How to Select the Right Esthetician Training Program Near Augusta Maine
Since you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Augusta ME, the process starts to locate and enroll in the ideal program. It's imperative that the school you pick not only provides the proper education for the specialty you have decided on, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you might be a little bit unclear about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the names are pretty much interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Augusta residence. Tuition will likewise be a critical factor when assessing prospective schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it's not necessarily the best choice. There are a number of other considerations that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask concerning the aesthetician schools you are considering later within this article. Before we do, let's discuss a bit about what kinds of courses are offered.
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Esthetics Training Programs
Esthetics school is an investment of time, energy, and money. Requirements vary from state to state, but the majority of states require that you complete at least 600 hours of training. Full-time school can take an average of six months to complete, and part-time school can take anywhere from 9-12 months. The primary purpose of esthetics school is to get you ready to pass the state licensing exam. They also teach basic skills that you will need to perfect through experience and sometimes additional classes, such as giving facials, body treatments, and performing waxing. More advanced training includes learning to work with machines, such as IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) and Lasers used to rejuvenate the skin and permanently remove hair.
Esthetician Job Description
Estheticians (or aestheticians) are skin care specialists who typically work in Augusta Maine spas and salons as well as resorts and medical facilities to provide a variety of treatments for their clients. Some of the typical duties of an esthetician include performing deep skin cleansing and treatments, hair removal, and massages. Estheticians also recommend skincare treatments, products, and regimens to their clients. Many estheticians are self-employed, which allows them to set their schedules and work where they wish. However, these professionals still often need to work evenings and weekends. These skin care specialists also spend much of their time standing and may be exposed to harmful chemicals. Certified estheticians have excellent customer service and communication skills. They're adept at time management, observation and monitoring and are competent in understanding and using the tools necessary for facial procedures and extractions. Certified estheticians are familiar with medical, spreadsheets, and word processing software. They present a professional appearance and have the physical fitness to stand for prolonged periods of time. A career in esthetics generally requires working evening and weekend hours.
Online Esthetician Courses
Online esthetician programs are advantageous for Augusta ME students who are working full-time and have family commitments that make it hard to enroll in a more traditional school. There are many web-based cosmetology school programs offered that can be accessed via a desktop computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More conventional beauty programs are often 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 internet programs, you are covering the same volume of material, but you're not spending numerous hours outside of your home or driving back and forth from classes. However, it's vital that the training program you choose can provide internship training in nearby 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 impossible to obtain the skills required to work in any facet of the cosmetology field. So be sure if you choose to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is available in your area.
What to Ask Esthetics Programs
Below is a list of questions that you should investigate for any esthetician training program you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school in relation to your Augusta residence, as well as the price of tuition, will undoubtedly be your initial 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 choices based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have put together several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each school before making a final determination.
Is the Esthetician School Accredited? It's essential to make certain that the esthetician school you enroll in is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for securing student loans or financial aid, which often are not offered for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous Augusta ME employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Each esthetician institute that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements 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 services for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Augusta ME salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to propose others that you had not considered. And finally, consult the Maine school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Some esthetician schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you choose 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 vision is to start a Augusta ME 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 ranked school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you require.
Is Any Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and mastering esthetician techniques and abilities involves plenty of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is included in the cosmetology courses you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that enable students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a beauty academy furnishes minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead depends heavily on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the most effective option for acquiring your skills. So try to find alternate schools that furnish this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from an esthetician school, it's essential that he or she gets assistance in finding that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish help maintain relationships with Augusta ME employers that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and find out which salons and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only affirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Available? Almost all esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and identify 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 offered to students too. If a school meets each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not eliminate it as an option before you find out what financial assistance may be offered.
Learn How to Become an Aesthetician in Augusta
Enroll in the Best Augusta Esthetician Program
Picking and enrolling in the right esthetician program is imperative to receive the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel positive about your decision. Don't forget to collect all of the information you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that information to contrast schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the institution and program you choose are accredited and have impressive 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 ideal choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to start your career as a professional esthetician in Augusta Maine.
Augusta Esthetician Schools Near Me | Augusta Esthetician Programs