How to Select the Best Esthetician Program Near Redding California

Once you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Redding CA, the process begins to search for and enroll in the best program. It's imperative that the school you select not only provides the proper instruction for the specialty you have decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your preliminary search, you may be rather confused about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both relate to the same type of school. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Redding home. Tuition will likewise be an important consideration when evaluating possible schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it's not necessarily the best option. There are many other considerations that you should weigh when reviewing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask about the aesthetician schools you are looking at later in this article. Before we do, let's talk a bit about what types of courses are available.

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

Esthetician Certificates and Degrees

There are primarily two avenues offered to get esthetician training and a credential upon 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 complete, while an Associate's degree usually takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be trained in all of the main areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you wish to concentrate on just one area, for instance esthetics. A degree program will also likely feature management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to manage a parlor or other Redding CA business. More advanced degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master's degree programs are available in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whichever type of training program you choose, it's essential to make certain that it's recognized by the California Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only approve schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded organizations, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the advantages of accreditation for the school you choose in the following section.

Online Esthetician Classes

Online esthetician classes are advantageous for Redding CA students who are employed full time and have family commitments that make it hard to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of online cosmetology school programs offered that can be accessed via a home computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More traditional cosmetology schools are often fast paced given that many programs are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a large amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are covering the same amount of material, but you're not spending numerous hours away from your home or commuting back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it's important that the school you choose can provide internship training in area 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 impossible to obtain the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology field. So don't forget if you decide to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is provided in your area.

Questions to Ask Aesthetician Training Programs

Below is a list of questions that you need to investigate for any esthetician training program you are considering. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Redding residence, as well as the price of tuition, will most likely be your primary qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have compiled several 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 certain that the esthetician college 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 measure up to their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not obtainable for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous Redding CA businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation?  Every esthetician institute that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly sought after. Check rating services for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Redding CA salon owners or managers, or any person working in the field, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not looked into. Finally, contact the California school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in total compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus?  Some esthetician schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, for instance hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you choose a school that specializes in 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 respected for that program. If your aspiration is to open a Redding CA 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 rated school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you require.

Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided?  Studying and refining esthetician skills and techniques demands lots of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the cosmetology courses you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that allow students to practice their growing talents on volunteers. If a beauty academy offers little or no scheduled live training, but instead relies mainly on using mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for cultivating your skills. Therefore search for other schools that offer this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program?  Once a student graduates from an esthetician program, it's important that he or she gets aid in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer help maintain relationships with Redding CA employers that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which salons and establishments they refer students to. Also, 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 Offered?  Almost all 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 office. Consult with a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you might get approved for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students also. If a school meets all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not drop it as an alternative until you determine what financial help may be provided.

Find Out How to Become an Esthetician in Redding

Enroll in the Right Redding Esthetician Training

Locating and enrolling in the right esthetician program is important to obtain the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel certain about your decision. Don't forget to collect all of the information you get from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that information to contrast schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the school and program you select are accredited and have impressive reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and address the additional questions supplied in this post, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are qualified to start your new career as a professional esthetician in Redding California.

 

Redding Esthetician Schools | Redding Esthetician Schools Online