The Athenique Institute is unique in many respects, However, one very important difference between the Institute and many if not most other esthetics schools is that the Institute was founded by an individual who was an educator first and then only later an esthetician.

Vernell Sutherland, the Institute’s founder, is a licensed esthetician and licensed esthetics instructor in the State of Washington and is certified in Electrology and Laser Technology. Vernell holds both master and doctorate degrees in education and was a certified, practicing teacher for more than a decade. As a result, not only does the Institute benefit from Vernell’s experience as an esthetician and esthetics instructor but all programs are based on sound pedagogical principles to ensure the best possible educational outcome for our students.

You will find esthetics schools typically have large class sizes. For example, in the State of Washington, by law an esthetics class can have as many as 20 students. Large class size enables a school to achieve economy of scale and maximize profit but often at the expense of a truly individualized learning experience for the student.

Class sizes at the Institute are typically very small—usually no more than 4 students—so that you benefit from truly individualized instruction. The method of instruction includes but is not limited to textbooks, lectures, videos, demonstrations, and hands-on workshops. All students work under Vernell’s direct supervision and all members of the instructional staff, in addition to being licensed estheticians, are licensed esthetics instructors in the State of Washington.

The Institute’s programs are based on open enrollment. Open enrollment means that you can start a program at any time (space available, of course). This means that you do not have to wait to start on the fixed schedule required by most schools. When you start as an open enrollment student, we work with you to create an individualized learning plan that best fits your specific educational goals and objectives.