American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine (AAAM) vs American Association of Aesthetic Medicine and Surgery (AAAMS)

The short version

American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine (AAAM) sells multi-day certificate and diploma courses, a board examination and a yearly congress, with courses in US cities and other countries. American Association of Aesthetic Medicine and Surgery (AAAMS) sells online and virtual courses, with in-person training at its Los Angeles facility. Both price per course and publish a price for every listing. AAAM publishes support hours and a stated refund deadline; AAAMS publishes payment splitting and a one-year course access window. AAAM's eligibility wording names licensed physicians and dentists; AAAMS names physicians, nurses, physician assistants and dentists.

Pricing

AAAM publishes a member fee and a non-member fee for each of its three listings: USD 2,700 / USD 2,900 for the Level 1 Certificate Course in Aesthetic Medicine, USD 4,000 / USD 4,200 for the Level 2 Diploma Course, and USD 845 / USD 975 for the 22nd AAAM Congress. Its one published extra cost is a $250 administration charge, deducted from a registration cancelled before the deadline.

AAAMS publishes one price per course: $200 for Introduction to Aesthetics (3.5 hours) and for Introduction to Business of Aesthetics (3 hours), $650 each for BOTOX 101 (6.5 hours) and Dermal Fillers 101 (7 hours), and a $3,450 standard course fee for the Aesthetic Injector Certification Program. That program includes a 17-hour online course, hands-on training and 12 months of AAAMS Basic Associate Membership. Its site does not state extra costs.

Neither site states a setup fee.

Contract and cancellation

Both sell per course, and neither site states a minimum term.

AAAM's terms: a registration cancelled before the course's stated deadline is refunded minus the $250 administration charge, and the credit can be moved to another event with no fee. Full registration fees are forfeited after the deadline, and no-shows forfeit any refund or credit.

AAAMS's FAQ states there are no refunds once a class is paid for, and that it transfers attendees to a different hands-on date with 4 weeks notice. It also states that payments on higher-priced courses can be split, that there are no loans or scholarships, and that course access runs for one year from registration with an option to renew. AAAM's site does not state a financing option.

Built for med spas

Both teach injectables. AAAM's published topics are botulinum toxin, chemical peels, injectable fillers and lasers, plus a board certification exam in aesthetic medicine, and it sells membership alongside courses. AAAMS's list covers Botox and dermal filler certification, advanced facial aesthetics, liposuction training, a business-of-aesthetics course and a facial aesthetics mentorship, and its injector certification includes marketing materials and startup forms.

On support, AAAM publishes phone, WhatsApp, email and a contact form, with hours of Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:30 PM Pacific Time. AAAMS publishes a phone number and a contact form; its site does not state support hours.

Neither site names a client, states a case study result or lists a third-party review profile.

Which one to look at first

Look at AAAM first if you are a physician or dentist who wants in-person, multi-day courses with a stated refund deadline, a no-fee transfer to another event and published support hours.

Look at AAAMS first if you want to start with a short online course and add hands-on training later, or if you practice as a nurse or physician assistant.

Neither site publishes third-party reviews, so ask each for a past attendee you can speak to. See the rest of the field in training and certification.