How to Select the Right Aesthetician College Near Joliet Illinois

Since you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Joliet IL, the process starts to search for and enroll in the ideal program. It's essential that the school you choose not only provides the necessary education for the specialty you have decided on, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your initial search, you may be somewhat puzzled about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both relate to the same type of school. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Joliet residence. Tuition will additionally be a critical factor when assessing prospective schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it's not necessarily the ideal option. There are various other considerations that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask concerning the aesthetician schools you are thinking about later within this article. Before we do, let's discuss a little bit about what kinds of courses are offered.

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Esthetics Degrees and Certificates

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 work toward an Associate's degree. Certificate programs normally require 12 to 18 months to finish, while an Associate's degree usually 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 available if you wish to focus on just one area, for example esthetics. A degree program will also most likely include management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to manage a salon or other Joliet IL business. More advanced degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master's degree programs are available in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whatever type of program you decide on, it's essential to make certain that it's certified by the Illinois Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only approve schools that are accredited by certain respected agencies, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the advantages of accreditation for the school you decide on in the following section.

Online Esthetician Courses

Online esthetician programs are accommodating for Joliet IL students who are working full-time and have family commitments that make it difficult to enroll in a more traditional school. There are numerous 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 cosmetology programs are often fast paced due to the fact that many courses are as short as six or eight months. This means that a considerable amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are covering the same volume of material, but you're not spending many hours away from your home or travelling back and forth from classes. However, it's vital that the school you select can provide internship training in local salons and parlors in order that you also get the hands-on training needed for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it's impossible to obtain the skills needed to work in any facet of the cosmetology industry. So be sure if you choose to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is provided in your area.

What to Ask Aesthetician Programs

Following is a series of questions that you should research for any esthetician training school you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Joliet home, in addition to the cost of tuition, will probably be your initial qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Following we have compiled some of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final determination.

Is the Esthetician Program Accredited? It's essential to make sure that the esthetician college you pick 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for securing student loans or financial aid, which often are not offered for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many Joliet IL employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively 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 outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly regarded. Check rating services for reviews along with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Joliet IL salon owners or managers, or any person working in the field, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not considered. And finally, check with the Illinois school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in full compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus?  Some esthetician schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you choose a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your ambition 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 Joliet IL beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator as well. Picking a highly ranked school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you need.

Is Any Live Training Provided?  Studying and refining esthetician techniques and abilities demands lots of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is included in the beauty courses you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that allow students to practice their growing talents on volunteers. If a beauty academy offers little or no scheduled live training, but instead depends predominantly on using mannequins, it may not be the best option for cultivating your skills. So search for other schools that furnish this type of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance?  As soon as a student graduates from an esthetician academy, it's crucial that she or he receives aid in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer assistance maintain relationships with Joliet IL businesses that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools 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 Assistance Offered?  Many esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are considering have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and find out 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 offered to students as well. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not eliminate it as an alternative before you find out what financial assistance may be provided.

Find Out How to Become an Aesthetician in Joliet

Enroll in the Right Joliet Esthetician Program

Finding and enrolling in the ideal esthetician program is imperative to receive the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel positive about your decision. Make sure to collect all of the responses you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to contrast schools. A good start in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the academy and program you pick are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the profession. If you start with that foundation, and address the additional questions supplied in this post, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the right selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to launch your career as a professional esthetician in Joliet Illinois.

 

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