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How to Enroll In the Right Aesthetician College Near Bethesda Maryland

Bethesda Maryland aesthetician performing facial treatment with machineSince you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Bethesda MD, the task begins to locate and enroll in the right program. It's essential that the program you choose not only provides the proper instruction for the specialty you have chosen, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your initial search, you may be rather puzzled about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. If you intend on commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Bethesda home. Tuition will also be an important consideration when assessing possible schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it's not automatically the best choice. There are many other considerations that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask regarding the aesthetician schools you are considering later in this article. Before we do, let's discuss a bit about what types of courses are available.

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Esthetician Degrees and Certificates

Bethesda Maryland aesthetician performing wax treatmentThere are essentially two pathways available to receive 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 typically require 12 to 18 months to complete, 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 main areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are offered if you wish to specialize in just one area, for example 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 Bethesda MD business. Higher degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master's degree programs are available in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whatever type of course you choose, it's essential to make certain that it's certified by the Maryland Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only certify schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded organizations, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the advantages of accreditation for the school you choose in the following segment.

Online Esthetician Training

Bethesda Maryland young lady taking aesthetician courses onlineOnline esthetician schools are convenient for Bethesda MD students who are employed full-time and have family responsibilities that make it challenging to enroll in a more traditional school. There are many web-based beauty school programs offered that can be attended by means of a desktop computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More conventional beauty programs are frequently fast paced since many programs are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a significant amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are dealing with the same volume of material, but you are not devoting many hours away from your home or driving to and from classes. On the other hand, it's essential that the program you choose can provide internship training in area salons and parlors to ensure that you also get the hands-on training necessary for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it's difficult to obtain the skills required to work in any area of the cosmetology industry. So make sure if you decide to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is available in your area.

What to Ask Esthetician Training Programs

Below is a list of questions that you will want to investigate for any esthetician training school you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Bethesda residence, as well as the price of tuition, will most likely be your first qualifiers. Whether you want to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Following we have compiled some of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final determination.

Is the Esthetician Program Accredited? It's essential to make sure that the esthetician college you enroll in is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for getting student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not available for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many Bethesda MD employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation?  Any esthetician college that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly sought after. Check rating companies for reviews together with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Bethesda MD salon owners or managers, or any person working in the industry, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. Finally, contact the Maryland school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in total compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus?  Some esthetician schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific 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 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 aspiration is to launch a Bethesda MD 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 ranked school with a weak program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you require.

Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided?  Practicing and refining esthetician skills and techniques involves plenty of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is included in the beauty courses you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that enable students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a beauty academy furnishes minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather relies heavily on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the most effective option for cultivating your skills. So search for alternate schools that provide this type of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance?  As soon as a student graduates from an esthetician program, it's crucial that he or she receives help in finding that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish assistance develop relationships with Bethesda MD employers that are looking for qualified graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and find out which salons and businesses they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected 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. Talk to a counselor and find out 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 each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not eliminate it as an alternative before you determine what financial aid may be available.

Learn How to Become an Esthetician in Bethesda

Enroll in the Right Bethesda Esthetician Program

Selecting and enrolling in the right esthetician college is imperative to obtain the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel certain about your decision. Don't forget to organize all of the information you get from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to contrast schools. A good start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the institution and program you decide on 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 reduce your list of schools so that you can make the ideal choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to begin your new career as a professional esthetician in Bethesda Maryland.



 

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