How to Find the Right Aesthetician Training Near Lansing Illinois
Since you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Lansing IL, the task begins to locate and enroll in the ideal program. It's important that the program you choose not only provides the appropriate instruction for the specialty you have decided on, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you might be a little bit unclear 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 kind of school. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Lansing residence. Tuition will also be a critical factor when reviewing possible schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it's not always the right choice. There are a number of 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 thinking about later within this article. Before we do, let's talk a little bit about what types of training programs are available.
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Esthetics Degrees
There are basically two pathways offered to obtain 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 usually takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be trained in each of the main areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are offered if you prefer to concentrate on just one area, for example esthetics. A degree program will also likely feature management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to manage a salon or other Lansing IL business. Higher degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master's degree programs are available in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whichever type of training program you decide on, it's important to make sure that it's certified by the Illinois Board of Cosmetology. Many states only approve schools that are accredited by certain respected agencies, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the benefits of accreditation for the school you choose in the next section.
Online Esthetician Programs
Online esthetician schools are advantageous for Lansing IL students who are working full-time and have family commitments that make it difficult to attend a more traditional school. There are many online beauty school programs offered that can be accessed via a personal computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More conventional beauty programs are often fast paced given that many programs are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a large portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you're not spending numerous hours away from your home or commuting to and from classes. However, it's important that the program you choose can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors in order that you also receive the hands-on training required for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it's difficult to obtain the skills necessary to work in any facet of the cosmetology profession. So don't forget if you choose to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is available in your area.
What to Ask Aesthetician Training Programs
Below is a list of questions that you need to research for any esthetician training program you are contemplating. As we have already discussed, the location of the school relative to your Lansing home, together with the expense of tuition, will undoubtedly be your initial qualifiers. Whether you want to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices 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 several of those supplemental questions that you should ask each school before making a final selection.
Is the Esthetician School Accredited? It's essential to make certain that the esthetician training program you pick 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 comply with their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for securing student loans or financial aid, which often are not offered for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous Lansing IL businesses will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Any esthetician college that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly sought after. Check rating services for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Lansing IL salon owners or managers, or someone working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not considered. And finally, check with the Illinois school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Some esthetician schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you choose a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your goal is to be trained as an esthetician, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your vision is to open a Lansing IL beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator as well. Selecting a highly ranked school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you require.
Is Any Live Training Provided? Learning and mastering esthetician techniques and abilities involves plenty of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is included in the beauty lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that make it possible for students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a beauty program provides little or no scheduled live training, but rather depends predominantly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for acquiring your skills. So try to find alternate schools that provide this kind of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from an esthetician school, it's important that he or she receives aid in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide aid develop relationships with Lansing IL businesses that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which salons and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance 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 department. Speak with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you might 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 except for expense, do not drop it as an option until you determine what financial aid may be offered.
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Finding and enrolling in the right esthetician program is imperative to obtain the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel certain about your decision. Don't forget to collect all of the information you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to compare schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the school and program you select are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and address the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are ready to start your new career as a professional esthetician in Lansing Illinois.
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