How to Pick the Best Esthetician Classes Near Downers Grove Illinois
Once you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Downers Grove IL, the process begins to search for and enroll in the best program. It's important that the program you pick not only furnishes the proper training for the specialty you have decided on, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you may be a little bit confused about the contrast 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 intend on commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Downers Grove home. Tuition will likewise be an important consideration when reviewing possible schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it's not always the right choice. There are various other considerations that you should weigh when comparing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask regarding the aesthetician schools you are looking at later within this article. Before we do, let's talk a bit about what types of programs are offered.
It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Start Your Esthetician Career Below!
Esthetician Training Requirements
An esthetics program may be found in a school of cosmetology, a dedicated esthetics school or, in some cases, a junior college. An esthetics program’s length is generally determined by the state in which it is located, as each state board of cosmetology sets minimum requirements for the number of hours of training an esthetics program must provide to meet the state’s licensing requirements. However, it is also quite common for esthetics programs to offer more extensive study beyond what is required for licensing purposes. In general, an esthetics program consists of about 600 hours, a common requirement in many states. However, a number of states require less than 600 hours and perhaps just as many require more than 600. Most state boards of cosmetology maintain lists of approved programs of esthetics within the state, while others recognize all programs that meet the state’s minimum clock-hour requirement. A comprehensive esthetics program includes instruction not only in esthetic treatment procedures and services, but in areas such as the structure of the skin and its function, disorders of the skin, and professional business skills.
Esthetician Job Description
As skilled skincare experts, estheticians need to be knowledgeable of everything from skin histology and physiology to bacteriology and sanitation protocols. As beauty professionals, estheticians must be trained to perform the services that promote healthy, radiant skin – including everything from hair removal methods, pore cleansing and extractions to microdermabrasion, makeup artistry, chemical peels, and light therapy. As beauty and wellness experts, people also turn to estheticians for consultations, advice, and tips for home skincare regimens. They may recommend products, educate clients, and recommend esthetic procedures based on their clients’ needs and wants. Their work environments can include Downers Grove Illinois spas, resorts, salons, hospitals, nursing facilities and dermatologist offices.
Online Esthetician Courses
Online esthetician classes are accommodating for Downers Grove IL students who are working full time and have family obligations that make it challenging to attend a more traditional school. There are many online beauty school programs available that can be attended via a personal computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More conventional cosmetology schools are typically fast paced since many programs are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a large portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you are not devoting numerous hours away from your home or driving back and forth from classes. However, it's vital that the program you choose can provide internship training in local salons and parlors so that you also obtain the hands-on training required for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it's impossible to gain the skills necessary to work in any facet of the cosmetology profession. So make sure if you decide to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is provided in your area.
Questions to Ask Esthetics Degree Programs
Below is a series of questions that you will want to investigate for any esthetician training school you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Downers Grove residence, together with the cost of tuition, will most likely be your initial qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have compiled some of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final selection.
Is the Esthetician Program Accredited? It's important to make sure that the esthetician college you enroll in is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged local or national agency, 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 necessary for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not obtainable for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many Downers Grove IL employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Any 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 placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating services for reviews together with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Downers Grove IL salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the trade, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not thought of. And finally, consult the Illinois school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all areas 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 imperative that you select a school that specializes in 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 desire is to start a Downers Grove IL 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 require.
Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and perfecting esthetician skills and techniques involves lots of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the cosmetology courses you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that allow students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a beauty program furnishes minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather relies predominantly on using mannequins, it may not be the most effective alternative for acquiring your skills. Therefore look for other schools that offer this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? As soon as a student graduates from an esthetician school, it's imperative that he or she receives help in securing that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide assistance maintain relationships with Downers Grove IL businesses that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and inquire which salons and organizations they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected 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 considering have a financial aid office. Speak with a counselor and identify 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 as well. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not omit it as an option before you find out what financial assistance may be offered.
Find Out How to Become an Esthetician in Downers Grove
Enroll in the Right Downers Grove Esthetician Program
Finding and enrolling in the ideal esthetician college is important to obtain the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel certain about your decision. Don't forget to compile all of the responses you get from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that information to compare schools. A sensible start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the institution and program you pick are accredited and have impressive reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and answer the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the ideal choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are prepared to begin your career as a professional esthetician in Downers Grove Illinois.
Downers Grove Esthetician Classes | Downers Grove Medical Esthetician Schools