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What to Ask Aesthetician Trade Schools
Below is a list of questions that you need to look into for any esthetician training program you are contemplating. As we have already covered, the location of the school in relation to your El Cajon home, together with the price of tuition, will probably be your initial qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly 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 must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have collected several of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final decision.
Is the Esthetician School Accredited? It's necessary to make sure that the esthetician school you choose is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which often 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 concluding benefit, a number of El Cajon CA employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Each esthetician college that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly regarded. Check rating companies for reviews along with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with El Cajon CA salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not considered. And last, check with the California school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Some esthetician schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs commonly broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you decide on a school that specializes in your area of interest. Since your goal is to be trained as an esthetician, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your vision is to open a El Cajon CA beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach 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 provide the training you need.
Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and refining esthetician skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the beauty courses you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that enable students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a beauty school furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but instead depends heavily on the use of mannequins, it might not be the best option for developing your skills. Therefore search for other schools that furnish this kind of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? As soon as a student graduates from an esthetician program, it's important that she or he gets help in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer help develop relationships with El Cajon CA employers that are searching for qualified graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which salons and businesses they refer students to. Also, 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 respected as well.
Is Financial Aid Available? Most 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. Speak with 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 also. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications except for expense, do not eliminate it as an option before you learn what financial assistance may be offered.