How to Enroll In the Best Aesthetician Course Near Lakewood Colorado
Now that you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Lakewood CO, the process begins to locate and enroll in the ideal program. It's imperative that the school you select not only provides the appropriate education for the specialty you have decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your preliminary search, you might be somewhat puzzled about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Lakewood home. Tuition will additionally be a critical factor when assessing 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 many other qualifications that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask concerning the aesthetician schools you are looking at later in this article. Before we do, let's discuss a bit about what types of courses are available.
It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Start Your Esthetician Career Below!
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 Esthetics Courses
Online esthetician programs are advantageous for Lakewood CO students who are working full time and have family obligations that make it hard to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of web-based cosmetology school programs offered that can be accessed through a personal computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More conventional beauty schools are typically fast paced since 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 covering the same amount of material, but you're not spending many hours outside of your home or driving back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it's imperative that the program you pick can provide internship training in local salons and parlors so that you also receive the hands-on training needed for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it's impossible to gain the skills needed to work in any area of the cosmetology profession. So don't forget if you decide to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is provided in your area.
Questions to Ask Esthetics Degree Programs
Below is a series of questions that you need to research for any esthetician training program you are considering. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Lakewood residence, in addition to the expense 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 choices based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Following we have compiled several of those supplemental questions that you should ask each school before making a final selection.
Is the Esthetician School Accredited? It's important to make certain that the esthetician school 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for securing student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not available for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in some 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 might look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Every esthetician institute that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating companies for reviews together with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Lakewood CO salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the field, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not thought of. And finally, contact the Colorado school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, for instance hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs often 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 objective 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 vision is to open a Lakewood CO beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator as well. Choosing a highly rated school with a weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you require.
Is Any Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and mastering esthetician techniques and abilities demands plenty of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is furnished 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 academy provides little or no scheduled live training, but instead depends heavily on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the most effective option for acquiring your skills. Therefore try to find other schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from an esthetician program, it's crucial that he or she receives support in securing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide aid develop relationships with Lakewood CO employers that are searching for qualified graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and ask which salons and establishments they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Aid Available? Almost all esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Consult with a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students also. If a school meets each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not discard it as an alternative before you determine what financial aid may be provided.
Find Out How to Become an Aesthetician in Lakewood
Enroll in the Right Lakewood Esthetician Course
Locating and enrolling in the ideal esthetician program is essential to obtain the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel certain about your decision. Be sure to compile all of the information you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that information to contrast schools. A good start in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the academy and program you select are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you begin with that foundation, 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 right selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are prepared to launch your new career as a professional esthetician in Lakewood Colorado.
Lakewood How To Become An Esthetician | Lakewood Esthetician Courses Online