How to Pick the Best Aesthetician School Near Valdosta Georgia

Now that you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Valdosta GA, the process begins to search for and enroll in the right program. It's essential that the program you pick not only furnishes the proper training for the specialty you have selected, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your initial search, you may be a little bit unclear about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both relate to the same type of school. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Valdosta home. Tuition will also be a critical factor when reviewing possible schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it's not automatically the right choice. There are various other considerations that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask about the aesthetician schools you are thinking about later in this article. Before we do, let's discuss a bit about what kinds of training programs are offered.

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Esthetics Degrees and Certificates

There are basically two pathways available to get esthetician training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can work toward an Associate's degree. Certificate programs usually take 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 trained in all of the major areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are offered if you want to specialize in just one area, such as esthetics. A degree program will also probably include management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to operate a salon or other Valdosta GA business. More advanced degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master's degree programs are available in such areas as salon or spa management. Whatever type of program you opt for, it's imperative to make certain that it's approved by the Georgia Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only certify schools that are accredited by certain respected agencies, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the advantages of accreditation for the school you decide on in the following section.

Online Esthetician Programs

Online esthetician schools are advantageous for Valdosta GA students who are working full time and have family responsibilities that make it challenging to attend a more traditional school. There are many web-based beauty school programs offered that can be accessed through a home computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More conventional beauty schools are typically fast paced due to the fact that many programs are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a large portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are dealing with the same volume of material, but you are not devoting many hours away from your home or commuting to and from classes. On the other hand, it's imperative that the program you pick can provide internship training in local salons and parlors to ensure that you also receive the hands-on training necessary for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it's impossible to acquire the skills needed to work in any facet of the cosmetology profession. So don't forget if you decide to enroll in an online school to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.

What to Ask Aesthetician Schools

Following is a list of questions that you will want to investigate for any esthetician training school you are considering. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Valdosta home, as well as the cost of tuition, will probably be your primary qualifiers. Whether you want to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt 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 consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Following we have put together several of those additional 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 enroll in 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 meet their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not offered for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of Valdosta GA employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation?  Every esthetician institute that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good beginning. 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, attesting that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating services for reviews together with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Valdosta GA salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to propose others that you had not considered. And finally, consult the Georgia school licensing authority to find out 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 comprehensive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs commonly broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you enroll in 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 aspiration is to open a Valdosta GA beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator as well. Picking a highly regarded school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you need.

Is Enough Live Training Provided?  Learning and mastering esthetician techniques and abilities requires lots of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is included in the cosmetology classes 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 provides little or no scheduled live training, but rather relies heavily on the use of mannequins, it may not be the best option for acquiring your skills. Therefore try to find alternate schools that offer this kind of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program?  When a student graduates from an esthetician academy, it's essential that she or he receives aid in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide help maintain relationships with Valdosta GA businesses that are searching for qualified graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and inquire which salons and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Assistance Available?  The majority of esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid department. Talk to a counselor and learn 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 available to students as well. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not omit it as an option before you determine what financial help may be available.

Find Out How to Become an Esthetician in Valdosta

Enroll in the Right Valdosta Esthetician Program

Choosing and enrolling in the right esthetician college is essential to obtain the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel confident about your decision. Be sure to compile all of the information you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to compare schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the institution and program you decide on are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you start with that base, and answer the additional questions provided in this post, 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 examination, you will be confident that you are qualified to launch your new career as a professional esthetician in Valdosta Georgia.

 

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