How to Pick the Best Aesthetician College Near South Portland Maine
Once you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near South Portland ME, the process starts to locate and enroll in the right program. It's essential that the school you pick not only provides the necessary education for the specialty you have chosen, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your initial search, you may be somewhat puzzled about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the titles are basically interchangeable and both refer to the same type of school. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your South Portland home. Tuition will likewise be an important factor when evaluating possible schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it's not necessarily the ideal option. There are many other qualifications that you should weigh when comparing schools, for example 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 discuss a little bit about what kinds of training programs are available.
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Esthetics Training Programs
Estheticians are highly trained, in-demand skincare experts, which is why an esthetics program requires around 600 hours of hands-on training hours. For licensure, you need to demonstrate a thorough understanding of the skin and the technology used in advanced treatments like lasers, LED lights, oxygen, or ultrasonic waves. Keep in mind that program requirements can vary by state, but most states require at least 600 hours of training to obtain a license in the field. In addition to training, estheticians should also have a professional and friendly personality that instills confidence in their clients. A skilled esthetician must be able to listen and empathize with their clients’ needs and concerns, often personalizing treatment for them.
Esthetician Job Description
As skilled skincare experts, estheticians need to be knowledgeable of everything from skin histology and physiology to bacteriology and sanitation protocols. As beauty professionals, estheticians must be trained to perform the services that promote healthy, radiant skin – including everything from hair removal methods, pore cleansing and extractions to microdermabrasion, makeup artistry, chemical peels, and light therapy. As beauty and wellness experts, people also turn to estheticians for consultations, advice, and tips for home skincare regimens. They may recommend products, educate clients, and recommend esthetic procedures based on their clients’ needs and wants. Their work environments can include South Portland Maine spas, resorts, salons, hospitals, nursing facilities and dermatologist offices.
Online Esthetics Training
Online esthetician classes are advantageous for South Portland ME students who are employed full-time and have family obligations that make it difficult to enroll in a more traditional school. There are numerous online cosmetology school programs offered that can be accessed through a desktop computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More traditional beauty programs are often fast paced given that many programs are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a substantial portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are covering the same volume of material, but you are not devoting numerous hours away from your home or travelling back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it's essential that the school you select can provide internship training in area salons and parlors so that you also get the hands-on training needed for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it's impossible to acquire the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology industry. So be sure if you decide to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is provided in your area.
Questions to Ask Esthetics 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 relative to your South Portland home, as well as the price of tuition, will undoubtedly be your primary qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue 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 must research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have collected some of those additional questions that you need to ask every school before making a final decision.
Is the Esthetician Program Accredited? It's necessary to make sure that the esthetician training program you choose is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which often are not obtainable for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement 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 might look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent 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 references from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating services for reviews together with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with South Portland ME salon owners or managers, or someone working in the field, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not considered. Finally, check with the Maine school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Many esthetician schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you enroll in a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your objective is to be trained as an esthetician, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your vision is to open a South Portland ME 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 regarded school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you require.
Is Enough Live Training Provided? Practicing and perfecting esthetician skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is provided in the beauty lessons 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 school offers limited or no scheduled live training, but instead relies predominantly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the most effective option for cultivating your skills. Therefore look for other 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 gets support in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish assistance develop relationships with South Portland ME businesses that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and ask which salons and establishments 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 offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are considering have a financial aid office. Consult 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 offered to students too. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not omit it as an alternative until you find out what financial assistance may be provided.
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Enroll in the Right South Portland Esthetician Program
Locating and enrolling in the right esthetician school is essential to obtain the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel certain about your decision. Make sure to consolidate all of the information you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that information to compare schools. A good start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the academy and program you choose are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you start with that foundation, and address the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to begin your career as a professional esthetician in South Portland Maine.
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