Virginia has done an excellent job of establishing and improving standards of education and training for the esthetics field. To those of us currently enrolled in these programs, it seems like the regulations are constantly evolving and becoming more rigorous.  As students, we are always concerned about meeting these standards and being as educated as possible in an industry that is constantly changing.  I am very concerned that an apprenticeship program would significantly diminish DPOR's ability to ensure consistency in application of educational standards.  Long term, I believe this would greatly reduce, rather than advance, professionalism and industry standards, and greatly increase risk to consumers.