It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Start Your Esthetician Career Below!
Questions to Ask Esthetics Programs
Following is a series of questions that you should look into for any esthetician training school you are considering. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Bakersfield residence, together with the expense of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first qualifiers. Whether you want to earn 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 additional factors that you should research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have put together several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final decision.
Is the Esthetician Program Accredited? It's important to make certain that the esthetician school you select is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not offered for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many Bakersfield CA employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Any esthetician institute that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating services for reviews together with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Bakersfield CA salon owners or managers, or any person working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. Finally, contact the California school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you pick a school that specializes in 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 well regarded for that program. If your vision is to start a Bakersfield CA beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator as well. Choosing a highly ranked school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you need.
Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and mastering esthetician skills and techniques demands lots of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is provided in the beauty classes you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that allow students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a beauty school provides little or no scheduled live training, but rather depends mainly on using mannequins, it might not be the best option for developing your skills. So look for alternate schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from an esthetician school, it's important that he or she receives aid in landing that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide assistance maintain relationships with Bakersfield CA employers that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and inquire which salons and businesses they refer students to. Additionally, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Assistance Available? Almost all esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students too. If a school meets all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not omit it as an option before you determine what financial assistance may be provided.