How to Select the Best Esthetician College Near Hartford Connecticut
Now that you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Hartford CT, the task begins to search for and enroll in the best program. It's imperative that the school you choose not only provides the appropriate instruction for the specialty you have chosen, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your initial search, you may be a little bit confused about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the names are pretty much interchangeable and both refer to the same kind of school. If you intend on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Hartford home. Tuition will likewise be an important factor when assessing possible schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it's not automatically the ideal choice. There are various other factors that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding the aesthetician schools you are looking at later within this article. Before we do, let's discuss a little bit about what types of training programs are available.
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Esthetician 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 Hartford Connecticut nursing facilities, luxury resorts, dermatologist offices or hospitals.
Online Esthetician Classes
Online esthetician classes are accommodating for Hartford CT students who are employed full time and have family obligations that make it challenging to enroll in a more traditional school. There are a large number of online beauty school programs available that can be accessed through a home computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More traditional cosmetology schools are frequently fast paced due to the fact that many courses are as short as six or eight months. This means that a significant amount 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 outside of your home or commuting back and forth from classes. However, it's vital that the training program you pick 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 portion of the training, it's difficult to acquire the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology profession. So make sure if you decide to enroll in an online school to confirm that internship training is available in your area.
What to Ask Esthetician Programs
Below is a series of questions that you should research for any esthetician training program you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Hartford residence, in addition to the cost of tuition, will undoubtedly be your primary qualifiers. Whether you want to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Following we have put together some of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final decision.
Is the Esthetician Program Accredited? It's essential to make sure that the esthetician school you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for getting student loans or financial aid, which often 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 concluding benefit, a number of Hartford CT 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? Every esthetician institute that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly regarded. Check rating services for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Hartford CT salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the trade, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not considered. And finally, contact the Connecticut school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you enroll in a school that specializes in your area of interest. Since your intention is to be trained as an esthetician, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your dream is to start a Hartford CT 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 deliver the training you need.
Is Any Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and perfecting esthetician techniques and abilities involves lots of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is furnished 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 provides limited or no scheduled live training, but rather depends heavily on using mannequins, it may not be the best option for developing your skills. So try to find other schools that furnish this kind of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from an esthetician program, it's imperative that he or she receives assistance in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish help maintain relationships with Hartford CT employers that are searching for skilled graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and ask which salons and organizations they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Aid Offered? The majority of esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are considering have a financial aid office. Talk to 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 available to students also. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not eliminate it as an option before you learn what financial aid may be provided.
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Enroll in the Right Hartford Esthetician Program
Choosing and enrolling in the right esthetician school is essential to obtain the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel certain about your decision. Be sure to compile all of the responses you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to contrast schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the academy and program you choose are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. If you start with that foundation, and address the additional questions supplied in this post, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the right selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are prepared to start your new career as a professional esthetician in Hartford Connecticut.
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