How to Pick the Right Esthetician College Near Palos Illinois

Once you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Palos IL, the task begins to locate and enroll in the best program. It's important that the program you choose not only provides the proper training for the specialty you have selected, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you may be somewhat puzzled about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the titles are essentially interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind of school. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Palos home. Tuition will also be an important aspect when assessing potential schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it's not automatically the right option. There are many other considerations that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding the aesthetician schools you are thinking about later in this article. Before we do, let's discuss a bit about what kinds of training programs are available.

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Esthetician Degrees

There are essentially two pathways offered to get esthetician training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can pursue an Associate's degree. Certificate programs generally require 12 to 18 months to complete, while an Associate's degree commonly 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 want to specialize in just one area, such as esthetics. A degree program will also likely feature management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to run a salon or other Palos IL business. Higher degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master's degree programs are available in such areas as salon or spa management. Whatever type of program you decide on, it's essential to make sure that it's approved by the Illinois Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only certify schools that are accredited by certain respected agencies, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the advantages of accreditation for the school you decide on in the upcoming section.

Online Esthetician Programs

Online esthetician classes are advantageous for Palos 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 online cosmetology school programs available that can be attended through a home computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More conventional cosmetology schools are typically fast paced because many courses are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a large amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are covering the same volume of material, but you're not spending numerous hours outside of your home or commuting back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it's imperative that the program you choose can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors so that you also get the hands-on training required for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it's impossible to gain the skills required to work in any facet of the cosmetology profession. So make sure if you choose to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is provided in your area.

Questions to Ask Esthetics Degree Programs

Below is a series of questions that you need to research for any esthetician training school you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Palos home, as well as the price of tuition, will probably 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 options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have collected some of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final selection.

Is the Esthetician School Accredited? It's important to make sure that the esthetician school you enroll in 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 important for securing student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not available for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many Palos IL businesses 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 excellent reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly demanded. Check rating services for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Palos IL salon owners or managers, or someone working in the field, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not looked into. And finally, consult the Illinois school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in total compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus?  A number of 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 commonly broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you decide on a school that specializes in your area of interest. Since your ambition is to be trained as an esthetician, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your vision is to open a Palos 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 pursuing will not deliver the training you need.

Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided?  Practicing and perfecting esthetician techniques and abilities demands lots of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is provided in the beauty classes you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that make it possible for students to practice their growing talents on volunteers. If a beauty school furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but instead relies heavily on using mannequins, it might not be the most effective option for developing your skills. So try to find alternate schools that offer this kind of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance?  When a student graduates from an esthetician school, it's essential that he or she receives assistance in landing that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer assistance develop relationships with Palos IL businesses that are looking for qualified graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and find out which salons and organizations they refer students to. In addition, 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?  The majority of esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and learn 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 accessible to students also. If a school meets all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not omit it as an option before you find out what financial assistance may be offered.

Find Out How to Become an Esthetician in Palos

Enroll in the Right Palos Esthetician Training

Selecting and enrolling in the right esthetician college is essential to receive the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel confident about your decision. Make certain to collect all of the information you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that information to compare schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the academy and program you pick are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you begin with that foundation, 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 right choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are ready to launch your career as a professional esthetician in Palos Illinois.

 

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