Is an esthetician and a medical esthetician the same thing? If you're considering one of these careers, it's a common question, and an important one.
An esthetician is a licensed skin care professional, typically employed by a salon or spa, who provides cosmetic skin treatments, hair removal, and nail services.
A medical esthetician can perform all the same services as a traditional esthetician, plus laser-based treatments and advanced skin therapies. This expanded scope opens additional employment opportunities, including positions in medical settings such as dermatology offices, medical spas, and plastic surgery clinics.
Recommended: Esthetician vs. Aesthetician: What's the Difference in Canada?
If you're interested in joining a fast-growing industry, one projected to grow faster than average through 2031, you've come to the right place. Below, we answer the most common questions about the difference between an esthetician and a medical esthetician in Canada, including daily duties, required training, and career benefits.
As briefly mentioned above, an esthetician is someone who provides cosmetic skin-related treatments An esthetician is a skin care professional who specializes in cosmetic treatments. While most estheticians work in privately owned spas and salons, they're also in demand at hotels, health centers, and hair replacement clinics.
Daily esthetician services include:
Estheticians are also responsible for following current sanitization and sterilization protocols to protect the health of every client. This includes properly cleaning and disinfecting tools and equipment between appointments, maintaining a hygienic workspace, and staying up to date on health and safety regulations in their province.
Beyond their technical skills, estheticians play an important role in their clients' overall well-being. A skilled esthetician assesses skin conditions, recommends appropriate services, and builds long-term relationships with clients based on trust and results. Strong communication and customer service skills are just as important as technical ability in this role.
A medical esthetician can perform all the same treatments as a traditional esthetician. What sets them apart is additional training that qualifies them to work in clinical and medical environments. Medical estheticians are commonly employed at medical spas, burn clinics, and private dermatology or plastic surgery offices.
Daily medical esthetician services include:
In addition to hands-on treatments, medical estheticians can also take on clinical support responsibilities, like obtaining patients' medical charts and explaining pre- and post-surgical care to patients.
Medical estheticians are responsible not only for performing these services but also for advising patients on proper skin care and aftercare following treatments.
To become an esthetician or medical esthetician in Canada, you'll need a high school diploma (or equivalent) and to complete an esthetics school program or related college program.
When choosing a program, look for a school or college that combines up-to-date curriculum with hands-on practical experience. Working directly with clients in a supervised setting, combined with theoretical knowledge, is what builds real confidence in this industry.
Provinces that currently require esthetician certification include Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, and New Brunswick. Click here to learn more about each province.
The field offers a wide range of work environments to suit different lifestyles and career goals. Whether you prefer the energy of a busy urban spa, the clinical setting of a dermatology office, the luxury of a hotel or resort, or the freedom of running your own business, esthetics is a career that can grow with you. Some estheticians even find work on cruise ships, combining their passion for skin care with a love of travel.
For those who pursue the medical esthetician path, the career opportunities expand even further. Working alongside physicians and specialists means exposure to cutting-edge treatments and technologies, ongoing professional development, and helping patients through meaningful skin health challenges.
Yes. Medical estheticians are qualified to work in dermatology offices, plastic surgery clinics, burn clinics, and medical spas, in addition to traditional spa and salon settings.
Licensing requirements vary by province. Certification is currently required in Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, and New Brunswick.
For more information about esthetician training in Canada, contact Bryan College's enrollment team at 1-888-641-6300 or through our online submission form.
By submitting this form, I agree that Bryan College may contact me regarding educational services via email, telephone, text message, or automated technology at the email address and phone numbers provided. I understand this consent is not required to enroll. For more information, please call: 1-888-641-6300. Visit our Privacy Policy.
Registration:
Registered as a career college under the Ontario Career Colleges Act, 2005.
Member of OCPMTC
