How to Enroll In the Best Aesthetician Program Near Edwardsville Illinois
Once you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Edwardsville IL, the task begins to locate and enroll in the best program. It's important that the program you select not only provides the proper instruction for the specialty you have selected, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your initial search, you may be a little bit confused about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the names are pretty much interchangeable and both pertain 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 Edwardsville home. Tuition will also be an important consideration when evaluating potential schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it's not necessarily the ideal option. There are various other factors that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask about the aesthetician schools you are considering later within this article. Before we do, let's discuss a little bit about what kinds of training programs are offered.
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Esthetician Certificates and Degrees
There are basically two options offered to obtain esthetician training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can work toward 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 trained in each of the major areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are available if you wish to concentrate on just one area, for example esthetics. A degree program will also likely incorporate management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to run a salon or other Edwardsville IL business. More advanced degrees are not common, 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 important to make sure that it's recognized by the Illinois Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only certify schools that are accredited by certain respected organizations, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the advantages of accreditation for the school you select in the upcoming section.
Online Esthetician Classes
Online esthetician programs are accommodating for Edwardsville IL students who are employed full-time and have family responsibilities that make it challenging to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of web-based beauty school programs available that can be attended by means of a personal computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More conventional beauty schools are typically fast paced given that many programs are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a considerable amount 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 driving to and from classes. On the other hand, it's essential that the training program you select can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors to ensure that you also get the hands-on training required for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it's impossible to obtain the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology profession. So be sure if you decide to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is available in your area.
What to Ask Aesthetician Schools
Below is a series of questions that you should investigate for any esthetician training program you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Edwardsville residence, together with the price of tuition, will undoubtedly be your primary qualifiers. Whether you wish to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have compiled several of those supplemental questions that you should ask each school before making a final decision.
Is the Esthetician Program Accredited? It's necessary to make certain that the esthetician training program you enroll in is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged 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 quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not available for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many Edwardsville IL employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Every esthetician institute that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly demanded. Check rating services for reviews as well as the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Edwardsville IL salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the trade, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not looked into. And finally, consult the Illinois school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are broad 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 select a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your ambition is to be trained as an esthetician, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and well regarded for that program. If your desire is to open a Edwardsville IL beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator as well. Selecting a highly rated school with a weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you require.
Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and mastering esthetician techniques and abilities requires plenty of practice on volunteers. 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 growing skills on volunteers. If a beauty academy offers limited or no scheduled live training, but instead relies heavily on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the best option for developing your skills. Therefore try to find alternate schools that offer this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from an esthetician program, it's essential that he or she receives help in securing that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer assistance develop relationships with Edwardsville IL employers that are searching for skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and inquire which salons and organizations they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Aid Available? The majority of esthetician schools provide 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 may qualify for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students also. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not drop it as an option until you find out what financial assistance may be provided.
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Enroll in the Best Edwardsville Esthetician Program
Finding and enrolling in the right esthetician college is imperative to get the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel certain about your decision. Don't forget to collect all of the responses you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to compare schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the school and program you pick are accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and answer the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the right selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are prepared to begin your new career as a professional esthetician in Edwardsville Illinois.
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