How Do I Become a Spa Receptionist?

When a person wants to become a spa receptionist, she must complete at least high-school level education and get on-the-job training. In larger or more elite spas, more advanced training at a community or vocational college might be necessary. Regardless of whether an individual takes college-level classes, a person who wants to enter the industry should familiarize herself with spa operations and services, either through other positions such as retail sales or using the services.

The basic education required to become a spa receptionist is a high school diploma or graduate equivalency degree (GED). Spas look for receptionists who have had courses in word processing, spreadsheets and communications. An applicant for a spa receptionist job also should be comfortable with technology, understanding how to email, fax, copy and access databases. They have these requirements because receptionists are responsible for interacting with clients and must keep accurate records of spa operations.

Employers often prefer candidates who have had additional training specific to receptionist work. These spas want candidates who have completed formal certificate or associate degree programs in office administration support or reception. These types of qualifications usually are found in spas that cater to a large number of clients and therefore need receptionists who can be efficient despite high traffic volume. Spas that provide services to elite or high-profile clientele also sometimes want this degree of professionalism.

It generally is not enough that a person have the right education to become a spa receptionist. She also must be familiar with the services the spa provides. These include services such as massage, facials, aromatherapy, and deep exfoliation. Each of these therapies has its own methodologies, tools and safety considerations. Clients often ask the receptionist for information about these procedures over the phone or in person, so the receptionist has to be able to answer any service inquiries she receives, including pricing. A background in sales, customer service, or health services can provide valuable insights.

In most spas, a person who wants to become a spa receptionist goes through a period of on-the-job training. This is necessary despite any formal education and experience the candidate has, because every spa has its own operating procedures, policies, equipment and setup. The training usually is fairly short, sometimes as little as a week. If the spa has a large staff or offers a large number of services, training to become a spa receptionist might last a month or more, but this is not as common.