How to Select the Best Esthetician College Near Griffin Georgia
Now that you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Griffin GA, the process begins to find and enroll in the right program. It's important that the school you select not only provides the proper instruction for the specialty you have selected, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your initial search, you might be somewhat puzzled about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the titles are essentially interchangeable and both refer to the same kind of school. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Griffin residence. Tuition will likewise be an important consideration when reviewing prospective schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it's not necessarily the ideal choice. There are many other considerations that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask regarding the aesthetician schools you are considering later within this article. Before we do, let's talk a bit about what types of programs are available.
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Esthetics Certificates and Degrees
There are essentially two options available to receive esthetician training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can pursue an Associate's degree. Certificate programs typically call for 12 to 18 months to complete, while an Associate's degree usually takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be instructed in all of the major areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are offered if you prefer to focus on just one area, such as esthetics. A degree program will also likely incorporate management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to manage a salon or other Griffin GA business. More advanced degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master's degree programs are available in such areas as salon or spa management. Whichever type of training program you go with, it's imperative to make certain that it's certified by the Georgia Board of Cosmetology. Many states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded organizations, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the advantages of accreditation for the school you decide on in the following section.
Online Esthetician Schools
Online esthetician schools are advantageous for Griffin GA students who are working full-time and have family commitments that make it difficult to attend a more traditional school. There are numerous online beauty school programs available that can be accessed via a home computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More traditional beauty schools are frequently fast paced given that many courses are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a significant amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you're not spending many hours outside of your home or commuting back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it's important that the school you pick can provide internship training in local salons and parlors so that you also get the hands-on training required for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it's difficult to gain the skills needed to work in any facet of the cosmetology industry. So make sure if you decide to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.
Questions to Ask Esthetics Schools
Below is a list of questions that you will want to investigate for any esthetician training program you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school in relation to your Griffin residence, together with the expense of tuition, will most likely be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like 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 initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Following we have compiled several of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final determination.
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 agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for securing student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not offered for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of Griffin GA businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Every esthetician institute that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating services for reviews together with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Griffin GA salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to propose others that you had not considered. Finally, consult the Georgia 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? Some esthetician schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically broaden 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 ambition 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 vision is to start a Griffin GA beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator as well. Choosing a highly rated school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you need.
Is Any Live Training Provided? Practicing and refining esthetician skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is provided in the beauty classes 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 academy furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but instead depends heavily on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for cultivating your skills. So try to find alternate schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? As soon as a student graduates from an esthetician program, it's important that she or he gets assistance in landing that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer assistance maintain relationships with Griffin GA employers that are seeking trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and inquire which salons and organizations they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Aid Offered? Many 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 find out what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students also. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications except for expense, do not discard it as an option until you find out what financial assistance may be offered.
Learn How to Become an Aesthetician in Griffin
Enroll in the Right Griffin Esthetician Program
Finding and enrolling in the ideal esthetician college is imperative to receive the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel positive about your decision. Make certain to collect all of the information you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to contrast schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the college and program you choose are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the field. If you start with that foundation, and address 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. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are qualified to start your new career as a professional esthetician in Griffin Georgia.
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