How to Choose the Best Esthetician Program Near Castle Rock Colorado
Since you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Castle Rock CO, the task starts to find and enroll in the right program. It's important that the school you pick not only provides the proper instruction for the specialty you have selected, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your initial search, you might be rather puzzled about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Castle Rock residence. Tuition will also be a critical aspect when reviewing prospective schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it's not automatically the right option. There are many other qualifications that you should weigh when analyzing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask concerning the aesthetician schools you are thinking about later in this article. Before we do, let's talk a little bit about what kinds of courses are available.
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Esthetics Degrees and Certificates
There are primarily two options available to receive esthetician training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can work toward an Associate's degree. Certificate programs typically take 12 to 18 months to complete, while an Associate's degree ordinarily takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be trained in each of the main areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are available if you wish to concentrate on just one area, such as esthetics. A degree program will also likely include management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to operate a salon or other Castle Rock CO business. More advanced degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master's degree programs are offered in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whatever type of training program you opt for, it's imperative to make sure that it's approved by the Colorado Board of Cosmetology. Many states only certify schools that are accredited by certain reputable organizations, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the advantages of accreditation for the school you select in the next section.
Online Esthetician Programs
Online esthetician programs are advantageous for Castle Rock CO students who are employed full-time and have family commitments that make it difficult to enroll in a more traditional school. There are numerous online cosmetology school programs offered that can be accessed through a desktop computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More traditional beauty schools are frequently fast paced due to the fact 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 courses, you are dealing with the same volume of material, but you're not spending many hours away from your home or travelling back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it's essential that the program you select can provide internship training in area salons and parlors in order that you also receive the hands-on training required for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it's impossible to obtain the skills required to work in any area of the cosmetology industry. So don't forget if you choose to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is available in your area.
Questions to Ask Aesthetician Trade Schools
Below is a series of questions that you need to look into for any esthetician training school you are contemplating. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Castle Rock residence, in addition to the price of tuition, will most likely be your initial qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have compiled several of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final selection.
Is the Esthetician School Accredited? It's essential to make sure that the esthetician training program you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not available for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous Castle Rock CO businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Every esthetician institute that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating services for reviews along with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Castle Rock CO salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. Finally, contact the Colorado school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing 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 commonly expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you enroll in 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 desire is to open a Castle Rock CO beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator as well. Choosing a highly regarded school with a weak program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you need.
Is Any Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and refining esthetician techniques and abilities demands plenty of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is provided in the cosmetology courses you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that allow students to practice their developing talents on volunteers. If a beauty program offers limited or no scheduled live training, but rather relies predominantly on using mannequins, it might not be the best option for acquiring your skills. Therefore search for alternate schools that offer this kind of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from an esthetician program, it's imperative that she or he gets aid in securing that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide assistance maintain relationships with Castle Rock CO businesses that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and ask which salons and organizations they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Aid Offered? Most esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students as well. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not eliminate it as an option until you find out what financial aid may be available.
More Info on How to Become an Aesthetician in Castle Rock
Enroll in the Right Castle Rock Esthetician Program
Locating and enrolling in the right esthetician program is important to get the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel positive about your decision. Make certain to collect all of the information you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that information to contrast schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the institution and program you decide on are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. If you begin with that base, and address the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the ideal choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to begin your new career as a professional esthetician in Castle Rock Colorado.
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