How to Pick the Best Aesthetician School Near Highland Park Illinois

Since you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Highland Park IL, the task begins to locate and enroll in the ideal program. It's imperative that the school you choose not only provides the necessary training for the specialty you have selected, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. 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 names are basically interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Highland Park home. Tuition will additionally be an important aspect when assessing potential schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it's not automatically the ideal option. There are various other factors that you should weigh when comparing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask concerning the aesthetician schools you are looking at later within this article. Before we do, let's talk a bit about what types of training programs are available.

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Esthetics Certificates and Degrees

There are basically two options available to obtain esthetician training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, 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 ordinarily takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be instructed in all of the major areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you wish to focus on just one area, such as esthetics. A degree program will also likely include management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to operate a parlor or other Highland Park IL business. More advanced degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master's degree programs are available in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whichever type of course you choose, it's imperative to make certain that it's recognized by the Illinois Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain respected agencies, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the benefits of accreditation for the school you choose in the next section.

Online Esthetics Programs

Online esthetician programs are advantageous for Highland Park IL students who are employed full time and have family responsibilities that make it challenging to attend a more traditional school. There are numerous web-based beauty school programs offered that can be accessed via a desktop computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More conventional beauty schools are typically fast paced because many programs are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a significant portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are covering the same volume of material, but you're not spending many hours outside of your home or commuting back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it's essential that the training program you pick can provide internship training in local salons and parlors to ensure that you also obtain the hands-on training necessary for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it's difficult to gain the skills required 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 Esthetician Degree Programs

Below is a list of questions that you should investigate for any esthetician training school you are considering. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Highland Park residence, in addition to the expense of tuition, will most likely be your initial qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have compiled some of those supplemental questions that you should ask each school before making a final selection.

Is the Esthetician Program Accredited? It's necessary to make sure that the esthetician school you pick 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 can also be necessary for getting student loans or financial aid, which frequently 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, many Highland Park IL businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Great Reputation?  Each esthetician institute that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the industry. 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, showing that their students are highly demanded. Check rating services for reviews along with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Highland Park IL salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. Finally, check with 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 Focus?  Many esthetician schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, for instance 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 well regarded for that program. If your vision is to launch a Highland Park 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 provide the training you require.

Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided?  Practicing and perfecting esthetician skills and techniques demands lots of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is provided in the beauty courses you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that enable students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a beauty academy furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but rather relies heavily on using mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for acquiring your skills. Therefore look for other schools that offer this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program?  As soon as a student graduates from an esthetician academy, it's essential that he or she gets support in securing that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish assistance maintain relationships with Highland Park IL businesses that are seeking skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and find out which salons and businesses they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Assistance Offered?  Many esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid office. Speak with a counselor and find out 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 satisfies all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not omit it as an alternative before you learn what financial help may be available.

Find Out How to Become an Aesthetician in Highland Park

Enroll in the Best Highland Park Esthetician Course

Finding and enrolling in the ideal esthetician college is important to obtain the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel positive about your decision. Be sure to compile 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 sensible beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the school and program you decide on are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and answer the additional questions supplied in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to start your new career as a professional esthetician in Highland Park Illinois.

 

Highland Park Aesthetician Schools Near Me | Highland Park Esthetician Schools Near Me