I am a fairly new electrologist in an unlicensed state. I will be taking the CPE this fall. As I am new, I am wondering how beneficial joining the AEA is. I would appreciate input from my colleagues.
Another question I have is if there will be opportunities via the convention to have work done on myself? There is another electrologist in my town but she is horrible on blonde hair. I need help.
I enjoy my membership in the AEA. I follow the AEA discussion board available to members. The members that participate have helped me through, on occasion, to sort through questions I have. You don’t learn all you need to know in school, so you almost have to hope that some real world electrologist will help you over some inevitable bumps in the beginning. You need a mentor(s) when you are a new electrologist and there are some very unselfish, hardworking, experienced electrologists on that board that will come through for you and answer questions. If you don’t find a mentor or two on the discussion forum, you may find one in your area. James kindly helped me and I never miss an opportunity to say so. He is a great mentor. Continued thanks James for all your help over the years.
Your blond hair comment leads me to believe that the other electrologist CAN’T SEE blond hair because she hasn’t set herself up with custom fit surgical loops or better yet, stereo magnification. A quality light source figures in here, too. Make sure you have the best equipment to compliment your great skill.
Maybe I’ll see you at the convention… I’m a restless traveler, so that’s why I say, maybe
Dee
If you are taking the CPE, the membership in the AEA will qualify you for a discount on both the CPE fees, and the convention fees. Should you continue the CPE, you will have the option of taking the test once every 5 years (Over $1,000 total expenses, once every 5 years) or, you can attend the convention every year and keep up your CEU’s that way (Cost over $1,000 every year over 5 years = $5,000) An alternative is to find CEU’s closer to home, and then pay the AEA a $20 “Recording Fee” for each CEU attended outside of the national convention. This would be incalculable, as the permutations between cost of classes, and amounts of “Recording Fees” is endless. It has also happened that the organization might dissallow or reduce the CEU credits given for a class retroactively, so that you have paid for the class, sat through the class, sent them money, and you still don’t get the CEU credits.
The only way you will be able to get any work done on you is if someone brings their own set up and you work in the hotel rooms, or if the AEA leadership has dropped their ridiculous policy regarding paid attendees being in the vendors area during class time. If one is now allowed to spend time in the vendor’s area test driving a $10,000 electrolysis machine instead of listening to to the same sterilization and insurance lecture for the 25th time, then you have hope.
The conversations that take place outside of the official classes are the ones that will help you the most. 
good luck
Dfahey, you are right about the blonde hair issue. I know now, as a certified electrologist with a great mentor, that she doesn’t have the right set up. Thanks to the information my mentor told me, I have the right set up and LOVE annihilating those little blonde hairs on my clients! I only wish I could do the same on myself…
I find it quite ironic that electrologists are excluded from electrolysis at the convention. Odd.
Thank you and James for your info on joining the AEA. I appreciate your opinions and input.
AEA membership is worthwhile if you are in a state that requires CEU’s as it offers lots of opportunities to accrue them. Even though they are not required in your state, membership is worthwhile because it provides networking opportunites and exposure to vendors that you might not otherwise know about.
Membership also provides an opporunity to meet other electrologists and in a profession where most of us work as the solo tech., membership becomes that opportunity to interact with colleagues.
If you are located near me, I welcome you to my office for mentoring and surely for treatment exchange.
If I lived near Arlene, I would welcome the offer of treatment exchange.
Not everyone can get work done by a member of the Electrolysis SuperFriends. 
I won’t say much, or I might sound like a salesperson…there are many benefits in being a member of AEA.
I do want to comment about the quote above. Electrologists aren’t excluded from giving or receiving electrolysis at the convention. Dectro sets up a magnificent booth with everything you would need for treatment - excluding your own personal magnification! The booth is always busy.