Esthetician - Spa Management

Description

The Esthetician – Spa Management program provides you with the practical skills, business training and professional competencies required to work in the growing field of esthetics. Taught by diverse faculty with extensive industry experience, this internationally recognized curriculum offers a holistic approach to teaching spa modalities, including specialized skin, body and hand/foot treatments; corrective make up techniques; and nutritional concepts for skin and body health. With over 240 hours of hands-on experience in Georgian’s Spa clinic, you hone your practice and develop the professional ethics and skills required to run a small business. You also gain the academic preparation for international testing. As a graduate, you’ll have an inspired passion for health and wellness, as well as the technical and management skills necessary for a successful and rewarding career in the esthetics industry.

Career Opportunities

An esthetician has many opportunities for employment in the health and wellness industry. Graduates of this program may work in a variety of spas, such as day and resort spas, destination and cruise ship spas, salons, and health and wellness establishments. In addition, graduates are prepared for possible employment in many other areas such as in product sales, distributing and retailing of products, product education, spa reception and management, contracting, self employment and consulting positions, pharmaceutical industries, and Dermatologist and Plastic Surgery offices.

Graduates of this program may be interested in pursing the Medical Skin Care Therapies Ontario College Graduate Certificate program.

Program Learning Outcomes

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

1. perform a variety of specialized body and skin care treatments following correct procedures and precautions and supporting client needs (including and not limited to facials, manicures, pedicures, hair removal, and make up applications);
2. use a range of specialized equipment and products, in compliance with established national, provincial, industry, and other related standards, regulations, policies, and procedures;
3. apply relevant knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and histology to the provision of specialized esthetic treatments and services;
4. adhere to health, safety, sanitation, and infection and prevention control guidelines, according to current legislation and national, provincial, municipal, and industry standards and regulations;
5. identify business skills and activities required for the successful establishment and operation of a small esthetic business in a salon or spa environment;
6. select and recommend the use of esthetic products and product ingredients to clients, taking into account health status and identified needs;
7. establish and maintain professional relationships in adherence to standards and ethics associated with the profession;
8. develop customer service strategies that meet and adapt to individual needs and expectations in accordance with professional standards and ethics;
9. determine professional development strategies that lead to the enhancement of work performance and career opportunities and keep pace with industry change;
10. create a comprehensive business plan to manage a spa operation in adherence with professional standards and practices;
11. promote a spa business using marketing strategies and technologies appropriate to evolving client and industry need.

External Recognition

The College and Spa Clinic are members of Leading Spas of Canada and CIDESCO International. As a member, the program follows the policies outlined by these associations. Graduates of this program meet the core competencies to apply for the CIDESCO Diplomat Examination. Successful candidates can use the international designation "CIDESCO Diplomat".

Program Progression

Fall Intake

• Sem 1: Fall 2025
• Sem 2: Winter 2026
• Sem 3: Fall 2026
• Sem 4: Winter 2027

Winter Intake

• Sem 1: Winter 2026
• Sem 2: Summer 2026
• Sem 3: Fall 2026
• Sem 4: Winter 2027

Articulation

A number of articulation agreements have been negotiated with universities and other institutions across Canada, North America and internationally. These agreements are assessed, revised and updated on a regular basis. Please contact the program co-ordinator for specific details if you are interested in pursuing such an option. Additional information can be found on our website at https://www.georgiancollege.ca/admissions/credit-transfer/

Admission Requirements

• Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, mature student status 
• Grade 12 English (C or U)

Mature students, non-secondary school applicants (19 years or older), and home school applicants may also be considered for admission. Eligibility may be met by applicants who have taken equivalent courses, upgrading, completed their GED, and equivalency testing. For complete details refer to: www.georgiancollege.ca/admissions/academic-regulations/

Applicants who have taken courses from a recognized and accredited post-secondary institution and/or have relevant life/learning experience may also be considered for admission; refer to the Credit for Prior Learning website for details:
www.georgiancollege.ca/admissions/credit-transfer/

Additional Information

It is required that students have Standard First Aid prior to participating in the Spa Clinic. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that the permit status is valid for the duration of their time in the program.

Please visit the Esthetician - Spa Management webpage for a complete list of permit requirements. 

During lab and clinics, students are not permitted to wear jewelry and must adhere to the professional decorum policy as described in the student handbook. Students are required to purchase uniforms, a student kit containing implements to be used during the course of the program and a make up kit.

Graduation Requirements

17 Program Courses
3 Clinical Placements
2 Communications Courses
3 General Education Courses

Graduation Eligibility

To graduate from this program, the passing weighted average for promotion through each semester, from year to year, and to graduate is 60%. Additionally, a student must attain a minimum of 50% or a letter grade of P (Pass) or S (Satisfactory) in each course in each semester unless otherwise stated on the course outline.

Program Tracking

The following reflects the planned progression for full-time offerings of the program.

Plan of Study Grid

Semester 1		Hours
Program Courses
SPAE 1001	Cosmetic Product Knowledge	42
SPAE 1003	Fundamentals of Spa Treatments	42
SPAE 1013	Manicure and Pedicure Treatments Lab	70
SPAE 1014	Professional Practice in the Spa Industry	28
SPAE 1017	Fundamentals of Esthetic Sciences	28
SPAE 1018	Marketing and Social Media for the Spa Professional	42
Communications Course
Select 1 course from the communications list during registration.		42
	Hours	294
Semester 2
Program Courses
SPAE 1006	Principles of Esthetic Sciences	42
SPAE 1012	Spa Treatments Theory	42
SPAE 1015	Spa Treatments Practice	84
SPAE 1019	Artificial Nail Technologies	42
Clinical Placement
SPAE 1009	Spa Clinic 1	84
General Education Course
Select 1 course from the general education list during registration.		42
	Hours	336
Semester 3
Program Courses
SPAE 2000	Nutrition for the Skin Therapist	42
SPAE 2001	Advanced Facial Treatments Theory	42
SPAE 2011	Advanced Facial Treatments	70
SPAE 2013	Cosmetic Applications	42
Clinical Placement
SPAE 2004	Spa Clinic 2	84
Communications Course
Select 1 course from the communications list during registration.		42
General Education Course
Select 1 course from the general education list during registration.		42
	Hours	364
Semester 4
Program Courses
SPAE 2007	Skin and Body Applications	84
SPAE 2012	Spa Management and Entrepreneurship	42
SPAE 2014	Holistic and Body Therapies	42
Clinical Placement
SPAE 2008	Spa Clinic 3	84
General Education Course
Select 1 course from the general education list during registration.		42
	Hours	294
	Total Hours	1288

Graduation Window

Students unable to adhere to the program duration of two years (as stated above) may take a maximum of four years to complete their credential. After this time, students must be re-admitted into the program, and follow the curriculum in place at the time of re-admission.

Disclaimer: The information in this document is correct at the time of publication. Academic content of programs and courses is revised on an ongoing basis to ensure relevance to changing educational objectives and employment market needs. 

Program outlines may be subject to change in response to emerging situations, in order to facilitate student achievement of the learning outcomes required for graduation. Components such as courses, progression, coop work terms, placements, internships and other requirements may be delivered differently than published.