Chic Image Academy

The academy was founded by Liz Galdamez and her husband Kevin. Liz serves as founder, director and lead educator, and the school describes her as having more than 40 years of experience across education, holistic aesthetics, clinical practice and laser technology. The school calls itself a founder-led, boutique institution rather than a traditional beauty school.

A Medical Director, Dr. Demetri Arnaoutakis, M.D., guides the academy and is the Medical Director for its Laser and Electrology program. Faculty is a rotating group of licensed educators and working industry practitioners who teach to curriculum standards set by the founder.

Programs run from 180 to 600 clock hours. Esthetics (Facial Specialist) is a 220-hour diploma, with tuition of $3,475. Advanced Clinical Aesthetics is a 600-hour program that builds on the basic facial specialist training with advanced certifications, at $7,600 tuition. Electrology and Laser is a 320-hour diploma at $7,500 tuition, with a total program cost of $8,350. Nail Specialist is a 180-hour diploma at $2,650 tuition, with a total cost of $3,500, or $4,500 with advanced certifications. Makeup Artistry and Facial Specialty is a 480-hour diploma that includes 220 hours of Facial Specialty training, at $6,975 tuition and a total cost of $7,825. Massage Therapy is a 500-clock-hour diploma at $7,500 tuition, with a total cost of $8,350.

Students can attend full time or part time, in day or evening classes. Some programs offer English or Spanish instruction, and the Massage Therapy program is bilingual. The Facial Specialist track has an accelerated weekend option that meets Saturdays and Sundays and totals 220 hours, 149 online and 71 in person; it requires a minimum of 10 documented live model facials and a final hands-on practical. Accelerated programs require 56 hours a week and need special approval from the academy director. An immersion weekend option runs four times a year. Programs require at least 75% satisfactory academic progress and 100% attendance. Tuition can be paid in cash, by credit card or through Stripe, with payment plans through third-party lenders; Klarna and Flexxbuy are accepted for tuition after admission.

The school is licensed by the Commission for Independent Education, Florida Department of Education, and became a CIDESCO Training School. It also functions as a licensed medical spa. The campus includes clinic spaces and a licensed bistro. The school's homepage lists a Best Beauty School Award Winner Business Rate 2026 award and a Tampa's Best Gold Winner 2025 award, which are the school's own claims. Office hours are Tuesday through Friday and Saturday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Teaching is led by the founder, with a rotating faculty of licensed educators and industry practitioners working to curriculum standards she sets. The school says its electrology and laser classes keep group sizes small and give personal feedback.

The campus includes clinic spaces and a licensed bistro.