How to Select the Right Aesthetician Training Near Springfield Illinois

Since you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Springfield IL, the process starts to locate and enroll in the best program. It's imperative that the program you select not only furnishes the appropriate instruction for the specialty you have decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your initial 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 essentially interchangeable and both refer to the same type of school. If you intend on commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Springfield home. Tuition will also be an important factor when reviewing prospective schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it's not necessarily the best option. There are several other considerations that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for instance 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 discuss a bit about what kinds of courses are offered.

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

Esthetician Degrees and Certificates

There are primarily two pathways offered to get esthetician training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can work toward an Associate's degree. Certificate programs generally take 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 major areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are offered if you want to specialize in just one area, for instance esthetics. A degree program will also likely feature management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to operate a salon or other Springfield IL business. More advanced degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master's degree programs are offered in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whichever type of training program you choose, it's imperative to make certain that it's approved by the Illinois Board of Cosmetology. Many states only approve schools that are accredited by certain respected organizations, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the advantages of accreditation for the school you select in the next section.

Online Esthetician Programs

Online esthetician programs are advantageous for Springfield IL students who are employed full time and have family responsibilities that make it hard to enroll in a more traditional school. There are many online cosmetology school programs offered that can be attended through a personal computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More traditional cosmetology programs are often fast paced because many courses are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a substantial portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are covering the same volume of material, but you're not devoting numerous hours outside of your home or commuting to and from classes. However, it's vital that the school you choose can provide internship training in local salons and parlors to ensure that you also get the hands-on training necessary for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it's difficult to gain the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology field. 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 Esthetician Training Programs

Following is a list of questions that you should look into for any esthetician training program you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Springfield home, together with the cost of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have put together some of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each school before making a final decision.

Is the Esthetician School Accredited? It's necessary to make sure that the esthetician training program you enroll in 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 measure up to their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which typically are not available for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of Springfield IL businesses will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation?  Each esthetician college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for references 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 demanded. Check rating services for reviews along with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Springfield IL salon owners or managers, or any person working in the trade, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not looked into. 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 Specialty?  A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs often expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you choose 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 dream is to start a Springfield IL beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator as well. Picking a highly rated school with a weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you require.

Is Enough Live Training Provided?  Practicing and mastering esthetician skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the cosmetology courses you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that allow students to practice their developing skills on volunteers. If a beauty school furnishes limited or no scheduled live training, but instead relies heavily on the use of mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for developing your skills. So search for other schools that furnish this kind of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance?  As soon as a student graduates from an esthetician school, it's important that she or he gets help in securing that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide aid maintain relationships with Springfield IL businesses that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and inquire which salons and establishments they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only affirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered?  The majority of 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 find out what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school belongs to 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 except for expense, do not eliminate it as an option until you determine what financial aid may be offered.

Find Out How to Become an Aesthetician in Springfield

Enroll in the Right Springfield Esthetician Course

Choosing and enrolling in the ideal esthetician program is imperative to receive the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel certain about your decision. Make sure to collect all of the responses you get from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to contrast schools. A good beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the school and program you select are accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and address the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the ideal choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are qualified to begin your career as a professional esthetician in Springfield Illinois.

 

Springfield Medical Esthetician Schools | Springfield Aesthetician Schools Near Me