How to Enroll In the Right Aesthetician Training Program Near Highland Park Illinois

Now that you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Highland Park IL, the process begins to locate and enroll in the right program. It's essential that the program you choose not only provides the necessary training for the specialty you have decided on, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your initial search, you may be somewhat confused about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Highland Park home. Tuition will also be a critical aspect when evaluating possible schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it's not automatically the right option. There are various other considerations that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask concerning the aesthetician schools you are thinking about later in this article. Before we do, let's talk a bit about what kinds of training programs are offered.

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Esthetics Degrees and Certificates

There are primarily two options available to receive esthetician training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can work toward an Associate's degree. Certificate programs usually call for 12 to 18 months to complete, while an Associate's degree commonly takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be trained in all of the major areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are offered if you prefer to specialize in just one area, such as esthetics. A degree program will also probably incorporate management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to run a salon or other Highland Park IL business. More advanced degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master's degree programs are available in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whichever type of training program you opt for, it's important to make sure that it's recognized by the Illinois Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded organizations, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the benefits of accreditation for the school you decide on in the next segment.

Online Esthetician Training

Online esthetician programs are convenient for Highland Park IL students who are employed full-time and have family commitments that make it difficult to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of web-based beauty school programs available that can be accessed by means of a home computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More traditional beauty schools are typically fast paced given that many courses are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a significant amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are covering the same amount of material, but you're not spending numerous hours outside of your home or travelling to and from classes. However, it's important that the program you choose can provide internship training in area salons and parlors to ensure that you also obtain the hands-on training required for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it's impossible to acquire the skills required to work in any facet of the cosmetology profession. So don't forget if you decide to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is available in your area.

Questions to Ask Esthetician Programs

Following is a series of questions that you should research for any esthetician training school you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Highland Park residence, as well as the price of tuition, will most likely 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 reduced your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have compiled some of those additional 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 training program you select is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized local or national organization, 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 essential for getting student loans or financial aid, which typically are not offered for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous Highland Park IL businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation?  Each esthetician college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials 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 demanded. Check rating companies for reviews as well as the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Highland Park IL salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the field, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not thought of. And finally, contact the Illinois school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus?  Many esthetician schools offer programs that are comprehensive 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 frequently broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you enroll in a school that specializes in 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 respected for that program. If your dream is to start a Highland Park 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 regarded school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you require.

Is Plenty of Live Training Provided?  Learning and perfecting esthetician skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is provided in the beauty courses you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that enable students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a beauty school offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead relies mainly on using mannequins, it might not be the most effective option for developing your skills. Therefore try to find alternate schools that offer this kind of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program?  As soon as a student graduates from an esthetician program, it's crucial that he or she receives help in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide aid maintain relationships with Highland Park IL businesses that are seeking trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and find out which salons and businesses they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have extensive 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. Check if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid office. Consult with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you might get approved for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students too. If a school meets all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not discard it as an alternative until you find out what financial assistance may be offered.

More Info on How to Become an Esthetician in Highland Park

Enroll in the Best Highland Park Esthetician Training

Locating and enrolling in the ideal esthetician school is imperative to get the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel confident about your decision. Make sure to consolidate all of the information you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to contrast schools. A good start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the college and program you decide on are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and answer the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the right selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are prepared to begin your new career as a professional esthetician in Highland Park Illinois.

 

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