How to Choose the Right Esthetician School Near Lexington Fayette Kentucky

Since you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Lexington Fayette KY, the task starts to search for and enroll in the right program. It's essential that the program you choose not only provides the necessary training for the specialty you have chosen, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you may be somewhat unclear about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the titles are essentially interchangeable and both refer to the same type of school. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Lexington Fayette home. Tuition will additionally be an important aspect when reviewing potential schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it's not automatically the right option. There are a number of other qualifications that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding the aesthetician schools you are considering later within this article. Before we do, let's talk a little bit about what kinds of courses are available.

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Esthetician Degrees and Certificates

There are basically two pathways offered to obtain esthetician training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can pursue an Associate's degree. Certificate programs generally require 12 to 18 months to finish, while an Associate's degree commonly takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be trained in all of the major areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you wish to specialize in just one area, for example esthetics. A degree program will also most likely incorporate management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to manage a parlor or other Lexington Fayette KY business. More advanced degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master's degree programs are available in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whichever type of course you opt for, it's important to make sure that it's recognized by the Kentucky Board of Cosmetology. Numerous 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 decide on in the next segment.

Online Esthetics Classes

Online esthetician schools are accommodating for Lexington Fayette KY students who are employed full time and have family obligations that make it difficult to enroll in a more traditional school. There are numerous web-based cosmetology school programs offered that can be accessed via a personal computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More traditional beauty schools are typically fast paced given that many courses are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a considerable amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you are not devoting numerous hours outside of your home or travelling back and forth from classes. However, it's essential that the school you pick can provide internship training in local salons and parlors so that you also get the hands-on training needed for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it's difficult to gain the skills required to work in any facet of the cosmetology profession. So be sure if you decide to enroll in an online school to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.

Questions to Ask Esthetician Schools

Following is a series of questions that you will want to look into for any esthetician training school you are contemplating. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Lexington Fayette home, 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 probably be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have collected some of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each school before making a final selection.

Is the Esthetician Program Accredited? It's important to make certain that the esthetician school you select 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards guaranteeing 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 prerequisite for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many Lexington Fayette KY businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation?  Every esthetician institute that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating services for reviews as well as the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Lexington Fayette KY salon owners or managers, or any person working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. And finally, consult the Kentucky school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus?  Many esthetician schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs often broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you choose 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 well regarded for that program. If your desire is to launch a Lexington Fayette KY beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator as well. Choosing a highly regarded school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you require.

Is Any Hands-On Training Provided?  Learning and perfecting esthetician techniques and abilities requires plenty of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the beauty courses you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that make it possible for students to practice their developing skills on volunteers. If a beauty program provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead relies mainly on the use of mannequins, it might not be the most effective option for developing your skills. So look for other schools that provide this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program?  Once a student graduates from an esthetician school, it's crucial that she or he gets assistance in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish help maintain relationships with Lexington Fayette KY businesses that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and ask which salons and establishments they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Aid Available?  Many esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are considering have a financial aid department. Consult with a counselor and learn 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 accessible to students too. If a school meets each of your other qualifications except for cost, do not drop it as an alternative until you learn what financial aid may be available.

Learn How to Become an Esthetician in Lexington Fayette

Enroll in the Right Lexington Fayette Esthetician Program

Choosing and enrolling in the ideal esthetician school is imperative to get the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel certain about your decision. Be sure to organize 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 contrast schools. A good beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the academy and program you pick are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you begin with that base, and answer the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are prepared to start your career as a professional esthetician in Lexington Fayette Kentucky.

 

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