How to Select the Best Esthetician College Near Rolling Meadows Illinois
Once you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Rolling Meadows IL, the task begins to locate and enroll in the right program. It's imperative that the program you select not only furnishes the proper instruction for the specialty you have decided on, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your preliminary search, you may be somewhat unclear about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both relate to the same type of school. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Rolling Meadows home. Tuition will also be a critical factor when evaluating prospective schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it's not automatically the ideal option. There are various other factors that you should weigh when reviewing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask concerning the aesthetician schools you are thinking about later in this article. Before we do, let's talk a little bit about what kinds of programs are offered.
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Esthetician Training Programs
Esthetics programs, which are available through dedicated schools of esthetics, career colleges or schools of cosmetology, must meet the requirements set forth by each state’s board of cosmetology. Most states recognize esthetics programs that consist of 600 hours of coursework and practical training as meeting the requirements for licensure, although a number of states require more hours while others require significantly fewer. For example, esthetician license candidates in Wisconsin must complete a program that is at least 450 hours long, while candidates in Indiana must complete a program consisting of at least 700 hours. Esthetics programs blend theory and practical study to introduce students to everything from skin histology and sanitation practices to the safe application of facial products and makeup. These programs also include coursework that covers the business, ethics and professional standards of the esthetics industry.
Esthetician Job Description
Estheticians provide a wide range of beauty services to help their Rolling Meadows Illinois clients look and feel better. This includes improving the quality of the skin (including the treatment of skin disorders), hair removal, permanent makeup application, and facial massage. Some types of estheticians, like medical estheticians, provide highly specialized procedures that require detailed training in order for it to be done safely and effectively. Medical estheticians can help individuals suffering from serious skin disorders, burns, and other trauma, and to help with pre and post-operative surgery affecting the health of their skin. Estheticians work closely with their clients in a friendly and positive manner, so an enthusiastic attitude and desire to help people is an excellent attribute for an aspiring esthetician to possess. Some of the basic duties an esthetician may perform will include such tasks as:
- Assessing a patient’s needs
- Chemical peels
- Laser treatments
- Waxing
- Facials
- Massage of the head and neck
- Microdermabrasion
Online Esthetics Training
Online esthetician programs are convenient for Rolling Meadows IL students who are employed full time and have family commitments that make it hard to attend a more traditional school. There are numerous online beauty school programs offered that can be attended through a personal computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More traditional beauty programs are often fast paced given that many programs are as short as six or eight months. This means that a significant amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are covering the same volume of material, but you're not devoting numerous hours outside of your home or travelling to and from classes. On the other hand, it's vital that the program you pick can provide internship training in local salons and parlors to ensure that you also obtain the hands-on training needed for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it's difficult to obtain the skills required to work in any facet of the cosmetology field. So make sure if you choose to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is available in your area.
What to Ask Esthetician Degree Programs
Following is a series of questions that you should look into for any esthetician training school you are considering. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Rolling Meadows residence, as well as the price of tuition, will most likely be your initial qualifiers. Whether you want to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have put together some of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final determination.
Is the Esthetician Program Accredited? It's necessary to make sure that the esthetician school you select is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for securing student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many Rolling Meadows IL employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Each esthetician school that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly sought after. Check rating services for reviews together with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Rolling Meadows IL salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not thought of. And last, contact the Illinois school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating 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 expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you pick a school that specializes in your area of interest. Since your intention 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 Rolling Meadows IL beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator as well. Choosing a highly rated school with a weak program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you need.
Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and perfecting esthetician techniques and abilities demands plenty of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is provided in the beauty classes you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that make it possible for students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a beauty program offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead relies mainly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for acquiring your skills. Therefore search for alternate schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? As soon as a student graduates from an esthetician school, it's imperative that he or she receives help in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer aid develop relationships with Rolling Meadows IL businesses that are looking for qualified graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and inquire which salons and establishments they refer students to. Additionally, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Available? Many 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. Speak with a counselor and learn 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 also. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not drop it as an alternative before you find out what financial help may be available.
Find Out How to Become an Aesthetician in Rolling Meadows
Enroll in the Right Rolling Meadows Esthetician Program
Finding and enrolling in the right esthetician program is important to get the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel certain about your decision. Make sure to organize all of the responses you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to compare schools. A sensible start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the school and program you pick are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you start with that base, and answer the additional questions supplied in this post, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the proper selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are qualified to begin your career as a professional esthetician in Rolling Meadows Illinois.
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