How to Enroll In the Best Aesthetician College Near Santa Monica California
Since you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Santa Monica CA, the process begins to search for and enroll in the ideal program. It's important that the school you choose not only furnishes the proper training for the specialty you have selected, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your preliminary search, you might be a little bit puzzled about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both refer to the same kind of school. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Santa Monica residence. Tuition will likewise be a critical aspect when evaluating possible schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it's not automatically the ideal choice. There are a number of other qualifications that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask about the aesthetician schools you are thinking about later in this article. Before we do, let's talk a bit about what kinds of training programs are available.
It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Start Your Esthetician Career Below!
Esthetics Training Requirements
An esthetics program may be found in a school of cosmetology, a dedicated esthetics school or, in some cases, a junior college. An esthetics program’s length is generally determined by the state in which it is located, as each state board of cosmetology sets minimum requirements for the number of hours of training an esthetics program must provide to meet the state’s licensing requirements. However, it is also quite common for esthetics programs to offer more extensive study beyond what is required for licensing purposes. In general, an esthetics program consists of about 600 hours, a common requirement in many states. However, a number of states require less than 600 hours and perhaps just as many require more than 600. Most state boards of cosmetology maintain lists of approved programs of esthetics within the state, while others recognize all programs that meet the state’s minimum clock-hour requirement. A comprehensive esthetics program includes instruction not only in esthetic treatment procedures and services, but in areas such as the structure of the skin and its function, disorders of the skin, and professional business skills.
Esthetician Job Description
An esthetician is a professional skin specialist who identifies cosmetic issues (such as wrinkles, pigmentation, or blemishes) and applies treatments to improve their condition. Most estheticians perform skin treatments like facials, superficial chemical peels, body treatments, skin conditioning, and blemish extraction, but they may also do waxing, lash extensions, and makeovers. Estheticians, unlike licensed cosmetologists, are also able to provide advanced treatments like microdermabrasion, chemical peels, light therapy, and hair removal. They may also educate clients on products, skincare regimens, and the benefits of esthetic procedures. Medical estheticians in clinical settings may help people identify and recover from health issues affecting the skin, such as working with cancer patients or burn victims after surgical procedures. Typically an esthetician works with a client in a spa or salon setting. Some estheticians work in a medical setting to complement medical services, such as in a dermatologist’s office, but they are not medical professionals. Estheticians may also work in locations as varied as Santa Monica California nursing facilities, luxury resorts, dermatologist offices or hospitals.
Online Esthetics Training
Online esthetician classes are advantageous for Santa Monica CA students who are employed full time and have family commitments that make it challenging to enroll in a more traditional school. There are a large number of web-based beauty school programs available that can be accessed via a desktop computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More conventional beauty schools are often fast paced because many courses are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a significant portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are covering the same volume of material, but you're not spending many hours away from your home or commuting to and from classes. On the other hand, it's vital that the training program you select can provide internship training in area salons and parlors in order that you also receive the hands-on training necessary for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it's impossible to gain the skills required to work in any area of the cosmetology field. So be sure if you choose to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is available in your area.
Questions to Ask Esthetics Schools
Following is a list of questions that you should look into for any esthetician training program you are contemplating. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Santa Monica home, as well as the cost of tuition, will probably be your initial qualifiers. Whether you want to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly 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 must research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have collected several of those supplemental questions that you should ask each school before making a final determination.
Is the Esthetician Program Accredited? It's necessary to make sure that the esthetician college 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for securing student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not obtainable for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous Santa Monica CA employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Any esthetician institute that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating services for reviews along with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Santa Monica CA salon owners or managers, or someone working in the industry, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not thought of. And last, check with the California school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs commonly expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you select a school that specializes in 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 respected for that program. If your vision is to launch a Santa Monica 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 regarded school with a weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you require.
Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and mastering esthetician skills and techniques demands plenty of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the cosmetology lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that allow students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a beauty academy offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead depends predominantly on using mannequins, it may not be the best option for acquiring your skills. So look for other schools that furnish this kind of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from an esthetician program, it's crucial that she or he gets support in securing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer aid develop relationships with Santa Monica CA businesses that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and inquire which salons and businesses they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only affirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Offered? The majority of esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Consult with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you may get approved for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students also. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not discard it as an option until you determine what financial aid may be offered.
Find Out How to Become an Aesthetician in Santa Monica
Enroll in the Best Santa Monica Esthetician Program
Choosing and enrolling in the ideal esthetician program is imperative to get the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel positive about your decision. Don't forget to organize all of the responses you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that information to compare schools. A good beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the college and program you pick are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the field. If you begin with that foundation, and answer the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the right selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are ready to launch your career as a professional esthetician in Santa Monica California.
Santa Monica Esthetician Courses | Santa Monica Esthetician Training