How to Find the Right Aesthetician Program Near Union City Georgia

Since you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Union City GA, the task starts to locate and enroll in the best program. It's important that the school you select not only furnishes the proper education for the specialty you have decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your preliminary search, you might be somewhat unclear about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the titles are essentially interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind of school. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Union City home. Tuition will also be a critical factor when assessing potential schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it's not necessarily the right option. There are several other factors that you should weigh when analyzing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask regarding the aesthetician schools you are thinking about later within this article. Before we do, let's talk a bit about what types of programs are available.

It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Start Your Esthetician Career Below!

Esthetician Degrees

There are essentially two options available 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 finish, while an Associate's degree ordinarily takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be trained in all of the major areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are offered if you want to specialize in just one area, such as esthetics. A degree program will also probably feature management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to run a parlor or other Union City GA business. More advanced degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master's degree programs are available in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whichever type of course you choose, it's important to make certain that it's recognized by the Georgia Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain reputable agencies, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the benefits of accreditation for the school you select in the upcoming segment.

Online Esthetics Training

Online esthetician schools are convenient for Union City GA students who are working full-time and have family commitments that make it hard to attend a more traditional school. There are many online cosmetology school programs offered that can be accessed via a personal computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More traditional cosmetology schools are often fast paced given that many courses are as short as six or eight months. This means that a substantial portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are covering the same volume of material, but you are not spending many hours outside of your home or commuting back and forth from classes. However, it's essential that the training program you select can provide internship training in area salons and parlors in order that you also get the hands-on training necessary for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it's impossible to acquire the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology industry. So be sure if you decide to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is provided in your area.

Questions to Ask Esthetician Programs

Following is a list of questions that you should research for any esthetician training program you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Union City residence, together with the cost of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn 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 additional factors that you need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have put together some of those supplemental questions that you should ask every school before making a final selection.

Is the Esthetician School Accredited? It's essential to make sure that the esthetician college you pick 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 meet their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for getting student loans or financial aid, which typically are not offered for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of Union City GA employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation?  Any esthetician school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly demanded. Check rating companies for reviews along with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Union City GA salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the trade, 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 looked into. Finally, check with the Georgia school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in complete 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 specific specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you choose 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 respected for that program. If your aspiration is to launch a Union City GA beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator as well. Picking a highly rated school with a weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you need.

Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided?  Practicing and perfecting esthetician techniques and abilities requires plenty of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the beauty lessons you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that allow students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a beauty academy offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead relies mainly on the use of mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for cultivating your skills. Therefore try to find alternate schools that furnish this kind of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program?  Once a student graduates from an esthetician program, it's essential that she or he gets support in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide help develop relationships with Union City GA employers that are seeking trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and ask which salons and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, ask 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 Available?  Almost all esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you might get approved for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students too. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not discard it as an alternative until you learn what financial aid may be offered.

Find Out How to Become an Esthetician in Union City

Enroll in the Right Union City Esthetician Training

Picking and enrolling in the ideal esthetician program is important to receive the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel positive about your decision. Make certain to organize all of the information you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to compare schools. A good start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the institution and program you select are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you start with that foundation, and answer 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. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to begin your new career as a professional esthetician in Union City Georgia.

 

Union City Esthetician Schools | Union City Esthetician Schools Online