How to Choose the Right Aesthetician School Near Scottsdale Arizona

Since you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Scottsdale AZ, the task begins to locate and enroll in the right program. It's imperative that the school you pick not only provides the proper instruction for the specialty you have chosen, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your initial search, you might be a little bit confused 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 intend on commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Scottsdale home. Tuition will also be a critical aspect when evaluating prospective schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it's not necessarily the right option. There are a number of other factors that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask about the aesthetician schools you are thinking about later in this article. Before we do, let's discuss a bit about what kinds of courses are available.

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Esthetician Degrees

There are basically two pathways offered to obtain esthetician training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can work toward an Associate's degree. Certificate programs usually require 12 to 18 months to complete, while an Associate's degree usually takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be trained in each of the main areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are available if you want to concentrate on just one area, for example esthetics. A degree program will also likely incorporate management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to run a salon or other Scottsdale AZ business. Higher degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master's degree programs are available in such areas as salon or spa management. Whichever type of program you go with, it's essential to make sure that it's approved by the Arizona Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain respected agencies, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the advantages of accreditation for the school you decide on in the following section.

Online Esthetics Courses

Online esthetician schools are advantageous for Scottsdale AZ students who are employed full time and have family obligations that make it difficult to enroll in a more traditional school. There are a large number of online beauty school programs available that can be accessed through a personal computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More traditional beauty programs are often fast paced since many programs are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a considerable portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are dealing with the same volume of material, but you're not devoting numerous hours outside of your home or commuting back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it's vital that the program you choose can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors in order that you also get the hands-on training needed for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it's difficult to acquire the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology field. So be sure if you decide to enroll in an online school to confirm that internship training is available in your area.

Questions to Ask Aesthetician Training Programs

Following is a series of questions that you will want to investigate for any esthetician training school you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Scottsdale residence, as well as the expense of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have compiled several of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final determination.

Is the Esthetician Program Accredited? It's essential to make sure that the esthetician school you choose is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which typically are not available for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous Scottsdale AZ employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation?  Each esthetician school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating companies for reviews as well as the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Scottsdale AZ salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not thought of. And last, check with the Arizona school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in full compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus?  Some esthetician schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, for instance hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs commonly broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you select a school that specializes in your area of interest. Since your objective is to be trained as an esthetician, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and well regarded for that program. If your desire is to launch a Scottsdale AZ beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator as well. Selecting a highly ranked school with a weak program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you require.

Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided?  Practicing and refining esthetician skills and techniques demands plenty of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the cosmetology lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that enable students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a beauty program provides limited or no scheduled live training, but rather relies mainly on using mannequins, it may not be the most effective alternative for acquiring your skills. So look for other schools that furnish this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program?  As soon as a student graduates from an esthetician school, it's crucial that she or he gets aid in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer assistance develop relationships with Scottsdale AZ employers that are seeking qualified graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and inquire which salons and establishments they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Assistance Offered?  Almost all esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid department. Talk to a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you may get approved for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students also. If a school meets each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not eliminate it as an option before you determine what financial assistance may be provided.

Learn How to Become an Esthetician in Scottsdale

Enroll in the Right Scottsdale Esthetician Course

Choosing and enrolling in the right esthetician school is essential to receive the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel certain about your decision. Be sure to consolidate all of the responses you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that data to compare schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the academy and program you pick are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the field. If you start with that foundation, and address the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the proper selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to start your career as a professional esthetician in Scottsdale Arizona.

 

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