How to Find the Best Esthetician College Near Libertyville Illinois
Once you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Libertyville IL, the process begins to search for and enroll in the best program. It's essential that the school you select not only furnishes the appropriate education for the specialty you have decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your preliminary search, you might be a little bit puzzled about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the names are pretty much interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind of school. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Libertyville home. Tuition will likewise be an important aspect when evaluating potential schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it's not necessarily the ideal option. There are various other factors that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask regarding the aesthetician schools you are thinking about later within this article. Before we do, let's discuss a bit about what types of training programs are available.
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Esthetics Training Requirements
An esthetics program may be found in a school of cosmetology, a dedicated esthetics school or, in some cases, a junior college. An esthetics program’s length is generally determined by the state in which it is located, as each state board of cosmetology sets minimum requirements for the number of hours of training an esthetics program must provide to meet the state’s licensing requirements. However, it is also quite common for esthetics programs to offer more extensive study beyond what is required for licensing purposes. In general, an esthetics program consists of about 600 hours, a common requirement in many states. However, a number of states require less than 600 hours and perhaps just as many require more than 600. Most state boards of cosmetology maintain lists of approved programs of esthetics within the state, while others recognize all programs that meet the state’s minimum clock-hour requirement. A comprehensive esthetics program includes instruction not only in esthetic treatment procedures and services, but in areas such as the structure of the skin and its function, disorders of the skin, and professional business skills.
Esthetician Job Description
As skilled skincare experts, estheticians need to be knowledgeable of everything from skin histology and physiology to bacteriology and sanitation protocols. As beauty professionals, estheticians must be trained to perform the services that promote healthy, radiant skin – including everything from hair removal methods, pore cleansing and extractions to microdermabrasion, makeup artistry, chemical peels, and light therapy. As beauty and wellness experts, people also turn to estheticians for consultations, advice, and tips for home skincare regimens. They may recommend products, educate clients, and recommend esthetic procedures based on their clients’ needs and wants. Their work environments can include Libertyville Illinois spas, resorts, salons, hospitals, nursing facilities and dermatologist offices.
Online Esthetics Courses
Online esthetician schools are convenient for Libertyville IL students who are employed full time and have family commitments that make it difficult to enroll in a more traditional school. There are a large number of web-based beauty school programs available that can be accessed via a personal computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More conventional cosmetology programs are often fast paced because many courses are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a large portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are dealing with the same volume of material, but you are not spending many hours outside of your home or commuting to and from classes. On the other hand, it's vital that the school you pick can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors in order that you also get the hands-on training necessary for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it's difficult to obtain the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology profession. So don't forget if you choose to enroll in an online school to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.
Questions to Ask Esthetician Trade Schools
Below is a series of questions that you should research for any esthetician training program you are considering. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Libertyville residence, together with the price of tuition, will probably be your primary qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you should research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have compiled some of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final selection.
Is the Esthetician Program Accredited? It's important to make sure that the esthetician college you choose is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which typically are not offered for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of Libertyville IL employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Every esthetician college that you are seriously considering 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 businesses where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly sought after. Check rating companies for reviews as well as the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Libertyville IL salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the field, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. And finally, consult the Illinois school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Many esthetician schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for instance hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs often broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you choose a school that focuses on 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 vision is to open a Libertyville IL beauty salon, then you want 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 weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you require.
Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Learning and refining esthetician skills and techniques involves plenty of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the cosmetology lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that allow students to practice their developing talents on volunteers. If a beauty academy furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but rather depends predominantly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the best option for acquiring your skills. So search for alternate schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from an esthetician academy, it's important that she or he gets support in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer help maintain relationships with Libertyville IL employers that are searching for skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and ask which salons and businesses they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Aid Offered? Most esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are considering have a financial aid department. Talk to a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you may qualify for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students too. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not discard it as an alternative before you find out what financial assistance may be offered.
More Info on How to Become an Esthetician in Libertyville
Enroll in the Best Libertyville Esthetician Program
Selecting and enrolling in the ideal esthetician program is imperative to get the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel positive about your decision. Make certain to collect all of the responses you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that information to compare schools. A good start in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the school and program you choose are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you begin with that foundation, and answer the additional questions provided in this article, 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 begin your new career as a professional esthetician in Libertyville Illinois.
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