How to Choose the Best Esthetician College Near Middletown Connecticut

Now that you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Middletown CT, the process begins to search for and enroll in the best program. It's essential that the school you select not only furnishes the appropriate education for the specialty you have decided on, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your initial search, you may be a little bit puzzled about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the titles are essentially interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Middletown home. Tuition will additionally be a critical factor when evaluating possible schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it's not automatically the best choice. There are several other qualifications that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask concerning the aesthetician schools you are considering later in this article. Before we do, let's talk a little bit about what types of courses are offered.

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Esthetician Degrees

There are primarily two options offered to obtain esthetician training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can pursue an Associate's degree. Certificate programs usually require 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 instructed in all of the main areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are offered if you want to concentrate on just one area, such as esthetics. A degree program will also most likely include management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to operate a salon or other Middletown CT business. Higher degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master's degree programs are offered in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whichever type of course you choose, it's essential to make sure that it's recognized by the Connecticut Board of Cosmetology. Many states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded agencies, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the advantages of accreditation for the school you choose in the next segment.

Online Esthetics Schools

Online esthetician programs are accommodating for Middletown CT students who are working full-time and have family commitments that make it hard to attend a more traditional school. There are many web-based beauty school programs available that can be attended by means of a personal computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More traditional beauty schools are often fast paced given that many programs are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a considerable amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you are not devoting many hours away from your home or travelling to and from classes. However, it's imperative that the training program you pick can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors to ensure that you also get the hands-on training necessary for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it's impossible to gain the skills needed to work in any area of the cosmetology profession. So be sure if you choose to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is provided in your area.

What to Ask Esthetician Training Programs

Below is a list of questions that you should research for any esthetician training program you are contemplating. As we have already discussed, the location of the school relative to your Middletown residence, as well as the cost of tuition, will most likely be your first qualifiers. Whether you want to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Following we have collected several of those supplemental questions that you should ask each school before making a final decision.

Is the Esthetician School Accredited? It's necessary to make certain that the esthetician college you choose 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for securing student loans or financial aid, which typically are not offered for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous Middletown CT employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation?  Every esthetician college that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly sought after. Check rating services for reviews along with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Middletown CT salon owners or managers, or any person working in the field, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to suggest others that you had not thought of. And finally, check with the Connecticut school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus?  Many esthetician schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering 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 choose 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 aspiration is to launch a Middletown 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 poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you need.

Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided?  Practicing and mastering esthetician skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is included in the cosmetology courses you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that allow students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a beauty program provides little or no scheduled live training, but rather relies predominantly on using mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for acquiring your skills. So try to find alternate schools that furnish this kind of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance?  When a student graduates from an esthetician school, it's important that she or he receives help in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide assistance develop relationships with Middletown CT employers that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and inquire 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 Aid Offered?  The majority of 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 might get approved for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students also. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications except for expense, do not drop it as an alternative before you determine what financial aid may be provided.

Find Out How to Become an Esthetician in Middletown

Enroll in the Best Middletown Esthetician Program

Locating and enrolling in the right esthetician school is essential to get the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel positive about your decision. Be sure to organize all of the responses you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to contrast schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the academy and program you decide on are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and address the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the ideal choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are ready to begin your career as a professional esthetician in Middletown Connecticut.

 

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