How to Choose the Right Aesthetician Program Near Dunedin Florida
Now that you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Dunedin FL, the process starts to locate and enroll in the right program. It's imperative that the program you select not only provides the appropriate instruction for the specialty you have selected, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your preliminary search, you may be somewhat unclear about the difference 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 plan on commuting to classes you will need to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Dunedin residence. Tuition will likewise be an important consideration when evaluating potential schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it's not necessarily the ideal choice. There are various other factors that you should weigh when reviewing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask regarding the aesthetician schools you are considering later within this article. Before we do, let's talk a little bit about what kinds of training programs are available.
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Esthetics Training Programs
Estheticians are highly trained, in-demand skincare experts, which is why an esthetics program requires around 600 hours of hands-on training hours. For licensure, you need to demonstrate a thorough understanding of the skin and the technology used in advanced treatments like lasers, LED lights, oxygen, or ultrasonic waves. Keep in mind that program requirements can vary by state, but most states require at least 600 hours of training to obtain a license in the field. In addition to training, estheticians should also have a professional and friendly personality that instills confidence in their clients. A skilled esthetician must be able to listen and empathize with their clients’ needs and concerns, often personalizing treatment for them.
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 Dunedin Florida nursing facilities, luxury resorts, dermatologist offices or hospitals.
Online Esthetics Courses
Online esthetician programs are advantageous for Dunedin FL students who are working full time and have family commitments that make it challenging to enroll in a more traditional school. There are numerous online cosmetology school programs offered that can be attended through a desktop computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More traditional beauty schools are often fast paced since many courses are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a considerable portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are covering the same volume of material, but you are not spending many hours outside of your home or driving back and forth from classes. However, it's imperative that the training program you pick 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 acquire the skills required to work in any facet of the cosmetology field. So make sure if you choose to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is available in your area.
What to Ask Aesthetician Training Programs
Below is a list of questions that you need to research for any esthetician training program you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Dunedin residence, together with the price of tuition, will most likely be your first qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have collected some of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final decision.
Is the Esthetician Program Accredited? It's important to make sure that the esthetician training program you choose 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for getting 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 Dunedin FL businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Every esthetician school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating companies for reviews as well as the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Dunedin FL salon owners or managers, or any person working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. And last, contact the Florida school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Many esthetician schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you choose a school that focuses on 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 respected for that program. If your vision is to launch a Dunedin FL 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 regarded school with a weak program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you require.
Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and refining esthetician skills and techniques involves lots of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is included in the beauty courses you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that allow students to practice their developing talents on volunteers. If a beauty school offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather depends heavily on using mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for developing your skills. Therefore look for other schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from an esthetician academy, it's essential that he or she gets aid in landing that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer aid develop relationships with Dunedin FL employers that are looking for qualified graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and find out which salons and businesses 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 respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Available? The majority of esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and find out 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 offered to students as well. If a school meets each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not drop it as an option until you find out what financial assistance may be provided.
More Info on How to Become an Esthetician in Dunedin
Enroll in the Right Dunedin Esthetician Training
Locating and enrolling in the right esthetician school is important to receive the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel certain about your decision. Make sure to organize all of the responses you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that information to contrast schools. A good 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 field. If you start with that foundation, and answer the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are ready to start your new career as a professional esthetician in Dunedin Florida.