Offered by Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo, Canada, Esthetics and Spa Therapy Certificate is a certificate in Other programme. The programme runs for 8 months, delivered on campus. Teaching is in English. Tuition for international students is CAD 14,914 per total (CAD 14,914 per total for local students).
At a glance
Degree:Certificate
Field:Other
Duration: 8 months
Delivery: On Campus
Language: English
Local tuition: CAD 14,914 / total
International tuition: CAD 14,914 / total
Last reviewed September 2026 ·
Program details
Overview
The Esthetics and Spa Therapy Certificate trains students to become professional estheticians through an eight-month program at VIU's Nanaimo campus that combines theory with extensive practical experience. Coursework grounds students in the microbiology, anatomy, and physiology relevant to esthetics so treatments can be delivered safely and effectively, alongside career essentials, health and hygiene standards, skin analysis, and colour theory. Practical training covers facial treatments, manicures, pedicures, makeup application, massage, waxing, and body treatments. A central feature of the program is hands-on work in VIU's Student Spa Clinic, where students perform treatments on paying clients using professional-grade products in a real spa setting, building client-service skills alongside technical competence. On graduation, students are prepared to sit the Beauty Council licensing exam, which is completed separately from the program. The certificate suits people passionate about beauty and wellness careers who have good hand-eye coordination and can stand for extended periods; the program welcomes a broad range of students, from recent high school graduates to career changers in their fifties.
Requirements
Admission Requirements: Vancouver Island University admits Esthetics and Spa Therapy Certificate applicants who hold Grade 12 graduation or an equivalent, or who qualify under VIU's Trades and Applied Technology mature-student category; the programme itself sets a minimum age of 17. No IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, Duolingo or CAEL score is published for this programme, and VIU does not publish a central English-test table for domestic applicants on the trades admission route either. Every applicant must complete a Personal Profile form, and programme staff and industry representatives may interview shortlisted candidates. Because the work is physically demanding, VIU expects applicants to have good hand-eye coordination and to be physically fit enough to stand for a full working day. No criminal record check or immunisation requirement is listed for this programme.
Application Details
Start Date:Domestic (Canadian) applicants: 8 September 2026 (Fall intake) (Nanaimo). VIU lists one intake a year for this programme, in the Fall.
Application Deadline:Domestic (Canadian) applicants: applications accepted on an ongoing basis for the 8 September 2026 (Fall) start (Nanaimo). Dates are VIU's published application window for this program (as listed September 2026) and can change; apply through EducationPlannerBC.
