How to Select the Right Aesthetician College Near Westmont Illinois

Since you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Westmont IL, the task starts to search for and enroll in the right program. It's important that the school you select not only provides the proper training for the specialty you have selected, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your preliminary search, you may be rather puzzled about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. If you intend on commuting to classes you will need to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Westmont home. Tuition will likewise be an important factor when reviewing possible schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it's not necessarily the best choice. There are various other considerations that you should evaluate when comparing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask about the aesthetician schools you are thinking about later within this article. Before we do, let's discuss a little bit about what kinds of programs are available.

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Esthetics Degrees and Certificates

There are primarily two pathways 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 typically call for 12 to 18 months to finish, 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. Shorter programs are offered if you want to specialize in just one area, such as esthetics. A degree program will also likely incorporate management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to manage a parlor or other Westmont IL business. More advanced degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master's degree programs are available in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whatever type of course you decide on, it's essential to make sure that it's recognized by the Illinois Board of Cosmetology. Many states only approve schools that are accredited by certain reputable agencies, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the advantages of accreditation for the school you select in the following section.

Online Esthetician Programs

Online esthetician schools are accommodating for Westmont IL students who are working full time and have family responsibilities that make it difficult to enroll in a more traditional school. There are a large number of online cosmetology school programs offered that can be accessed via a personal computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More traditional cosmetology schools are frequently fast paced because many programs are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a large amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are covering the same volume of material, but you're not devoting many hours outside of your home or driving back and forth from classes. However, it's important that the training program you select can provide internship training in local salons and parlors in order that you also receive the hands-on training necessary for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it's impossible to obtain the skills needed to work in any facet of the cosmetology industry. So don't forget if you decide to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is available in your area.

Questions to Ask Esthetics Trade Schools

Below is a series 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 Westmont home, as well as the cost of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably 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 take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have compiled several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each school before making a final selection.

Is the Esthetician School Accredited? It's important to make certain that the esthetician school you enroll in 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 assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for getting student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not obtainable for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many Westmont IL employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation?  Every esthetician institute that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating companies for reviews along with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Westmont IL salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the trade, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. And finally, check with the Illinois school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus?  Some esthetician schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs commonly expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you select a school that specializes in your area of interest. Since your ambition is to be trained as an esthetician, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your desire is to start a Westmont 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 ranked school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you need.

Is Any Hands-On Training Provided?  Practicing and refining esthetician techniques and abilities involves plenty of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is included in the beauty courses you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that enable students to practice their developing talents on volunteers. If a beauty academy provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead relies heavily on using mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for acquiring your skills. Therefore try to find alternate schools that furnish this kind of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance?  Once a student graduates from an esthetician program, it's important that he or she receives support in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer assistance maintain relationships with Westmont IL employers that are searching for skilled graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and find out which salons and establishments they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Assistance Available?  Most esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Speak with a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students too. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not discard it as an alternative until you determine what financial help may be offered.

Learn How to Become an Esthetician in Westmont

Enroll in the Best Westmont Esthetician Training

Locating and enrolling in the right esthetician program is important to get the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel confident about your decision. Be sure to compile all of the responses you get from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to compare schools. A good beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the college and program you pick are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you start with that foundation, and address the additional questions supplied in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to start your new career as a professional esthetician in Westmont Illinois.

 

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