Entrepreneurship, Training and Trade

Esthetician FAQs

This trade requires compulsory apprenticeship training, meaning that to legally work in Manitoba, you must be a registered apprentice or a certified journeyperson, with a valid Authorization to Practice in the trade.

1. How do I become a registered apprentice as an Esthetician?
2. How long is apprenticeship training for an Esthetician?
3. Are there any other licensing requirements?
4. What are an employer's training obligations?
5. How many apprentices can be trained at one time?
6. Does the person training an apprentice need to be certified?
7. How do you complete a Report of Hours form?
8. What is the pay for an Esthetician apprentice?
9. Can overtime hours count towards required apprenticeship time?
10. Is there any information available to help train an apprentice?

1. How do I become a registered apprentice as an Esthetician?

An individual may become a registered apprentice while enrolled in, or after having successfully completed, training at an accredited institution.

The next step is to obtain practical experience through one of two routes:

1. Apprenticeship Training
Apprenticeship training allows for the accumulation of practical training hours with an employer, under the direct supervision of a certified journeyperson. To begin, an apprentice is required to find an employer who will agree to provide practical skills development and enter into an apprenticeship agreement with them. To become certified, the apprentice must accumulate the required practical experience and successfully attain 70% or higher on the provincial practical and written certification exams.

2. Temporary Permit
Students who attain 90% or higher on the Manitoba Esthetician, Skin Care Technician or Nail Technician Practical Examination, and who cannot secure a supervised position with a certified journeyperson can apply for a Temporary ( Work ) Permit to accumulate their practical experience hours in their trade without supervision. In order to obtain a Temporary Permit and perform the tasks of the trade, an application must be approved by the Apprenticeship Branch.

A new regulation for the Esthetician trade was registered on February 9, 2007. This regulation introduced a number of significant changes to the apprenticeship training and certification system for the Electrologist trade. For an overview of these changes, please see the Esthetician Regulation Update (609 KB).

2. How long is apprenticeship training for an Esthetician?

An apprentice who trains for the complete program which includes Skin Care Technician AND Nail Technician is called an Esthetician and practical training is 1600 hours per year for 2 years.

Apprenticeship training can also be completed for the sub-trades as follows:
Nail Technician - practical training is 1000 hours for 1 year
Skin Care Technician - practical training is 1100 hrs. /yr. for 2 years

In two-year apprenticeships, at the end of the first year and completion of hour requirements, an apprentice takes a practical examination and must score at least 70%. At the end of the second year and hour requirements, an apprentice writes a final theory exam and must again score at least 70% to qualify for a Certificate of Qualification.

In one-year apprenticeships, the apprentice writes the practical examination and the final theory examination after they accumulate their practical experience hours.

3. Are there any other licensing requirements?

For the trades of Skin Care Technician, Nail Technician and Esthetician, the Apprenticeship Branch issues an Authorization to Practise with the Certificate of Qualification. This Authorization to Practise must be renewed every two years and must be available at the work site upon request.

4. What is an employer's training obligations?

When an offer of employment is made to an individual who has completed institutional training, the employer and the apprentice complete an Apprenticeship Application Agreement (938 KB). The apprentice returns the application to the Apprenticeship Branch immediately. The employer and the apprentice receive a copy of the registered agreement.

The apprenticeship agreement between an employer and an apprentice is governed by The Apprenticeship and Trades Qualifications Act-Trade of Hairstylist Regulation.

Review the Roles & Responsibilities section to learn more.

5. How many apprentices can be trained at one time?

The training ratio must be ONE certified journeyperson for every ONE apprentice. An employer may apply to the Executive Director of Apprenticeship to change this ratio. The application is reviewed and a decision made on a case-by-case basis.

6. Does the person training an apprentice need to be certified?

Yes. You or your trainer must be certified and hold a valid Authorization to Practise. To legally work in this trade, individuals must be a registered apprentice, or be certified. If you have staff who are not certified, contact the Apprenticeship Branch for information on upgrading and certification requirements.

7. How do you complete a Report of Hours form?

After the Apprenticeship Agreement is registered, your apprentice receives an Apprentice work permit, a blue Report of Hours form, a trade Portfolio and a Pocket Identification Card. To verify the number of practical hours needed for a Certificate of Qualification, you or your journeyperson must calculate the hours your apprentice works and enter these hours in the Report of Hours form. Every six months your apprentice must mail the updated form to the Apprenticeship Branch. After recording these hours, the Branch will return the form. Only the hours documented and verified in the Report count towards the hours required.

If your apprentice leaves your business, you, as the employer must update the Report of Hours. The apprentice then sends the form to the Apprenticeship Branch.

8. What is the pay for an Esthetician apprentice?

The regulation for the trade of Esthetician states that the rate of wages for an apprentice shall not be less than the minimum wage plus 10 per cent during the first year and minimum wage plus 20 per cent during the second year. The second year begins on the anniversary date of your apprentice's registration, after your apprentice has completed required hours of work per year.

9. Can overtime hours count towards required apprenticeship time?

Yes. Overtime hours can count towards the hours needed to complete a level of training. However, overtime hours cannot be used to reduce the number of months your apprentice must spend in each level.

10. Is there any information available to help train an apprentice?

After your apprenticeship agreement is registered, your apprentice receives a trade portfolio. One of the components is a Practical Training Record Book that documents your apprentice's progress. It provides a means of recording trade skills learned as well as all the detailed tasks and sub-tasks that are part of the scope of the trade. You can also request an Employer's Guide to Apprenticeship Training, available by available by contacting the Apprenticeship Branch.