Esthetician

If you’re passionate about health, wellness and helping others to look and feel their best, esthetics can be a rewarding career path full of possibilities. Esthetics is a growing and evolving field where you can use cutting-edge technologies, practical skills and your own creativity to enhance the wellbeing of others.

Many of the best beauty and cosmetology schools in Canada offer esthetics programs. These esthetician courses deliver the full mix of training to succeed in the industry, teaching essential cosmetology skills such as skin care, spa treatments, hand and foot care, manicures and pedicures, hair removal, makeup treatments and infection control, using field placements and practicum assignments to apply and develop your new skills in real-world settings. Many students also enjoy the opportunity to ply their newfound trade in student-run, on-campus day spas, such as the Spa + Clinic at Fleming College and the Humber Spa, which offer a wide range of treatments to public clients.

Beyond the essential esthetics skills, many programs set you up for longer-term success by exploring the business and administration side of esthetics, delivering courses in retail, spa management and business development.

Graduates can take their skills to day spas, clinics, cruise ships, wellness centres and high-end hotels, but the skills acquired in most programs can also take you to careers in sales, spa management, makeup artistry and brand ambassadorship, or work as a beauty buyer or educator. A solid grounding in esthetics can also provide a stepping stone to careers in massage therapy, medical esthetics, dermatology and nursing.

Talent.com reports the average salary for an esthetician in Canada is $34,125 per year or $17.50 an hour, although salaries can vary greatly by employer; more experienced esthetics workers can earn upwards of $50,000 per year.