Skin Care Professionals (ASCP):   Associated Skin Care Professionals (ASCP) is the nation’s largest association for skin care professionals and your ONLY all-inclusive source for professional liability insurance, education, community, and career support. For estheticians at every stage of the journey, ASCP is your essential partner. Get in touch with us today if you have any questions or would like to join and become an ASCP member.   Advanced Modality Insurance (AMI) is exclusively available to ASCP members who have advanced their education in skin cares services such as permanent makeup, laser, and more. Learn more about AMI at www.ascpskincare.com/ami.   Connect with ASCP:   Website: www.ascpskincare.com   Email: getconnected@ascpskincare.com   Phone: 800-789-0411   Facebook: www.facebook.com/ASCPskincare   Instagram: www.instagram.com/ascpskincare   About our Sponsor: Celluma Light Therapy   BioPhotas invites you to adopt their illuminating approach to total health and wellness through scientifically proven products based on NASA-researched technology. Led by a network of leading medical professionals, BioPhotas’s unwavering commitment to honesty, accuracy, and integrity aids them as they continuously improve and evaluate policies to develop the most innovative, effective, and safest products on the market.   Focusing on wound healing research in the labs of the prestigious Beckman Laser Institute at UCI, BioPhotas has demonstrated that Celluma promotes cell proliferation and cell migration. As trailblazers in this area of research, BioPhotas intends to further this research to support and demonstrate how Celluma could potentially be utilized to accelerate the closure of slow and non-healing wounds.   Website: www.celluma.com   Email: info@celluma.com   Phone: (714) 978-0080   Fa