How to Enroll In the Best Aesthetician Training Near Edwardsville Illinois

Now that you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Edwardsville IL, the process starts to search for and enroll in the best program. It's imperative that the program you pick not only provides the appropriate education for the specialty you have chosen, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your preliminary search, you might be rather confused about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind 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 additionally be a critical consideration when assessing potential schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it's not automatically the right choice. There are various other qualifications that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask concerning the aesthetician schools you are thinking about later within this article. Before we do, let's talk a bit about what kinds of courses are offered.

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Esthetics Degrees

There are primarily two pathways offered to obtain 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 generally 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 each of the main areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you want to specialize in just one area, such as esthetics. A degree program will also likely include management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to operate a salon or other Edwardsville IL business. More advanced degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master's degree programs are offered in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whichever type of training program you decide on, it's essential to make certain that it's certified by the Illinois Board of Cosmetology. Many states only certify schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded organizations, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the advantages of accreditation for the school you decide on in the next section.

Online Esthetician Schools

Online esthetician schools are convenient for Edwardsville IL students who are employed full-time and have family obligations that make it difficult to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of online beauty school programs available that can be attended via a home computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More traditional cosmetology programs are frequently fast paced since many programs are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a large amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are covering the same amount of material, but you are not spending numerous hours outside of your home or driving to and from classes. However, it's important that the school you select can provide internship training in area salons and parlors so that you also obtain the hands-on training required for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it's impossible to obtain the skills necessary 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 Esthetician Trade Schools

Below is a series of questions that you should look into for any esthetician training program you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school in relation to your Edwardsville home, as well as the price of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you should research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have put together some of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final decision.

Is the Esthetician Program Accredited? It's necessary to make sure that the esthetician training program 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 comply with their high standards guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not obtainable for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous Edwardsville IL businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Great Reputation?  Any esthetician school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating services for reviews as well as the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Edwardsville IL salon owners or managers, or any person working in the field, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not thought of. Finally, consult the Illinois school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus?  Many esthetician schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific 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 intention 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 open a Edwardsville IL beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator as well. Selecting a highly rated school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you require.

Is Enough Live Training Provided?  Studying and perfecting esthetician skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is provided in the cosmetology lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that make it possible for students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a beauty program offers little or no scheduled live training, but rather depends heavily on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the most effective option for acquiring your skills. So search for other schools that provide this kind of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program?  Once a student graduates from an esthetician program, it's important that he or she receives support in finding that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer aid develop relationships with Edwardsville IL employers that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and inquire which salons and establishments they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Assistance Offered?  Most esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid department. Consult with a counselor and find out 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 available to students too. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications except for cost, do not drop it as an alternative until you find out what financial help may be offered.

Find Out How to Become an Esthetician in Edwardsville

Enroll in the Best Edwardsville Esthetician Program

Selecting and enrolling in the ideal esthetician college is important to receive the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel confident about your decision. Make sure to organize all of the responses you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to contrast schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the school and program you pick are accredited and have impressive reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and address the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to start your career as a professional esthetician in Edwardsville Illinois.

 

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