How to Find the Right Aesthetician Course Near Alpharetta Georgia

Now that you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Alpharetta GA, the process begins to search for and enroll in the right program. It's important that the school you select not only furnishes the proper education for the specialty you have decided on, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your initial search, you may be somewhat unclear about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the titles are basically interchangeable and both refer to the same type of school. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Alpharetta residence. Tuition will additionally be a critical consideration when evaluating potential schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it's not necessarily the best option. There are many other qualifications that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask concerning the aesthetician schools you are looking at later in this article. Before we do, let's discuss a little bit about what types of training programs are available.

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Esthetician Degrees and Certificates

There are primarily two options available to obtain esthetician training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can work toward an Associate's degree. Certificate programs normally call for 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 each of the main areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are offered if you want to specialize in just one area, for instance esthetics. A degree program will also likely feature management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to operate a parlor or other Alpharetta GA business. More advanced degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master's degree programs are offered in such areas as salon or spa management. Whichever type of course you decide on, it's imperative to make certain that it's approved by the Georgia Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain reputable agencies, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the advantages of accreditation for the school you decide on in the upcoming segment.

Online Esthetician Programs

Online esthetician classes are convenient for Alpharetta GA students who are working full time and have family obligations that make it difficult to enroll in a more traditional school. There are many web-based cosmetology school programs available that can be accessed via a personal computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More traditional beauty programs are often fast paced due to the fact that many courses are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a substantial amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are covering the same volume of material, but you are not spending numerous hours away from your home or commuting to and from classes. On the other hand, it's imperative that the school you choose can provide internship training in area salons and parlors in order that you also obtain the hands-on training necessary for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it's impossible to gain the skills needed to work in any facet of the cosmetology field. So make sure if you decide to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is available in your area.

What to Ask Esthetics Training Courses

Below is a series of questions that you should research for any esthetician training school you are considering. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Alpharetta residence, in addition to the price of tuition, will most likely be your initial qualifiers. Whether you wish to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly 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 school. Following we have compiled several of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final decision.

Is the Esthetician School Accredited? It's essential to make sure that the esthetician college you enroll in 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 essential for securing student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not available for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of Alpharetta GA employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation?  Every esthetician institute that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent 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, showing that their students are highly regarded. Check rating services for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Alpharetta GA salon owners or managers, or any person working in the industry, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not thought of. And finally, consult the Georgia school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus?  Some esthetician schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, for instance hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you pick a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your objective is to be trained as an esthetician, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and well regarded for that program. If your dream is to start a Alpharetta GA beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator as well. Selecting a highly ranked school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you require.

Is Any Live Training Provided?  Learning and mastering esthetician techniques and abilities involves plenty of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is included in the cosmetology courses you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that make it possible for students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a beauty school offers limited or no scheduled live training, but instead relies mainly on using mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for developing your skills. Therefore look for other schools that offer this kind of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance?  When a student graduates from an esthetician program, it's imperative that he or she receives help in finding that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer help develop relationships with Alpharetta GA employers that are seeking trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and find out which salons and businesses they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only affirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Assistance Available?  Many esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Speak 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 as well. If a school meets all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not eliminate it as an alternative until you find out what financial aid may be provided.

Learn How to Become an Aesthetician in Alpharetta

Enroll in the Right Alpharetta Esthetician Training

Finding and enrolling in the right esthetician program is important to obtain the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel positive about your decision. Be sure to consolidate all of the responses you get from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to compare schools. A good start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the institution 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 provided in this post, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to start your career as a professional esthetician in Alpharetta Georgia.

 

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