Trade Programs: Esthetician

This trade is compulsory. To legally work in this trade in Manitoba, you must either be a registered apprentice, a certified journeyperson with a valid authorization to practise in the trade or hold a valid Temporary Permit.

For more information about this trade, contact the training co-ordinator.

What is an Esthetician?

Under Manitoba's Esthetician Trade Regulation, Provincial certification is issued for an esthetician who is qualified to perform the tasks of both a nail or skin care technician.

Provincial certification is also issued in the sub-trades of:

• A nail technician or
• A skin care technician

What does a nail technician do?

A nail technician:

• performs manicures and pedicures
• removes and applies nail enamel and buffs nails
• cleans and shapes nails to make them more attractive
• enhances nails
• extends natural nails with enhancement products like acrylic powder and liquid
• wraps nails to mend and strengthen them
• applies artificial nails and temporary nail tips
• decorates clients' nails with designs and attaches ornaments to nails

What is a skin care technician?

A skin care technician:

• assesses each client's skin condition and appearance
• advises clients about general skin care as well as products, colours and types of makeup
• demonstrates how to properly clean and care for the skin and problem areas as well as how to use cosmetic products
• performs extractions and applies anti-bacterial treatment
• provides cosmetic massages and muscle toning
• corrects skin problems using currents
• provides basic make-up artistry and teaches clients how to apply toner, moisturizer and makeup
• removes unwanted hair using depilatory methods

What kinds of personal skills are needed?

The world of fashion and beauty relies on the skills of trained individuals whose talents and training play an integral part in creating a client's final look. If you enjoy meeting and talking with people and like to work creatively with your hands, a career in the esthetician trade will give you endless opportunities to help your customers make an individualized personal statement.

Good customer relations and service are essential in these professions. You should enjoy working with and assisting people. You should also have:

• A conscientious and caring attitude
• A good sense of colour
• An interest in skin care
• Strong organizational skills for keeping records of client needs and preference, and services provided

What are the entrance requirements?

You should have a high school diploma or equivalent academic standing. A complete high school education gives you a variety of career options, should you decide later to change occupations. You can also enter the trade in high school as a Senior Years apprentice. You must be at least 16 years of age.

To become a registered apprentice, you must first be enrolled in, or have 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 you to accumulate practical training hours with an employer, under the direct supervision of a certified journeyperson. To begin, you are required to find an employer who will agree to provide practical skills development and enter into an apprenticeship agreement with you. To become certified, you must accumulate the required practical experience and successfully attain 70% or higher on the provincial practical and written certification exams.

2. Temporary Permit with Supervision Exemption
If you attain 90% or higher on the Manitoba Esthetician, Skin Care Technician or Nail Technician Practical Examination, and you cannot secure a supervised position with a certified journeyperson, you can apply for a Temporary (Work) Permit to accumulate your practical experience in this trade. In order to obtain a Temporary Permit and perform the tasks of the trade, your application must be approved by the Apprenticeship Branch.

Experience Required:

• Nail Technician requires one level/12 months of apprenticeship training (1000hrs) consisting of 400 hours of technical training.
• Skin Care Technician requires two levels/years of apprenticeship training (1100hrs) consisting 800hrs of technical training.
• Esthetician requires two levels/years of apprenticeship training (1600hrs) consisting 1,060hrs of technical training.

English Requirements:

If your strongest language is not English, you may want to have your English language skills tested before you take on the expense and challenge of training in this field. A Canadian Language Benchmark of 6 or higher is recommended for success when studying for and writing the compulsory Red Seal Examination that is needed to practice as a certified esthetician. For more information on Canadian Language benchmarks assessments, contact the Adult Language Training Branch.

Applicants with previous experience in the Esthetician trade:

Trades Qualification: If you are experienced in the trade, but do not hold a Certificate of Qualification, you may become a certified journeyperson based on years of proven industry experience and successful completion of the Red Seal Examination. A Trades Qualification Application and trade specific work experience form must be submitted. Trades professionals whose entrance readiness is less than that required, must take appropriate upgrading.

Do I get a certificate?

After you complete the practical exam and the required hours and calendar time for your practical experience, you can then write the Provincial Theory exam. You must score at least 70 per cent to receive a Certificate of Qualification and an Authorization to Practise.

An Authorization to Practise is renewed every two years. Your certificate of Qualification and Authorization to Practise attest to your provincially approved training and skills.

What salary can I expect?

As stated in the Esthetician Regulation, the employer must pay at least minimum wage plus 10 per cent during the first level of apprenticeship training and at least minimum wage plus 20 per cent during the second level of training. There is no maximum pay rate.

Earnings vary considerably depending on your location, services offered and the number of clients. Rates are usually set for each type of treatment so earnings including tips vary from day to day, depending on the type and number of treatments performed each day.

For current percentages and wages, download the training wage schedule