Overview
If you enjoy working with your hands and making people look and feel better, then a career as an Esthetician and Medical Esthetician is the perfect career for you.
Choosing the Esthetician program at SLC means you’ll be trained with the best – not just in Ontario, but also in Canada.
Our in-house training salon, Dynamic Designs, provides opportunities to practice practical skills with clients from the community. In addition to practical skills training and experience, the program includes extensive coverage of business and interpersonal skills. This includes codes of conduct, business management, customer service, sales training, and professionalism.
Keeping with the current trends of the industry we offer you the latest treatments and techniques in both basic and advanced and medical Esthetics.
The beauty industry continues to grow each year, expanding opportunities for a career in the esthetics profession. From setting up a home-based business, working in a medical spa to traveling the seas in cruise ship spas, esthetics students and graduates are presented with more options than ever before.
Program Details
Program Highlights
Our program teaches in-depth theoretical and practical knowledge of general, advanced, and medical esthetics:
- Basic and advanced skin care
- Hair removal
- Body massage and treatments
- Make-up artistry
- Nail care
- Advanced nail techniques
- Chemical peels
- Lash/brow tinting and lifting
- Lash extensions
- Sales and customer service
- Human anatomy
- Physiology
- Professional and health regulated standards
- Skin care formulation and chemistry
- Ethics
- Communication
- Business
It also teaches theoretical and practical technology skills used in medical esthetics:
- Microdermabrasion
- Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)
- Body contouring
- Photo facials
- SRS
- Oxygeneo
- Vasculyse/electrocoagulation
Competition Success Record
- 2019 National Skills Competition: GOLD MEDAL WINNER - Katie Salamone
- 2019 Provincial Skills Competition: GOLD MEDAL WINNER - Katie Salamone
- 2018 National Skills Competition: SILVER MEDAL WINNER - Alexandra Fox
- 2018 Provincial Skills Competition: GOLD MEDAL WINNER - Alexandra Fox; SILVER MEDAL WINNER - Nicole Wright
- 2017 National Skills Competition: GOLD MEDAL WINNER - Stephanie-Rachel Kuepfer
- 2017 Provincial Skills Competition: GOLD MEDAL WNNER - Stephanie-Rachel Kuepfer; SILVER MEDAL WINNER - Shannon Marginson
Program Outline
2025-2026
Understanding how the body and its systems work together is essential in providing safe and effective spa services to clients. In this course, you review various aspects of anatomy and physiology including but not limited to: the integumentary, the circulatory, the endocrine, the lymphatic, the skeletal, the muscular, and the respiratory systems. Through various theory based activities and demonstrations you learn how the body's systems relate to providing effective noninvasive esthetic and wellness treatments.
Nail care techniques are an important element of the Esthetician field. This course provides you with the knowledge and practical skills for performing safe and professional manicures and pedicures as well as specialized treatments such as; scrubs, paraffin, and nail art using the appropriate implements and products. Through the consultation process and hands-on observations, you learn about various nail care techniques along with specific disorders and diseases of the nails and surrounding tissue.
This course provides you with the theory and practical skills of waxing. You study the structure and growth of hair and the difference in temporary and permanent hair removal methods. The properties and specific uses of different types of wax for the removal of facial and body hair are taught as well. Practical demonstrations allow you to observe and then execute various types of face and body hair removal.
Managing the conditions that affect and impact the skin is high on the list of an Esthetician. This course introduces you to the theoretical and practical components of skin care. Through various in-class activities, discussions, and practical lab you learn skin analysis and classifications necessary to perform mini and basic facials. Understanding how the skin responds to care through analysis is key to providing the correct treatment and products to meet client needs.
Dynamic Designs 1 offers you the opportunity to begin practicing your interpersonal, technical, and business client service skills in a training salon. You learn the proper operation of a specific program software used in an Esthetic business and then apply these acquired skills in the training salon under the direct supervision of instructors while performing a variety of Esthetic services on clients.
This course introduces you to experiential learning in a specific Esthetic setting. You participate in a work placement of 35 hours in either the Dynamic Designs salon or an Esthetic salon of your choice where you incorporate a variety of skills learned from semester one classes. This hands-on experience gives you the ability to strengthen your skills and knowledge acquired in the program while introducing yourself to the Esthetic community.
Building on components in Skin Care 1, this intermediate course advances your skills in skin care technology. Specifically, through salon lab demonstrations and practice you incorporate electrical therapy with the use of electrical equipment in performing skin care treatments on clients. You also select and apply advanced treatments according to various skin conditions. Incorporating electrical therapy and advanced treatments is key to meeting the clients needs.
In this two-part course you will have the opportunity to perfect the esthetic skills that you have learned in the first semester and practice the ones that you will be learning in the second one. You will be working in the Dynamic Designs salon, under the supervision of instructors, performing services on clients and farther developing your technical, business and interpersonal skills.
Body treatments are a vital aspect of the esthetics industry, providing clients with relaxation, rejuvenation, and targeted care. This course focuses on the application of various body massage techniques and treatments commonly performed in esthetic settings. Students will gain an in-depth understanding of human anatomy, with an emphasis on muscles, bones, and fascia, and how these anatomical structures are relevant to massage therapy and influence body treatments. The course combines theoretical study with practical application, enabling students to apply anatomical knowledge to enhance treatment outcomes and deliver results-driven services.
The focus of this course is on the theory and practical skills of makeup application. Topics include but are not limited to; morphology, facial shapes and balance, color classifications, observations and factors to consider prior to make-up application, proper steps and techniques involved in makeup application, supplies, brushes products used and their ingredients. Through hands-on demonstrations you learn to create and apply a variety of makeup styles suitable for day, evening, bridal and special events to meet client needs.
This course builds on learning acquired in your first placement. However, you now participate in a work placement of 35 hours in the reverse setting of Work Placement 1 (i.e. if you completed a placement in the Dynamic Designs salon originally then your placement takes place in an Esthetic salon of your choice and vice versa). In WORK 45 you continue to incorporate a variety of specific skills learned from semester one and two classes. This hands-on experience gives you the ability to further refine your skills and knowledge acquired in the program while developing yourself to be employable in the Esthetic community.
Salon and Spa clients are often seeking refuge and relaxation in a safe and clean environment. Communicating effectively with clients is imperative in customer retention and relationship formation. This course focuses on the development of specific customer service strategies that meet and adapt to individual needs and expectations in relation to a spa/salon environment. Through various in class presentations and workshops you are introduced to Industry Safety requirements and Legislation and you develop various business communication and promotional documents and processes including but not limited to; brochures, flyers, social media campaigns, resumes & cover letters.
This course introduces the foundational concepts of chemistry as they relate to the beauty industry, providing students with the knowledge to analyze, create, and recommend skincare products with confidence. Covering the historical development of chemistry in product formulation, the course builds from basic principles—atoms, elements, bonds, and pH—to their application in skincare. Students will explore the science of the skin barrier, the critical role of pH, and the chemical composition of products used in the esthetics field. From oils and emulsifiers to chelating agents and active ingredients, this course equips students with the tools to understand the chemistry behind skincare products. By focusing on the components that make up formulations, students will gain the ability to evaluate any product line and recommend treatments suited to their clients’ needs.
This course provides an in-depth exploration of the factors that contribute to skin aging and how to address them as an esthetician to support both your clients’ and your own well-being. Students will examine the progression of skin changes with age and delve into various aging theories, exploring intrinsic and extrinsic causes that affect the skin over time. The course takes a holistic approach, incorporating the impact of nutrition, wellness, and lifestyle on aging. By understanding the science behind aging and the tools available to mitigate its effects, students will be equipped to recommend products, treatments, and dietary adjustments that support skin health and vitality.
Estheticians perform many complementary procedures that contribute to the healing and maintenance of more invasive procedures performed under the care of medical professionals. This course teaches you about current plastic surgery procedures, correct terminology and your role as an Esthetician. Through various class activities and discussions you acquire theoretical knowledge which enables you to be employable in a medical spa environment.
The demand of the Medical Esthetics industry has greatly increased over the past few years creating incredible job opportunities using various advanced skin care technologies. This course focuses on those technologies commonly practiced in medical settings. Through practical and theoretical demonstrations you are trained with the most popular equipment/skills used in this industry.
In this two-part course you will have the opportunity to perfect the esthetic skills that you have learned in the first semester and practice the ones that you will be learning in the second one. You will be working in the Dynamic Designs salon, under the supervision of instructors, performing services on clients and farther developing your technical, business and interpersonal skills.
Building on the foundational knowledge of chemistry in skincare, this advanced course empowers students to deepen their understanding of formulation science and develop their own customized skincare products. Students will explore advanced concepts in product development, such as ingredient synergy, stability testing, and formulation for specific skin concerns. The course takes a hands-on approach, allowing students to apply chemistry principles to design and create products, not limited to but including scrubs and masks. Students will also learn to evaluate the effectiveness of their formulations and refine their techniques to meet client needs and industry standards. By the end of the course, students will have the confidence and expertise to innovate in the esthetics field, with a strong focus on sustainability, ingredient transparency, and results-driven skincare.
This course builds upon foundational techniques in manicure and pedicure to advance your skills in professional nail enhancements. You will learn advanced methods for applying and blending nail extensions, as well as creating durable overlays using gel and acrylic systems. The curriculum explores various artificial nail types, their appropriate uses, and the chemical composition of the products involved. Emphasis is placed on achieving high-quality results through proper product selection and application techniques. By the end of this course, you will possess the advanced technical expertise and professional standards needed to excel as a nail technician.
The esthetics industry continues to grow and evolve, with advancements and trends extending beyond traditional skincare and products. This course builds upon the foundational knowledge and skills taught in Skin Care 2, focusing on non-invasive procedures and contemporary techniques shaping the modern esthetics landscape. Students will explore current skincare and esthetic trends, incorporating holistic, alternative, and innovative approaches to enhance the day spa experience. Through in-class activities, discussions, and practical labs, this course equips students with the expertise to integrate emerging trends and advanced techniques into their professional esthetic practices, ensuring they remain at the forefront of the industry.
This course draws on your learning from Dynamic Designs 2 and 3 to further develop your technical, interpersonal, business and professional client service skills. When performing all facial and body treatments in this course you incorporate advanced and current trends including but not limited to; chemical peels, specialty massages, specialty masks, etc. Learning activities focus on lab demonstrations and hands on practice to learn about and acquire client service skills.
This course provides esthetic students with key tools to build a successful and balanced career. It is designed to bridge the gap between technical skills in esthetics and the professional, communication, and business skills necessary to succeed in the industry. Students will learn how to communicate effectively with diverse clients, interpret body language, and build meaningful connections while maintaining professionalism. The course also focuses on key business strategies, including how to market yourself as an esthetician, effectively sell retail products, and implement upselling techniques to maximize revenue. Students will gain practical tools for creating engaging content that builds brand loyalty, establishes their personal brand, and ensures long-term client retention. With a focus on consistency, friendliness, and communication, this course empowers students to grow their careers as confident, client-centered professionals. The course emphasizes maintaining emotional resilience and separating personal and professional life, ensuring estheticians are prepared to provide exceptional client experiences while fostering a healthy work-life balance.
In this introductory course, students explore the range of skills and the knowledge required to become successful entrepreneurs. Course content focuses on the development of business ideas, business types, and business planning including feasibility studies and competition analysis, branding, promotion, and an overview of financial tracking.
Requirements
Admission Requirements
Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent including the following prerequisites:
- Grade 12 English at the C or U level
- Grade 11 Math
For OSSD equivalency options, see Admission Requirements.
If you are missing prerequisite courses, enroll in the Career/College Prep program, free for Ontario residents who are 19 years or older.
- Are your transcripts from outside of Canada? Please visit Applying to SLC - With Your Transcripts for more information.
Other Requirements
- Co-op Work Permit
For All International Students Only - students must have this document with proper remarks to begin their placement. If you have any questions, please email isa@sl.on.ca
CLIENT LABS
Client labs, where students have the opportunity to practice services learned in class, are an integral part of the esthetics program. These labs take place outside of regular class hours and are scheduled on evenings Monday to Friday and on Saturdays during the day. They are designed to help students build hands-on experience and confidence in performing services on real clients while maintaining a professional environment.
Placement
You will have two one-week placements of 35 hours each which gives our students the opportunity to acquire both hands-on experience in a spa setting and possible future employment. Many of our students gain part-time employment in the Esthetics field as soon as they have completed their first placement experience.
The students are encouraged to do their placements in an environment and location where they ultimately would be interested in working. A lot of our students have taken their placement in different cities in Canada and overseas.
Fees
2025-2026
Fees are estimates only. Tuition is based on three semesters.
Fees are estimates only. Tuition is based on three semesters.
Kingston
Our Kingston campus has seen significant renovation over the past few years, including a brand new Student Life and Innovation Centre that houses a new gymnasium, fitness centre, pub, and more.


Career Opportunities
Employment options are endless as our graduates choose to work and find success in any of the following areas:
- Skin Care Specialist
- Film or Fashion Makeup Artist
- Esthetics or Medical Esthetics Instructor
- Makeup Artist
- Marketing and retail in cosmetic firms
- Nail Technologist
- Esthetic business owner
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Self-employment or on a consultation basis
- Beauty writer
- IPL/Laser Technician
- Working in a day or destination spa
- Working in medical spa clinics
- Working alongside Dermatologists and Plastic Surgeons
- Salon/Spa Manager
- Spa or Medical-Spa Consultant
- Manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of beauty products or medical-spa and spa equipment
- Health clubs
Testimonials
Other Information
Additional Costs
Books, supplies, and implements are estimated to cost $1,700.
Program Contacts
Program Contact
Aba Mortley
Aba.Mortley@sl.on.ca
Admissions Information
Click here to message Recruitment.