How to Find the Right Esthetician Classes Near Freeport Illinois

Now that you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Freeport IL, the task begins to locate and enroll in the ideal program. It's imperative that the program you choose not only furnishes the proper instruction for the specialty you have chosen, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your preliminary search, you may be rather confused about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the titles are basically interchangeable and both relate 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 Freeport residence. Tuition will also be an important aspect when assessing possible schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it's not automatically the right choice. There are several other factors that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will examine 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 types of courses are offered.

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Esthetician Degrees and Certificates

There are primarily two options available to get 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 normally require 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 instructed in all of the main areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are offered if you wish to focus on just one area, for example esthetics. A degree program will also probably feature management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to operate a salon or other Freeport IL business. More advanced degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master's degree programs are available in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whichever type of program you decide on, it's important to make sure that it's approved by the Illinois Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only certify schools that are accredited by certain respected agencies, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the advantages of accreditation for the school you decide on in the next section.

Online Esthetician Training

Online esthetician schools are advantageous for Freeport IL students who are working full time and have family commitments that make it difficult to attend a more traditional school. There are many web-based cosmetology school programs available that can be accessed through a home computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More traditional beauty schools are typically fast paced because many programs are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a considerable amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are covering the same volume of material, but you are not devoting many hours outside of your home or commuting back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it's essential that the school you pick can provide internship training in area salons and parlors to ensure that you also get the hands-on training required for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it's impossible to acquire the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology field. So be sure if you decide to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is available in your area.

Questions to Ask Aesthetician Training Courses

Below is a list of questions that you should research for any esthetician training school you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school in relation to your Freeport home, in addition to the price of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue 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 additional factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have put together some of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each school before making a final selection.

Is the Esthetician Program Accredited? It's essential to make certain that the esthetician school you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards ensuring 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 some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of Freeport IL businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation?  Every esthetician college that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating companies for reviews along with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Freeport IL salon owners or managers, or any person working in the field, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not thought of. Finally, contact 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?  Some esthetician schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you choose a school that specializes in 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 respected for that program. If your dream is to launch a Freeport IL beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator as well. Picking 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?  Practicing and refining esthetician skills and techniques involves plenty of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is provided in the cosmetology lessons you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that enable students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a beauty academy furnishes minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather relies mainly on the use of mannequins, it might not be the most effective option for acquiring your skills. Therefore try to find alternate schools that provide this type of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance?  When a student graduates from an esthetician school, it's important that she or he gets aid in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer assistance maintain relationships with Freeport IL employers that are searching for skilled graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and ask which salons and businesses they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Aid Available?  Most esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Speak with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you may get approved for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students also. If a school meets all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not omit it as an alternative before you find out what financial help may be provided.

Find Out How to Become an Aesthetician in Freeport

Enroll in the Right Freeport Esthetician Training

Choosing and enrolling in the right esthetician college is imperative to obtain the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel certain about your decision. Make sure to organize all of the information you get from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that data to contrast schools. A good start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the institution and program you choose are accredited and have impressive reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and address the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to start your career as a professional esthetician in Freeport Illinois.

 

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