How to Enroll In the Right Esthetician Course Near Lexington Fayette Kentucky
Once you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Lexington Fayette KY, the task begins to search for and enroll in the best program. It's important that the program you choose not only provides the proper instruction for the specialty you have selected, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your initial search, you might be rather confused about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both refer to the same kind of school. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Lexington Fayette residence. Tuition will additionally be a critical consideration when evaluating prospective schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it's not always the right choice. There are many other considerations that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask concerning the aesthetician schools you are considering later within this article. Before we do, let's discuss a little bit about what types of training programs are offered.
It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Start Your Esthetician Career Below!
Esthetician Certificates and Degrees
There are primarily two avenues 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 usually require 12 to 18 months to complete, while an Associate's degree ordinarily takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be trained in all of the main areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are available if you want to focus on just one area, for example esthetics. A degree program will also probably include management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to operate a parlor or other Lexington Fayette KY business. Higher degrees are not typical, 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 imperative to make certain that it's approved by the Kentucky Board of Cosmetology. Many states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain respected agencies, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the benefits of accreditation for the school you decide on in the following section.
Online Esthetics Courses
Online esthetician schools are accommodating for Lexington Fayette KY students who are working full time and have family responsibilities that make it hard to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of web-based beauty school programs offered that can be accessed through a home computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More traditional cosmetology schools are frequently fast paced due to the fact that many courses are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a large amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are covering the same amount of material, but you are not spending many hours outside of your home or commuting back and forth from classes. However, it's vital that the program you pick can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors so that you also get the hands-on training necessary for a complete 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 be sure if you decide to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is provided in your area.
What to Ask Esthetics Trade Schools
Below is a series of questions that you should research for any esthetician training school you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school in relation to your Lexington Fayette home, in addition to the cost of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue 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 should research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Following we have compiled some of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final selection.
Is the Esthetician School Accredited? It's essential to make sure that the esthetician college you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified 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 necessary for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which often are not available for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many Lexington Fayette KY employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Every esthetician school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements 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 sought after. Check rating services for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Lexington Fayette KY salon owners or managers, or any person working in the field, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. Finally, contact the Kentucky school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, for instance hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs commonly expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you decide on a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your intention is to be trained as an esthetician, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and well regarded for that program. If your dream is to open a Lexington Fayette KY beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct 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 require.
Is Any Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and perfecting esthetician skills and techniques demands lots of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is included in the cosmetology lessons you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that allow students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a beauty program furnishes minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather depends mainly on the use of mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for cultivating your skills. So try to find alternate schools that provide 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 assistance in securing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish help develop relationships with Lexington Fayette KY employers that are searching for skilled graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and ask which salons and establishments they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance 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 office. Speak with a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you may get approved for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students too. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not discard it as an option before you determine what financial aid may be available.
More Info on How to Become an Esthetician in Lexington Fayette
Enroll in the Best Lexington Fayette Esthetician Training
Locating and enrolling in the right esthetician school is essential to obtain the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel positive about your decision. Don't forget to consolidate all of the responses you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to compare schools. A good start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the school and program you select are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and answer the additional questions supplied in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the right selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are qualified to launch your new career as a professional esthetician in Lexington Fayette Kentucky.
Lexington Fayette Esthetician Schools Near Me | Lexington Fayette Esthetician Programs