How to Pick the Right Esthetician School Near Phoenix Arizona

Since you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Phoenix AZ, the process starts to locate and enroll in the best program. It's important that the program you select not only provides the necessary education for the specialty you have decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your initial search, you might be a little bit puzzled about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind of school. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Phoenix residence. Tuition will likewise be a critical aspect when evaluating possible schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it's not necessarily the ideal option. There are various other factors that you should evaluate when comparing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask about the aesthetician schools you are thinking about later in this article. Before we do, let's talk a little bit about what types of training programs are offered.

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Esthetics Certificates and Degrees

There are primarily two avenues offered to obtain esthetician training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can pursue an Associate's degree. Certificate programs typically take 12 to 18 months to complete, while an Associate's degree commonly takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be trained in all of the major areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are offered if you want to concentrate on just one area, for instance esthetics. A degree program will also probably incorporate management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to operate a parlor or other Phoenix AZ business. Higher degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master's degree programs are available in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whichever type of course you decide on, it's important to make sure that it's approved by the Arizona Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only certify schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded agencies, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the advantages of accreditation for the school you choose in the upcoming section.

Online Esthetics Training

Online esthetician schools are advantageous for Phoenix AZ students who are employed full time and have family commitments that make it difficult to enroll in a more traditional school. There are numerous web-based cosmetology school programs available that can be accessed by means of a desktop computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More traditional beauty programs are typically fast paced given that many courses are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a large portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you're not devoting numerous hours away from your home or commuting back and forth from classes. However, it's essential that the program you pick can provide internship training in local salons and parlors so that you also get the hands-on training necessary for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it's impossible to obtain the skills necessary to work in any facet of the cosmetology field. So make sure if you decide to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is available in your area.

Questions to Ask Esthetician Degree Programs

Following is a list of questions that you need to investigate for any esthetician training school you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Phoenix residence, in addition to the expense of tuition, will most likely be your primary qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have put together some of those supplemental questions that you should ask every school before making a final selection.

Is the Esthetician School Accredited? It's essential to make sure that the esthetician college you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which often are not obtainable for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many Phoenix AZ businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation?  Every esthetician institute that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly sought after. Check rating companies for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Phoenix AZ salon owners or managers, or any person working in the business, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not thought of. And finally, consult the Arizona school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty?  Many esthetician schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs often broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you select a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your intention is to be trained as an esthetician, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your desire is to launch a Phoenix AZ beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator as well. Picking a highly rated school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you require.

Is Plenty of Live Training Provided?  Studying and refining esthetician skills and techniques demands lots of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is included in the beauty courses you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that allow students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a beauty program offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather depends predominantly on using mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for acquiring your skills. So look for alternate schools that provide this kind of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance?  As soon as a student graduates from an esthetician school, it's imperative that he or she receives assistance in securing that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide help maintain relationships with Phoenix AZ businesses that are seeking qualified graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and find out which salons and establishments they refer students to. Additionally, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Assistance Available?  Many esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid department. Talk to a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you may qualify for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students as well. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not eliminate it as an alternative before you find out what financial aid may be provided.

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Enroll in the Right Phoenix Esthetician Training

Picking and enrolling in the right esthetician school is essential to obtain the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel positive about your decision. Be sure to collect all of the responses you get from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that information to compare schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the academy and program you pick are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. If you start with that foundation, and address the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to launch your career as a professional esthetician in Phoenix Arizona.

 

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