How to Pick the Best Aesthetician College Near Los Gatos California

Once you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Los Gatos CA, the task starts to find and enroll in the ideal program. It's imperative that the program you select not only furnishes the proper instruction for the specialty you have selected, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you may be a little bit puzzled about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the titles are essentially interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. If you intend on commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Los Gatos home. Tuition will likewise be a critical consideration when reviewing possible schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it's not necessarily the ideal choice. There are a number of other qualifications that you should weigh when comparing schools, for instance 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 discuss a little bit about what types of courses are available.

It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Start Your Esthetician Career Below!

Esthetician Training Requirements

Esthetics programs, which are available through dedicated schools of esthetics, career colleges or schools of cosmetology, must meet the requirements set forth by each state’s board of cosmetology. Most states recognize esthetics programs that consist of 600 hours of coursework and practical training as meeting the requirements for licensure, although a number of states require more hours while others require significantly fewer. For example, esthetician license candidates in Wisconsin must complete a program that is at least 450 hours long, while candidates in Indiana must complete a program consisting of at least 700 hours. Esthetics programs blend theory and practical study to introduce students to everything from skin histology and sanitation practices to the safe application of facial products and makeup. These programs also include coursework that covers the business, ethics and professional standards of the esthetics industry.

Esthetician Job Description

Estheticians provide a wide range of beauty services to help their Los Gatos California clients look and feel better. This includes improving the quality of the skin (including the treatment of skin disorders), hair removal, permanent makeup application, and facial massage. Some types of estheticians, like medical estheticians, provide highly specialized procedures that require detailed training in order for it to be done safely and effectively. Medical estheticians can help individuals suffering from serious skin disorders, burns, and other trauma, and to help with pre and post-operative surgery affecting the health of their skin. Estheticians work closely with their clients in a friendly and positive manner, so an enthusiastic attitude and desire to help people is an excellent attribute for an aspiring esthetician to possess. Some of the basic duties an esthetician may perform will include such tasks as:

• Assessing a patient’s needs
• Chemical peels
• Laser treatments
• Waxing
• Facials
• Massage of the head and neck
• Microdermabrasion

Online Esthetics Classes

Online esthetician classes are advantageous for Los Gatos CA students who are working full-time and have family obligations that make it hard to enroll in a more traditional school. There are many online beauty school programs offered that can be attended through a desktop computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More traditional cosmetology programs are often fast paced given that many courses are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a significant portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you are not spending many hours away from your home or travelling back and forth from classes. However, it's imperative that the school you select can provide internship training in local salons and parlors so that you also obtain the hands-on training required for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it's difficult to gain the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology field. So make sure if you decide to enroll in an online school to confirm that internship training is available in your area.

Questions to Ask Esthetics Training 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 Los Gatos residence, together with the price of tuition, will most likely be your initial qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options 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 some of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final decision.

Is the Esthetician School Accredited? It's important to make sure that the esthetician training program you choose is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for getting student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not offered for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous Los Gatos 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 an Excellent Reputation?  Each esthetician college that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good 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, indicating that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating services for reviews along with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Los Gatos CA salon owners or managers, or someone working in the industry, 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. Finally, consult the California school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty?  Some 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, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you select a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your goal 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 aspiration is to start a Los Gatos 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 ranked school with a weak program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you require.

Is Plenty of Live Training Provided?  Learning and perfecting esthetician skills and techniques involves plenty of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is included in the cosmetology classes you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that allow students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a beauty program provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather depends heavily on using mannequins, it might not be the best option for cultivating your skills. Therefore try to find other schools that furnish this kind of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program?  When a student graduates from an esthetician academy, it's crucial that he or she receives aid in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish assistance maintain relationships with Los Gatos CA businesses that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and inquire which salons and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm 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 looking at have a financial aid department. Talk to a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you may qualify for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students as well. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not discard it as an option before you determine what financial assistance may be available.

More Info on How to Become an Esthetician in Los Gatos

Enroll in the Right Los Gatos Esthetician Program

Choosing and enrolling in the ideal esthetician school is imperative to obtain the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel certain about your decision. Make certain to collect all of the responses you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that information to compare schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the academy and program you choose are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you start with that base, and answer the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are ready to start your career as a professional esthetician in Los Gatos California.

 

Los Gatos Esthetician Classes | Los Gatos Medical Esthetician Schools