How to Pick the Best Aesthetician Training Program Near Key West Florida
Now that you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Key West FL, the process starts to find and enroll in the best program. It's imperative that the program you select not only provides the necessary instruction for the specialty you have decided on, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your initial search, you might be somewhat confused 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 intend on commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Key West home. Tuition will also be an important factor when reviewing prospective schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it's not automatically the ideal option. There are a number of other qualifications that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask about the aesthetician schools you are looking at later within this article. Before we do, let's discuss a little bit about what types of programs are available.
It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Start Your Esthetician Career Below!
Esthetician Degrees and Certificates
There are essentially 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 take 12 to 18 months to complete, while an Associate's degree commonly takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be instructed in each of the main areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you wish to concentrate on just one area, for example esthetics. A degree program will also probably incorporate management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to manage a salon or other Key West FL business. Higher degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master's degree programs are available in such areas as salon or spa management. Whichever type of training program you decide on, it's imperative to make sure that it's recognized by the Florida Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only approve schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded organizations, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the benefits of accreditation for the school you decide on in the following segment.
Online Esthetician Courses
Online esthetician programs are accommodating for Key West FL students who are employed full time and have family responsibilities that make it difficult to enroll in a more traditional school. There are many web-based beauty school programs offered that can be attended through a personal computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More traditional beauty programs are frequently fast paced since many courses are as short as six or eight 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 spending many 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 local salons and parlors so that you also obtain the hands-on training necessary for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it's impossible to obtain the skills required to work in any area of the cosmetology industry. So be sure if you choose to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.
What to Ask Esthetician Schools
Following is a list of questions that you should look into for any esthetician training school you are contemplating. As we have already discussed, the location of the school relative to your Key West home, in addition to the price of tuition, will probably be your initial 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 narrowed your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have put together some of those additional questions that you need to ask every school before making a final decision.
Is the Esthetician Program Accredited? It's essential to make sure that the esthetician training program you choose 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which typically 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 final benefit, numerous Key West FL businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Each esthetician college that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting 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 Key West 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 considered. And finally, check with the Florida school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you enroll in a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your ambition is to be trained as an esthetician, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your vision is to open a Key West FL beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach 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 provide the training you require.
Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and perfecting esthetician skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the beauty lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that enable students to practice their developing talents on volunteers. If a beauty program furnishes minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead depends heavily on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for acquiring your skills. So search for alternate schools that offer this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from an esthetician academy, it's imperative that he or she receives support in securing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish aid develop relationships with Key West FL businesses that are seeking skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and ask which salons and organizations they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Aid Available? Most esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid office. Speak with 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 offered to students as well. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not discard it as an option before you find out what financial help may be offered.
More Info on How to Become an Esthetician in Key West
Enroll in the Best Key West Esthetician Program
Locating and enrolling in the ideal esthetician program is imperative to get the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Make 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 receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to contrast schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the school and program you select are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. If you start with that base, and answer the additional questions supplied in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the proper selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are qualified to launch your career as a professional esthetician in Key West Florida.
Key West Esthetician Courses Online | Key West Esthetician Classes