How to Enroll In the Right Esthetician Course Near Lakewood Colorado
Since you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Lakewood CO, the task starts to find and enroll in the right program. It's imperative that the school you select not only furnishes the proper training for the specialty you have decided on, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your initial search, you may be somewhat puzzled about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both refer to the same kind of school. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Lakewood home. Tuition will also be a critical aspect when evaluating potential schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it's not always the best option. There are various other considerations that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask concerning the aesthetician schools you are thinking about later in this article. Before we do, let's talk a bit about what kinds of programs are available.
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Esthetics Training Programs
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
As skilled skincare experts, estheticians need to be knowledgeable of everything from skin histology and physiology to bacteriology and sanitation protocols. As beauty professionals, estheticians must be trained to perform the services that promote healthy, radiant skin – including everything from hair removal methods, pore cleansing and extractions to microdermabrasion, makeup artistry, chemical peels, and light therapy. As beauty and wellness experts, people also turn to estheticians for consultations, advice, and tips for home skincare regimens. They may recommend products, educate clients, and recommend esthetic procedures based on their clients’ needs and wants. Their work environments can include Lakewood Colorado spas, resorts, salons, hospitals, nursing facilities and dermatologist offices.
Online Esthetician Schools
Online esthetician classes are accommodating for Lakewood CO students who are working full time and have family obligations that make it difficult to enroll in a more traditional school. There are a large number of online cosmetology school programs offered that can be attended by means of a desktop computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More traditional cosmetology programs are typically fast paced because many programs are as short as six or eight months. This means that a substantial portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are dealing with the same volume of material, but you are not devoting numerous hours away from your home or driving back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it's vital that the training program you choose can provide internship training in local salons and parlors in order that you also obtain the hands-on training needed for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it's impossible to obtain the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology industry. So make sure if you decide to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is provided in your area.
Questions to Ask Esthetician Programs
Below is a series of questions that you should investigate for any esthetician training program you are considering. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Lakewood home, in addition to the cost of tuition, will most likely be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn 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 initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Following we have collected several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final selection.
Is the Esthetician School Accredited? It's essential to make certain that the esthetician college you select 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 meet their high standards guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not offered for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of Lakewood CO employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Any esthetician college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly demanded. Check rating services for reviews along with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Lakewood CO salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. And finally, contact the Colorado school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Some esthetician schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs commonly expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you select a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your intention 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 Lakewood CO beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator as well. Choosing 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? Practicing and mastering esthetician skills and techniques requires lots of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the cosmetology classes you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that allow students to practice their developing skills on volunteers. If a beauty program offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather relies predominantly on the use of mannequins, it may not be the most effective alternative for acquiring your skills. Therefore search for other schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from an esthetician school, it's imperative that she or he gets assistance in finding that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer aid develop relationships with Lakewood CO employers that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and find out which salons and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Assistance Available? Most esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid department. Consult with a counselor and find out 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 too. If a school meets all of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not discard it as an alternative before you determine what financial help may be offered.
Find Out How to Become an Aesthetician in Lakewood
Enroll in the Right Lakewood Esthetician Training
Finding and enrolling in the ideal esthetician program is important to receive the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel confident about your decision. Don't forget to consolidate all of the responses you get from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to contrast schools. A good start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the school and program you choose are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the field. If you begin with that base, and answer the additional questions supplied in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the proper selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are qualified to start your career as a professional esthetician in Lakewood Colorado.
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