How to Pick the Right Aesthetician School Near Bethesda Maryland

Since you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Bethesda MD, the task begins to find and enroll in the ideal program. It's essential that the program you select not only furnishes the necessary training for the specialty you have selected, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you might be a little bit confused about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both refer to the same type of school. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Bethesda home. Tuition will also be an important factor when assessing potential schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it's not necessarily the right option. There are several other considerations that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask concerning the aesthetician schools you are looking at later within this article. Before we do, let's discuss a little bit about what types of training programs are offered.

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Esthetics Degrees

There are primarily two pathways available to obtain esthetician training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can work toward an Associate's degree. Certificate programs generally require 12 to 18 months to complete, while an Associate's degree usually takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be trained in each of the main areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you prefer to concentrate on just one area, for example esthetics. A degree program will also likely feature management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to operate a salon or other Bethesda MD business. Higher degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master's degree programs are available in such areas as salon or spa management. Whichever type of training program you decide on, it's important to make certain that it's recognized by the Maryland Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only certify schools that are accredited by certain reputable organizations, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the advantages of accreditation for the school you select in the upcoming section.

Online Esthetician Courses

Online esthetician programs are convenient for Bethesda MD students who are working full time and have family commitments that make it difficult to enroll in a more traditional school. There are a large number of online beauty school programs available that can be accessed through a home computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More traditional cosmetology programs are frequently fast paced due to the fact that many courses are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a significant amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are covering the same volume of material, but you're not devoting numerous hours outside of your home or commuting to and from classes. However, it's vital that the training program you pick can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors to ensure that you also obtain the hands-on training required for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it's difficult to gain the skills required to work in any facet of the cosmetology profession. So make sure if you choose to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is available in your area.

Questions to Ask Aesthetician Training Classes

Below is a list of questions that you will want to look into for any esthetician training school you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Bethesda residence, together with the price of tuition, will most likely be your primary qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have collected several of those supplemental questions that you should ask each school before making a final selection.

Is the Esthetician School Accredited? It's important to make sure 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for getting student loans or financial aid, which typically 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 concluding benefit, many Bethesda MD employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Great Reputation?  Any esthetician institute that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly demanded. Check rating services for reviews as well as the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Bethesda MD salon owners or managers, or someone working in the industry, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to suggest others that you had not thought of. And last, check with the Maryland 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?  A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, for example 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 focuses on your area of interest. Since your objective 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 open a Bethesda MD 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 ranked school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you need.

Is Plenty of Live Training Provided?  Studying and perfecting esthetician techniques and abilities involves plenty of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is provided in the cosmetology lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that allow students to practice their developing talents on volunteers. If a beauty academy offers little or no scheduled live training, but rather depends predominantly on using mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for acquiring your skills. Therefore look for alternate schools that provide this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program?  As soon as a student graduates from an esthetician program, it's essential that he or she receives aid in securing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer aid develop relationships with Bethesda MD employers that are looking for qualified graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and find out which salons and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Assistance Offered?  Many esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you may get approved for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students as well. If a school meets all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not omit it as an alternative before you determine what financial assistance may be provided.

Learn How to Become an Esthetician in Bethesda

Enroll in the Best Bethesda Esthetician Program

Finding and enrolling in the ideal esthetician program is imperative to receive the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel confident about your decision. Make sure to collect all of the responses you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to contrast schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the academy and program you choose are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the field. 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 ideal choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are qualified to launch your career as a professional esthetician in Bethesda Maryland.

 

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