Esthetician – Skin Care Technician Program

The wide range of in-demand skills you will learn in the Skin Care Technician program are of high value to you as a contender in the world of professional beauty. Once you are fully licensed, you can also start your own business focusing on the skills you love the most and expand your salon menu to include the broad selection of services learned in this program.

Here are popular career choices for Skin Technicians:

• Professional Skin Care Technician
• Spa operator (home business or public)
• Specialist in Wellness Services (Massage, Body Wraps, Aromatherapy)
• Make-Up Artist
• Specialist in Facial Skin Care
• Skin Care Brand Consultant or Purchaser
• Skin Care Educator
• Make-Up Artistry Educator

If you are passionate about skin care, you’re going to love laser skin rejuvenation. Stay ahead of consumer demand and your career by becoming a laser technician!

Learn how to conduct laser hair removal, sun spot removal, scar reduction, stretch mark smoothing, skin resurfacing, wrinkle diminishment, and more in-demand treatments!

Our laser program and courses require no pre-requisites and offer a well-rounded opportunity to learn about laser, I.P.L., and radiofrequency technology, as well as skin consultations and hands-on practice.

Explore our Laser Technician Program →

I have completed the Skin Technician Program; what are my next steps toward becoming a medical esthetician?

Upon completing the Skin Technician Program, you need to complete the following pre-requsites in order to become a medical esthetician:

• Complete your apprenticeship hours
• Pass your licensing exam to become a licensed esthetician
• Take our Laser Technician Program (this can be done at any time as there are no pre-requsites for this program)
• Take our Microneedling Course

Once these requirements have been met, you will be a qualified Medical Esthetician! Talk to us today about planning your career as a Medical Esthetician.

Yes! Wrapture Beauty Academy’s diploma programs are accredited by Apprenticeship Manitoba, which means graduates receive an accredited diploma and meet all provincial requirements to apprentice.

The program is 30  weeks long—about 7 months—delivered in person at our academy. You’ll receive both theory and hands-on training. You’ll graduate with a government-accredited diploma and be prepared to register as an apprentice in Manitoba.

Here are the four steps to becoming a licensed Skin Technician in Manitoba:

Step 1: Complete an Accredited Diploma Program

Start with the 30-week (approx. 7 months) accredited Skin Technician Program that includes both theory and hands-on training in skin care and beauty services.

Step 2: Pass the Practical Diploma Exam

You’ll complete a hands-on exam that tests your skills in the services you learned. Congratulations on graduating!

Step 3: Complete Your Apprenticeship 

When you get your first job, register with Apprenticeship Manitoba and complete 1100 hours of esthetician work (1 year of employment) in a licensed beauty business such as a salon or spa.

Step 4: Pass the Written Licensing Exam

Once your hours are approved, you’ll write the provincial licensing exam. After passing, you’ll be issued your license. With a license, you can continue working in a business, or you can freelance.

✔ Skin Care & Facial Treatments – Skin analysis, basic facials, advanced facials, chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and dermaplaning.

✔ Body Treatments & Massage – Relaxation massage, body scrubs, cellulite treatments, back facials, and hot stone massage.

✔ Hair Removal – Face and body waxing.

✔ Lash & Brow Enhancements – Lash lift & tint, classic lash extensions, and lash & brow tinting.

✔ Makeup Artistry – Daytime, evening, bridal, fantasy, and mature makeup applications.

✔ Sanitation & Safety – Workplace hygiene, sterilization, and client safety.

✔ Business & Client Management – Retail sales, salon management, and client service.

• Spa or Salon Skin Technician: Works as part of a professional team in a beauty business, providing services to clients in a structured, often fast-paced environment. This role allows skin technicians to gain steady experience, benefit from mentorship, and build a loyal client base while focusing on service excellence.
• Freelancer: Offers skin care and beauty services independently, often renting space or working on a flexible schedule. Freelancers manage their own clients, set their own hours, and maintain full control of their workload and income.
• Entrepreneur: Launches and operates their own beauty business, taking on responsibilities such as hiring staff or subcontractors, managing finances, building a brand, and overseeing daily operations. Entrepreneurs drive the long-term vision and growth of their company.
• Medi-Spa Technician: Offers advanced skin treatments such as laser and microneedling after earning specialized certifications. Medi-spa techs work in clinical or high-end spa settings, helping clients address concerns like pigmentation, scarring, hair removal, tattoo removal, and skin aging with cutting-edge technology and advanced facials. This role is perfect for estheticians who love results-driven skin treatments and want to expand their skill set into medical esthetics.

Refer to the above ‘Explore Careers as a Skin Technician’ section of this page to explore more career paths for skin technicians.

A Grade 12 diploma or equivalent is required.

You must also be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.

You can register in person, by phone, or via email. We recommend booking a school tour first to ask questions and explore financing options.

Yes, there are several financing and funding options to make your education more accessible.

Wrapture Beauty Academy is committed to helping students start their training without financial stress. Although there are many options, here are some of the most common ways students fund their education:

• Medicard Financing: A fast and flexible option for anyone, with affordable monthly payments and a simple online application.
• Manitoba Student Aid: Available for diploma programs. Eligible students may receive grants, loans, or both, depending on financial need.
• Manitoba Métis Federation Funding: Available for Métis citizens training in approved programs.
• Windmill Microlending: For newcomers looking to work in a licensed field. This program offers low-interest microloans.
• Veterans Education and Training Benefit: Veterans may be eligible for up to $90,000 in funding to train at a regulated career college like Wrapture.

We’re here to support you throughout the application process. Our student advisors will help you understand what’s required, assist you as you prepare the necessary documents, and make sure you have everything ready to apply with confidence.

For more details, visit our Financing page or book a meeting to review your options in person.

• Tuesday–Thursday: Typically morning theory + afternoon hands-on practice. The ratio of time spent of theory vs. hands-on learning will change throughout the program, with more theory at the beginning and increased practical work as you progress.
• Fridays + 1 Saturday/month: Practicing on real models (friends, family, or the public). 

Your student advisor will have the most current details about your upcoming schedule.

Yes! Once you’re confidently at the practice stage, you’ll start providing treatments to live models—an essential part of your practicum.

This can include friends or family, and we also encourage working on strangers who book student services—an important step for building real-world communication skills and managing clients’ experiences. This is where your essential soft skills really develop.

Pro Tip: Start a dedicated student beauty social media account to share your journey as you start school and build a following—so when it’s time to post model calls, you’ve already got an audience.

Bonus: many of those early followers often become your first loyal clients once you graduate and start apprenticing at your first job—because they trust you and know where to find you!

You’ll register with Apprenticeship Manitoba when you get your first skin technician job and complete 1100  apprenticeship hours (1 year). After that, you’ll take a written exam with Apprenticeship Manitoba to become a licensed skin technician in Manitoba.

Due to the wide range of beauty services included in your training—from skin care, waxing and lashes to brows, body care and more—you’ll gain experience with a variety of professional brands. However, here are the main brands you’ll become most familiar with for skin care:

✔ Bernard Cassière Skincare – A luxury French skincare line designed for customized facials, professional-grade treatments, and targeted skin solutions using natural botanicals and advanced formulations.

✔ DermaplanePro – A leading brand in dermaplaning tools and skincare used by estheticians worldwide for safe and effective exfoliation treatments.

✔ Makeup Forever – A professional makeup brand known for high-performance, industry-quality products used by makeup artists and estheticians in editorial, bridal, and beauty applications.

Yes, some students hold side jobs while enrolled. However, the diploma program is a full-time commitment that typically runs from Tuesday to Friday, plus one Saturday a month. Regulatory standards require reliable and well-documented academy attendance, so be sure to plan your schedule accordingly.

For the most accurate information about your upcoming schedule, your student advisor will provide the latest details during registration. 

Can I work as a beauty professional while in school?

Keep in mind that you cannot begin working as a skin technician apprentice until after you graduate with your diploma, and you must be fully licensed before offering freelance esthetic services. 

Once you have graduated:

Skin Technician diploma graduates must register their beauty-related employment with Apprenticeship Manitoba to ensure their hours are counted toward their apprenticeship.

Definitely. Many Skin Technician grads pursue add-on training in microneedling, laser treatments, and advanced services to boost earnings and career opportunities.

Not only do medical estheticians have a unique opportunity to deliver renewed confidence through increasingly popular services such as laser hair removal and advanced skin rejuvenation, but they also have a chance to truly help people feel comfortable in their skin again by addressing long-standing skin concerns.

These services include:

• Scar reduction (acne scars, C-section scars, wound scars)
• Uneven skin texture
• Skin resurfacing
• Tattoo removal for a fresh start
• Hyperpigmentation clearing and tone correction
• Fine line and wrinkle reduction
• Body rejuvenation treatments

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Yes. You’ll need a pen and a notebook for taking notes, as well as a device (phone, laptop, or tablet) for online components. 

Students must wear clean, indoor, closed-toe shoes to protect their feet and maintain a safe environment. On practicum days, wear clean black attire and keep hair tied back to meet professional and hygiene standards.

Pro Tip: Staying Sharp on a Student Budget

Investing in a few staple items—like a black lab coat or scrubs—can help you save and simplify your mornings. These pieces layer easily over any outfit and always meet dress code requirements, keeping you polished and professional.

Lunchroom Access: Enjoy the convenience of a refrigerator, microwave, and seating area for your meals.

Free On-Site Lockers: Bring your own lock and store personal items like books, eating utensils, or stationery securely.

Free Parking Options: Free street parking is available on Milt Stegall Drive and is generally easy to find. A few spots are also available directly against the academy part of the building—just be sure to avoid the stalls that face away or belong to neighbouring organizations.

Perfectly-Located Bus Stops: Multiple Winnipeg Transit stops are just a 3-minute walk from our front door. Routes 14, 20, and 77 make commuting easy and convenient for students coming from across the city.

Take Out Lunch & Sips in Minutes: From Starbucks and Pita Pit to Jollibee, McDonald’s, and Mongos—student go-to spots are just across the parking lot. Need a change of taste? Booster Juice, Subway, Tim Hortons, and the Polo Park Mall food court are also close by. Whether you walk, drive, or order in, lunch breaks here come with options!

Medical Esthetics Program (Laser & Microneedling)

It’s a logical progression for those looking to move into advanced treatments and work in a medi spa environment or skin clinic. This program builds on foundational esthetics knowledge and opens the door to high-demand services.

In our Medical Esthetics Program, you can train in advanced treatments such as laser hair removal, IPL photofacials (for age spots, redness, and broken capillaries), fractional laser resurfacing (for wrinkles, scars, and pigmentation), laser tattoo removal, and microneedling.

Micropigmentation Courses

A great add-on for those drawn to the cosmetic side of the beauty industry. Whether you’re interested in microblading, microshading, or lip blush, these services diversify your offerings and appeal to clients looking for low-maintenance beauty solutions.

Nail Technician Program

For skin technicians looking to expand their service offerings, the Nail Technician Program is a great way to diversify your skills and boost your hireability—especially when apprenticing or applying at full-service spas. Offering both skin and nail care makes you a more versatile team member and helps attract repeat clients looking for one-stop beauty services.

If you haven’t taken the Skin Care Technician Program yet and are considering both skin and nails, the Esthetics Program is the perfect all-in-one option for you.

Lash Technician Program

Even if you’ve already completed Classic Lash Extensions, this program is perfect for those passionate about lash extensions. It offers deeper training in Volume and Hybrid Lash styles and more advanced techniques to refine your skills and expand your lash service offerings.

If you’ve gained extensive experience working as a nail technician, but never completed formal training in Manitoba, you may be eligible to challenge the certification exam and apply for Trade Qualification (TQ). 

This process is designed for skilled workers who have the hands-on hours but not the diploma—and it’s your path to becoming officially recognized in a regulated trade.

Learn more here.