How to Select the Best Aesthetician School Near South Portland Maine

Now that you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near South Portland ME, the task starts to locate and enroll in the right program. It's important that the program you choose not only furnishes the appropriate instruction for the specialty you have chosen, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you may be somewhat puzzled about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both refer to the same kind of school. If you intend on commuting to classes you will need to choose a school that is within driving distance of your South Portland residence. Tuition will also be an important aspect when evaluating potential schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it's not always the ideal option. There are a number of other considerations that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding the aesthetician schools you are looking at later within this article. Before we do, let's discuss a little bit about what kinds of training programs are available.

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Esthetician Degrees and Certificates

There are essentially two pathways offered to obtain 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 call for 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 each of the major areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you prefer to specialize in just one area, such as esthetics. A degree program will also likely feature management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to run a parlor or other South Portland ME business. Higher degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master's degree programs are available in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whichever type of program you choose, it's important to make sure that it's approved by the Maine Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only certify schools that are accredited by certain respected organizations, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the advantages of accreditation for the school you choose in the next segment.

Online Esthetics Training

Online esthetician schools are accommodating for South Portland ME students who are employed full time and have family responsibilities that make it difficult to enroll in a more traditional school. There are numerous web-based cosmetology school programs offered that can be attended through a personal computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More conventional beauty schools are often fast paced given that many courses are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a significant amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are covering the same amount of material, but you're not devoting many hours outside of your home or commuting to and from classes. However, it's essential that the program you choose can provide internship training in area salons and parlors in order that you also get the hands-on training required for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it's impossible to gain the skills needed to work in any facet of the cosmetology field. So don't forget if you decide to enroll in an online school to confirm that internship training is available in your area.

What to Ask Esthetician Training Classes

Below is a list of questions that you should research for any esthetician training school you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school in relation to your South Portland residence, as well as the expense of tuition, will most likely be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt 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 take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have compiled several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final determination.

Is the Esthetician School Accredited? It's necessary to make certain that the esthetician training program you pick 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which often 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, numerous South Portland ME businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation?  Each esthetician college that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly sought after. Check rating services for reviews along with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with South Portland ME salon owners or managers, or any person working in the business, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not thought of. And finally, contact the Maine school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty?  Some esthetician schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, for instance hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you select 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 open a South Portland ME beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator as well. Selecting a highly rated school with a weak 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 requires plenty of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the cosmetology classes you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that make it possible for students to practice their developing skills on volunteers. If a beauty school provides little or no scheduled live training, but instead relies predominantly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for developing your skills. So look for other schools that furnish this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program?  As soon as a student graduates from an esthetician academy, it's important that she or he receives support in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer aid maintain relationships with South Portland ME businesses that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and ask which salons and businesses they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Assistance Available?  Most esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid department. Speak 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 all of your other qualifications except for expense, do not omit it as an alternative until you find out what financial aid may be offered.

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Enroll in the Right South Portland Esthetician Course

Finding and enrolling in the right esthetician school is important to receive the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel positive about your decision. Make certain to organize all of the information you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that information to contrast schools. A good start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the college and program you choose are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and address the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to launch your new career as a professional esthetician in South Portland Maine.

 

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