How to Choose the Best Esthetician College Near Elmhurst Illinois

Once you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Elmhurst IL, the task begins to search for and enroll in the ideal program. It's essential that the school you pick not only provides the proper education for the specialty you have decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you might be somewhat confused about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both refer to the same kind of school. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Elmhurst home. Tuition will additionally be a critical consideration when reviewing potential schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it's not always the ideal option. There are several other qualifications that you should weigh when comparing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask regarding the aesthetician schools you are looking at later within this article. Before we do, let's discuss a bit about what kinds of training programs are offered.

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Esthetics Training Requirements

Esthetics programs, which are available through dedicated schools of esthetics, career colleges or schools of cosmetology, must meet the requirements set forth by each state’s board of cosmetology. Most states recognize esthetics programs that consist of 600 hours of coursework and practical training as meeting the requirements for licensure, although a number of states require more hours while others require significantly fewer. For example, esthetician license candidates in Wisconsin must complete a program that is at least 450 hours long, while candidates in Indiana must complete a program consisting of at least 700 hours. Esthetics programs blend theory and practical study to introduce students to everything from skin histology and sanitation practices to the safe application of facial products and makeup. These programs also include coursework that covers the business, ethics and professional standards of the esthetics industry.

Esthetician Job Description

Estheticians provide a wide range of beauty services to help their Elmhurst Illinois clients look and feel better. This includes improving the quality of the skin (including the treatment of skin disorders), hair removal, permanent makeup application, and facial massage. Some types of estheticians, like medical estheticians, provide highly specialized procedures that require detailed training in order for it to be done safely and effectively. Medical estheticians can help individuals suffering from serious skin disorders, burns, and other trauma, and to help with pre and post-operative surgery affecting the health of their skin. Estheticians work closely with their clients in a friendly and positive manner, so an enthusiastic attitude and desire to help people is an excellent attribute for an aspiring esthetician to possess. Some of the basic duties an esthetician may perform will include such tasks as:

• Assessing a patient’s needs
• Chemical peels
• Laser treatments
• Waxing
• Facials
• Massage of the head and neck
• Microdermabrasion

Online Esthetics Classes

Online esthetician schools are accommodating for Elmhurst IL students who are working full-time and have family commitments that make it difficult to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of online beauty school programs available that can be accessed via a desktop computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More conventional cosmetology schools are often fast paced because many courses are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a considerable portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are dealing with the same volume of material, but you're not spending many hours away from your home or driving back and forth from classes. However, it's important that the program you pick 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 difficult to obtain 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 available in your area.

Questions to Ask Esthetician Training Courses

Following is a list of questions that you will want to research for any esthetician training school you are contemplating. As we have already covered, the location of the school in relation to your Elmhurst home, in addition to the expense of tuition, will most likely be your primary 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 preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have collected some of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final determination.

Is the Esthetician School Accredited? It's essential to make sure that the esthetician school you enroll in is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not obtainable 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 Elmhurst IL businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation?  Each esthetician college that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating companies for reviews along with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Elmhurst IL salon owners or managers, or someone working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not thought of. And last, consult the Illinois school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty?  A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating 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 important that you enroll in 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 dream is to start a Elmhurst IL beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator as well. Choosing a highly ranked school with a weak program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you require.

Is Enough Live Training Provided?  Practicing and perfecting esthetician skills and techniques demands lots of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the cosmetology classes you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that make it possible for students to practice their developing talents on volunteers. If a beauty academy offers little or no scheduled live training, but rather relies heavily on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the most effective alternative for cultivating your skills. So look for alternate 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 gets assistance in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide assistance maintain relationships with Elmhurst IL employers that are seeking skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and inquire which salons and businesses they refer students to. Additionally, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only affirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered?  Many esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid office. Talk to 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 offered to students too. If a school meets each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not omit it as an option before you find out what financial aid may be available.

Learn How to Become an Aesthetician in Elmhurst

Enroll in the Right Elmhurst Esthetician Course

Picking and enrolling in the ideal esthetician school is essential to receive the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel certain about your decision. Don't forget to compile all of the information you get from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that information to compare schools. A good start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the academy and program you select are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you begin with that foundation, and address the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to launch your career as a professional esthetician in Elmhurst Illinois.

 

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