You’re not alone if you’re wondering what a laser therapist is and does! Get inside a laser light therapy job with this self-employed laser technician. She doesn’t just explain the laser acupuncture process, she shares what it’s like to work as a laser therapist.

Maureen Lucas-West is the business manager of Imagine Laserworks North Shore in Vancouver, BC. She is also the primary laser technician, office administrator, and chief “bottle washer”!

“A lot of people hear ‘laser acupuncture’ and have no idea what it is,” she says. “Most people don’t know you can use a laser to stimulate acupuncture and acupressure points. Once we explain how a laser can help people quit smoking and how successful our program is, people often ask, ‘Why haven’t I heard about this treatment before?’”

Here’s what it’s like to combine laser light therapy and acupuncture treatments in a self-employment venture…

Laser Therapist Job Description

A laser technician combines the ancient healing art of acupuncture with the modern science of ‘Low Level Laser Therapy.’  Laser therapy can help you quit smoking, lose weight, and eliminate pain or addictions.

Laser therapy treatments are non-invasive, drug free, painless, safe and have proven to be effective for almost thirty years worldwide.

What Does a Self-Employed Laser Therapist Do?

“I run the business, taking care of all administrative and clinical operations,” says Lucas-West. “The administrative responsibilities include phone calls, emails, appointment scheduling, ordering supplies, accounting, filing, refilling product display, and other such tasks.”

As the manager of her small business, Lucas-West meets with other shareholders to make decisions about advertising, budget and business plans, reports and statistics for the business, responsibilities to the franchise, business licensing and annual inspections, networking, and community responsibilities.

“I also vacuum and dust,” she says.

As a laser technician, Lucas-West performs laser treatments, follows up with clients according to their treatments via phone or email, keeps charts and notes up to date, takes care of the equipment, and keeps her laser training current.

What is a Laser Therapist’s Salary?

“We are a small, new, growing business,” she says. “Right now, I’m trying to keep as much money in the business as possible to recover the start-up costs. Once we achieve our business plan goals, we will re-evaluate for profit sharing.”

Since she hasn’t worked as a laser technician for any other company, she is unfamiliar with the average pay rates.

The Best Parts of a Laser Light Therapy Job

“I like working for myself,” says Lucas-West. “Being a small business owner brings more responsibility, but it’s very rewarding to experience the direct results of my efforts. I like helping people. I have always liked teaching and coaching. As a laser technician, I get to help people live a healthier and happier lifestyle.”

The Downside of Working as a Laser Therapist

“Building a new business is hard and requires some sacrifice,” she says. “I am the only employee at this clinic, so I have to be available everyday (usually between 7:00am to 8:00pm).” When she tries to take a day off – Sundays, for instance – she still has to check for messages every hour and remain available, in case a client requests a laser treatment.

“When you’re working with people who need support in beating their addictions, it is hard to ask them to wait,” she says. “I look forward to being able to hire another laser therapist. This will allow me a guilt-free day off!”

Despite the high success rates of laser light therapy (which is a type of acupuncture therapy), Lucas-West says there is still a small percentage of clients who are not successful. “I have a hard time accepting this, and wear myself down trying to figure out what I could have done to make the treatment more successful. I struggle to accept the fact that no matter what I do, there will be the occasional person that does not achieve their goal.”

Career Tips for Laser Therapists

“Owning and operating your own business is a serious commitment,” says Lucas-West. “It’s important to develop your short and long-term business plan in as much detail as possible.”

This small business owner encourages people interested in laser therapy – or any occupation – to arrange for job shadowing. “Ask someone working in that industry to discuss their experiences,” she says. “Observe them performing their job to get a more hands on feel for the work involved.”

Job shadowing is even more effective if you can learn from people who focus on different specialties within that field.

Another job that helps people solve the same types of life issues is working as a hypnotherapist.

To learn about a different type of therapy, read a Certified Massage Therapist Job Description.

Do you have any questions or thoughts on laser light therapy, or working as a laser technician? Please comment below.