How to Select the Best Esthetician Training Program Near Los Angeles California
Once you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Los Angeles CA, the process begins to locate and enroll in the best program. It's important that the program you pick not only provides the necessary education for the specialty you have decided on, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your preliminary search, you might be somewhat unclear about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the titles are essentially interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind of school. If you intend on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Los Angeles residence. Tuition will likewise be a critical factor when reviewing prospective schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it's not automatically the best choice. There are several other qualifications that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask about the aesthetician schools you are looking at later in this article. Before we do, let's talk a little bit about what types of courses are available.
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Esthetics Certificates and Degrees
There are basically two avenues offered to get 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 typically take 12 to 18 months to finish, while an Associate's degree ordinarily takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be trained in all of the main areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are offered if you wish to focus on just one area, for instance esthetics. A degree program will also probably include management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to run a parlor or other Los Angeles CA business. Higher degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master's degree programs are offered in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whatever type of course you go with, it's imperative to make sure that it's certified by the California Board of Cosmetology. Many states only approve schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded organizations, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the benefits of accreditation for the school you choose in the next section.
Online Esthetician Classes
Online esthetician schools are advantageous for Los Angeles CA students who are working full-time and have family obligations that make it hard to enroll in a more traditional school. There are a large number of web-based cosmetology school programs available that can be attended by means of a desktop computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More traditional cosmetology programs are often fast paced because many courses are as short as six or eight months. This means that a substantial portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are covering the same amount of material, but you're not spending many hours away from your home or driving to and from classes. On the other hand, it's imperative that the training program you select can provide internship training in local salons and parlors in order that you also get the hands-on training necessary for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it's difficult to gain the skills needed to work in any area of the cosmetology field. So don't forget if you decide to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.
What to Ask Esthetician Trade Schools
Below is a list of questions that you need to investigate for any esthetician training program you are considering. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Los Angeles home, in addition to the expense of tuition, will probably 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 choices based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have collected several of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final determination.
Is the Esthetician School Accredited? It's important to make sure that the esthetician school you enroll in 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 measure up to their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which typically are not offered for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many Los Angeles CA businesses will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may 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 excellent reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating companies for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Los Angeles CA salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not thought of. Finally, check with the California school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, for example 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 focuses on your area of interest. Since your ambition 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 dream is to open a Los Angeles CA beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator as well. Selecting a highly regarded school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you require.
Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and refining esthetician techniques and abilities requires plenty of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is included in the beauty courses you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that enable students to practice their developing talents on volunteers. If a beauty program furnishes minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead relies predominantly on using mannequins, it might not be the most effective option for acquiring your skills. So search for other schools that offer this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from an esthetician program, it's essential that she or he gets support in landing that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer assistance develop relationships with Los Angeles CA businesses that are looking for qualified graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and find out which salons and establishments they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Available? Most esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid office. 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 available to students also. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not omit it as an option until you find out what financial help may be provided.
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Enroll in the Right Los Angeles Esthetician Training
Finding and enrolling in the right esthetician program is imperative to receive the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel certain about your decision. Be sure to organize all of the responses you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that data to compare schools. A sensible start in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the institution and program you pick are accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and answer the additional questions supplied in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the right selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are prepared to start your career as a professional esthetician in Los Angeles California.
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