Esthetician Courses Greater Montreal: CIDESCO International Training
Esthetician Courses in Greater Montreal: CIDESCO & CAMACS-Accredited Training
Esthetician Courses in Greater Montreal: CIDESCO & CAMACS-Accredited Training
Maybe you've been the friend who's always doing everyone's skin. Maybe a hard year made you want a career that's actually yours — something flexible, hands-on, and genuinely needed. If you're a woman somewhere in Greater Montreal quietly wondering whether you could become an esthetician, this is for you. Here's the honest version of what training with New Age Academy looks like — no fluff, no "guaranteed six figures" nonsense, just what the program actually is and who it's right for.
The program is the New Age Academy Online Esthetics Certificate — a 600-hour, fully accredited course you study online, from home, at your own pace. It's CIDESCO and CAMACS accredited, which is the part that really matters: that's the credential Canadian medical-spa employers and liability insurers actually recognize, and it's respected in 40+ countries. You can read the full program details on our academy hub page, and we'll walk through the essentials right here.
What this actually is (and what it isn't)
It's a certificate program — the Canadian Esthetics Certificate — not a multi-year college diploma or a degree. That's a good thing: it's focused, it's faster, and it's built around the real skills you'll use on the floor. Here's the shape of it:
- 600 hours, 100% online and self-paced. No fixed class times, no commute. You study evenings, weekends, nap times — whenever your life allows.
- Finish in 3 to 6 months for most students, with up to 12 months if life gets busy. You enroll anytime — there are no September start dates to wait for.
- CIDESCO & CAMACS accredited, recognized across Canada and in over 40 countries.
- Insurable from graduation day — you can apply for professional liability insurance the moment you finish, with no waiting period.
- Bilingual. The program runs in English and French, so Montrealers can study in whichever language they're most comfortable in.
"Greater Montreal" — online from your couch, hands-on when you want it
Here's how it works for someone living anywhere in the Greater Montreal area — the West Island, Saint-Léonard, Laval, Pointe-Claire, Griffintown, the South Shore. The entire 600-hour certificate is completed online, so where you live doesn't limit you at all. You don't relocate, you don't sit in traffic on the 40, you don't rearrange your whole life around a classroom schedule.
If you want supervised hands-on practice, we offer optional in-person clinic days at our Montreal and Laval campuses — live practice on real models with professional equipment, under instructor supervision. They're genuinely optional: all 600 accredited hours are completed online, and the clinic days are there for students who want extra time with their hands on the work before they start their career.
Who can enroll
This is one of the things people are most surprised by: there are no prerequisites. You don't need prior beauty experience, and you don't need a college diploma to get in. The only requirements are:
- 17 years of age or older (or Secondary 4 equivalent).
- That's genuinely it.
The curriculum builds from the very foundations — skin science from scratch — up through advanced professional techniques, so total beginners are exactly who it's designed for. International students are welcome too: no Canadian visa is required to complete the online theory program and earn your certificate.
What you'll actually learn — the 8 modules
The certificate is built around eight core modules. Together they take you from "I love skincare" to "I'm a trained professional who knows the why behind every step":
- Skin anatomy & physiology — how skin actually works, skin types and conditions, Fitzpatrick classification, the science behind every treatment.
- Professional facial treatments — full step-by-step protocols: cleansing, exfoliation, extractions, masks, massage, and choosing the right facial for the right skin.
- Client consultation & assessment — intake, health-history review, contraindication screening, reading skin, and setting honest expectations (the part that separates a good esthetician from a great one).
- Advanced skin treatments — the theory behind chemical peels, microdermabrasion, hydradermabrasion, LED, microcurrent, and collagen-induction.
- Body care & hair removal — body treatments, waxing and other hair-removal techniques, brow and lash services, contraindications.
- Sanitation & professional standards — disinfection, sterilization, infection control, and the documentation that keeps you and your clients safe.
- Product & ingredient science — cosmetic chemistry, the real actives (retinoids, AHAs/BHAs, vitamin C, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, peptides), and how to recommend products with confidence.
- The business of esthetics — how to actually build a career: practice models, insurance, pricing, retail, client retention, and navigating the Canadian medical-spa market.
Where this can take you — specialize after you graduate
The certificate is your foundation. Once you've earned it, you can stack specialized advanced certificates on top — this is where the higher-paying medical-spa skills live:
- Microneedling (60 hours) — collagen-induction therapy on the Dermapen DP4, one of the most in-demand advanced facial services.
- Laser Hair Removal — the highest-volume laser service in clinics, and a direct path into laser esthetics work.
- Laser Skin Rejuvenation, Laser Tattoo Removal, Microdermabrasion, Chemical Peel, and Hydra Dermabrasion.
If you already know you want the full advanced toolkit, the Medical Esthetician Program (830 hours) bundles four specialized certificates into a single enrollment — the most cost-effective way to get there.
What it costs
We believe in being straight about money. Tuition for the Online Esthetics Certificate is $2,995 CAD, which includes all 600 hours of course material, interactive modules, assessments, and your digital certificate — no hidden fees. If paying upfront isn't realistic right now, there's 12-month financing available with a $500 administration fee plus applicable interest. All prices are in CAD, plus applicable taxes. We won't pretend it's free — but it's a real, accredited credential, and it's an investment in a career, not a weekend course.
A career you can actually use
The reason the accreditation matters so much: a CIDESCO & CAMACS-accredited Canadian certificate is recognized by medical-spa and clinic employers across Canada, and it makes you eligible for professional liability insurance from graduation. We're not going to promise you a specific salary or a guaranteed job — nobody honest can — but we can tell you that an insurable, recognized credential is the thing that gets your foot in the door, and an unaccredited online certificate often doesn't. Provincial licensing rules for esthetics vary, so we always recommend confirming the specifics for Quebec; our program advisor can help with that when you call.
Your questions, answered
How long does it take?
600 hours, fully self-paced. Most students finish in 3 to 6 months depending on how many hours a week they put in. You have up to 12 months from enrollment.
Do I need a high school diploma or any prior experience?
No. The only requirement is being 17 or older (or Secondary 4 equivalent). It's built for complete beginners.
Is it really fully online?
Yes — all 600 accredited hours are online. Optional in-person clinic days are available at our Montreal and Laval campuses, but they're not required to earn the certificate.
Will I be able to work as an esthetician in Quebec after this?
The CIDESCO & CAMACS-accredited certificate is recognized by employers and insurers across Canada, and you're insurable from graduation. Provincial licensing requirements vary — confirm Quebec's specifics with our advisor, who can guide you by province.
Is it a diploma?
It's a certificate — the Canadian Esthetics Certificate — not a college diploma or degree. That's by design: focused, faster, and built around real professional skills.
What's included in the $2,995?
All 600 hours of online material, interactive modules, assessments, instructor support, and your digital certificate. Optional clinic days are a separate cost. 12-month financing is available with a $500 admin fee plus interest. CAD, plus taxes.
Can I study while working full-time?
Yes — that's the whole point of the self-paced format. No live classes, no fixed schedule. Most working students finish in 3 to 6 months around their jobs.
Ready to start? Let's talk it through first
The best first step is a free, no-pressure conversation with a program advisor — they'll send you the full program guide and walk you through the curriculum, the timeline, payment options, and what employment recognition looks like in Quebec. No application required. Request your program info on our academy hub page, or simply call us at 1-888-808-0955 — one conversation answers just about every question. Your career in esthetics can genuinely start this week.
Related reading
General information about treatments and skin care. It is not medical advice and no result is promised or implied. Whether a treatment suits you depends on your skin, your health and your history — that is a judgement for a qualified professional at a consultation. Prices, protocols and device availability change.
