How to Choose the Right Aesthetician College Near Littleton Colorado
Since you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Littleton CO, the task begins to find and enroll in the best program. It's important that the school you choose not only provides the appropriate education for the specialty you have chosen, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you might be somewhat unclear about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. If you intend on commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Littleton home. Tuition will additionally be a critical consideration when assessing possible schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it's not necessarily the best option. There are various other qualifications that you should weigh when comparing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding the aesthetician schools you are thinking about later within this article. Before we do, let's discuss a bit about what kinds of courses are offered.
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
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 Littleton Colorado spas, resorts, salons, hospitals, nursing facilities and dermatologist offices.
Online Esthetics Schools
Online esthetician classes are convenient for Littleton CO students who are employed full time and have family commitments that make it hard to attend a more traditional school. There are many online cosmetology school programs offered that can be accessed through a personal computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More conventional beauty programs are frequently fast paced because many courses are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a considerable portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are covering the same amount of material, but you are not spending numerous hours outside of your home or driving back and forth from classes. However, it's vital that the program you select can provide internship training in area salons and parlors so that you also get the hands-on training needed for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it's difficult to acquire the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology field. So be sure if you decide to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is available in your area.
Questions to Ask Esthetics Degree Programs
Following is a series of questions that you need to investigate for any esthetician training program you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Littleton residence, together with the expense of tuition, will probably 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 preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have compiled several of those supplemental questions that you should ask each school before making a final determination.
Is the Esthetician School Accredited? It's essential to make sure that the esthetician school you select is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized 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 assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not obtainable 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 Littleton CO employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Each esthetician school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly regarded. Check rating services for reviews as well as the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Littleton CO salon owners or managers, or any person working in the trade, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to suggest others that you had not thought of. Finally, consult the Colorado school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Many esthetician schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing 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 commonly expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you decide on a school that specializes in your area of interest. Since your goal is to be trained as an esthetician, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and well regarded for that program. If your dream is to start a Littleton 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 rated school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you need.
Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and perfecting esthetician skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is included in the cosmetology lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that make it possible for students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a beauty school furnishes minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather relies heavily on using mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for cultivating your skills. So search for other schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from an esthetician school, it's crucial that he or she receives support in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish help develop relationships with Littleton CO employers that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and ask which salons and businesses they refer students to. Additionally, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Aid Offered? Many esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid office. Consult with a counselor and learn 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 offered to students also. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not drop it as an option before you learn what financial assistance may be available.
More Info on How to Become an Aesthetician in Littleton
Enroll in the Best Littleton Esthetician Training
Finding and enrolling in the right esthetician program is important to get the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel certain about your decision. Be sure to consolidate all of the information you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that information to contrast schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the academy and program you choose are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you start 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 right choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are prepared to launch your career as a professional esthetician in Littleton Colorado.
Littleton Esthetician Schools | Littleton Esthetician Schools Online