Estheticians calling for improved licensing requirements in Alberta

In September, a woman was charged by Edmonton police for fraudulently claiming to be a medical doctor while giving what she said were medical aesthetic treatments.

However, in Alberta, estheticians are not required to have a license or certificate. With things like your eyes, face, and body at risk, should they be?

The director of the International Academy of Esthetics in Sherwood Park says social media and Amazon have made it easier for untrained estheticians to do business without oversight, but most spas in Edmonton that offer esthetic services can be trusted because of their own vetting processes.

“A person can start an esthetics business without even having any training,” explained Bernier.

“Most spas and clinics, medi-spas, will not hire anyone who does not have a diploma or the proper certification, as well as our wholesale suppliers, will not sell product to anyone who does not have a diploma or does not have certification,” Bernier added.

She says insurance companies also require proof of certification or a diploma in order to provide liability insurance to practicing estheticians – another safeguard for clients. Adding no matter where you go for your beauty treatments, do your research first.

“You do want to look into the length of time that that clinic has been in operation. You can go into Google, you can see the ratings.”

Kae Bergkuist has been running her business, The Good Care Studio, in Edmonton for four years. She got her certificate from a year-long program at an esthetic school. She believes her field needs more regulation.

“Right now it’s a wide range of what you could do,” said Bergkuist. “I didn’t train in lasers, but if I wanted to purchase a laser and provide laser [treatment], I could tomorrow. Ideally, nobody would insure me, but that is something I technically could do.”

Bergkuist says clients should also ask to see their esthetician’s diploma before getting treatments and check their schooling.

“The title, you can of course always ask questions about the program, what did you specialize in, the length of the program because they do vary.”

CityNews reached out to several Edmonton dermatologists and the Alberta Medical Association for their comments, but none responded in time for our broadcast deadline.

Both the esthetics school director and the esthetician echo the same thought: regulation for the field is needed in Alberta.

“The general feel is most estheticians do want some form of regulation, but what that looks like I’m not too sure,” said Bergkuist.