How to Select the Best Esthetician Training Near Machesney Park Illinois

Now that you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Machesney Park IL, the process begins to search for and enroll in the ideal program. It's important that the school you select not only provides the proper education for the specialty you have selected, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your initial search, you may be somewhat puzzled about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Machesney Park residence. Tuition will also be an important aspect when reviewing possible schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it's not always 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 regarding the aesthetician schools you are considering later within this article. Before we do, let's discuss a bit about what kinds of training programs are available.

It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Start Your Esthetician Career Below!

Esthetics Degrees and Certificates

There are essentially two avenues offered to get esthetician training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can pursue an Associate's degree. Certificate programs generally call for 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 instructed in all of the major areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you prefer to concentrate on just one area, for example esthetics. A degree program will also likely include management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to manage a salon or other Machesney Park IL business. Higher degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master's degree programs are offered in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whichever type of program you decide on, it's imperative to make sure that it's certified by the Illinois Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only approve schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded agencies, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the advantages of accreditation for the school you select in the upcoming segment.

Online Esthetics Classes

Online esthetician schools are accommodating for Machesney Park IL students who are working full-time and have family responsibilities that make it challenging to attend a more traditional school. There are numerous online beauty school programs available that can be attended by means of a home computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More traditional beauty programs are typically fast paced since 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 programs, you are covering the same volume of material, but you're not devoting many hours away from your home or commuting back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it's imperative that the school you choose can provide internship training in area salons and parlors so that you also obtain the hands-on training needed for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it's impossible to gain the skills required to work in any area of the cosmetology profession. So don't forget if you decide to enroll in an online school to confirm that internship training is available in your area.

What to Ask Esthetics Degree Programs

Below is a list of questions that you should research for any esthetician training program you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Machesney Park home, together with the cost of tuition, will most likely be your initial 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 need to research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have compiled some of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final decision.

Is the Esthetician Program Accredited? It's essential to make sure that the esthetician training program you choose 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for getting student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not offered for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many Machesney Park IL employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Great Reputation?  Any esthetician college that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly demanded. Check rating companies for reviews along with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Machesney Park IL salon owners or managers, or someone working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to propose 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 total 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 example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs often broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you enroll in a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your goal is to be trained as an esthetician, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and well regarded for that program. If your dream is to open a Machesney Park IL beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator as well. Picking a highly regarded school with a weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you require.

Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided?  Practicing and refining esthetician techniques and abilities involves plenty of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is included in the cosmetology lessons you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that enable students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a beauty program provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather relies predominantly on the use of mannequins, it might not be the most effective option for cultivating your skills. Therefore search for alternate schools that provide this kind of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program?  Once a student graduates from an esthetician academy, it's imperative that he or she gets aid in landing that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish aid maintain relationships with Machesney Park IL employers that are seeking qualified graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and find out which salons and organizations they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered?  Most esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid department. Consult with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you may qualify 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 meets all of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not eliminate it as an alternative until you find out what financial help may be offered.

Learn How to Become an Esthetician in Machesney Park

Enroll in the Best Machesney Park Esthetician Program

Selecting and enrolling in the ideal esthetician program is essential to get the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel positive about your decision. Be sure to collect all of the information you get from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that data to contrast schools. A good start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the academy and program you decide on are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the field. 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 proper choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are ready to begin your career as a professional esthetician in Machesney Park Illinois.

 

Machesney Park Esthetician Programs | Machesney Park How To Become An Esthetician