How to Enroll In the Right Aesthetician Training Program Near Bowie Maryland
Since you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Bowie MD, the process starts to find and enroll in the ideal program. It's important that the school you choose not only furnishes the appropriate instruction for the specialty you have chosen, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your initial search, you might be rather unclear about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. If you intend on commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Bowie residence. Tuition will likewise be a critical aspect when evaluating possible schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it's not always the best choice. There are several other factors that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask about the aesthetician schools you are looking at later in this article. Before we do, let's discuss a little bit about what types of courses are offered.
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Esthetics Training Programs
Esthetics programs, which are available through dedicated schools of esthetics, career colleges or schools of cosmetology, must meet the requirements set forth by each state’s board of cosmetology. Most states recognize esthetics programs that consist of 600 hours of coursework and practical training as meeting the requirements for licensure, although a number of states require more hours while others require significantly fewer. For example, esthetician license candidates in Wisconsin must complete a program that is at least 450 hours long, while candidates in Indiana must complete a program consisting of at least 700 hours. Esthetics programs blend theory and practical study to introduce students to everything from skin histology and sanitation practices to the safe application of facial products and makeup. These programs also include coursework that covers the business, ethics and professional standards of the esthetics industry.
Esthetician Job Description
Estheticians provide a wide range of beauty services to help their Bowie Maryland clients look and feel better. This includes improving the quality of the skin (including the treatment of skin disorders), hair removal, permanent makeup application, and facial massage. Some types of estheticians, like medical estheticians, provide highly specialized procedures that require detailed training in order for it to be done safely and effectively. Medical estheticians can help individuals suffering from serious skin disorders, burns, and other trauma, and to help with pre and post-operative surgery affecting the health of their skin. Estheticians work closely with their clients in a friendly and positive manner, so an enthusiastic attitude and desire to help people is an excellent attribute for an aspiring esthetician to possess. Some of the basic duties an esthetician may perform will include such tasks as:
- Assessing a patient’s needs
- Chemical peels
- Laser treatments
- Waxing
- Facials
- Massage of the head and neck
- Microdermabrasion
Online Esthetician Programs
Online esthetician classes are accommodating for Bowie MD students who are employed full time and have family obligations that make it difficult to attend a more traditional school. There are numerous online cosmetology school programs available that can be accessed via a home computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More traditional beauty schools are typically fast paced due to the fact that many programs are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a substantial amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are covering the same volume of material, but you're not spending numerous hours away from your home or travelling back and forth from classes. However, it's essential that the school you choose can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors to ensure that you also receive the hands-on training needed for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it's difficult to acquire the skills necessary to work in any facet of the cosmetology field. So don't forget if you decide to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is available in your area.
Questions to Ask Aesthetician Training Programs
Following is a series of questions that you need to look into for any esthetician training program you are considering. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Bowie home, in addition to the expense of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have collected several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final decision.
Is the Esthetician School Accredited? It's essential to make certain that the esthetician training program you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged 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 guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous Bowie MD employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Any esthetician institute that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional 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. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly regarded. Check rating services for reviews as well as the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Bowie MD salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not thought of. And finally, consult the Maryland school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing 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 commonly expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you decide on a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your goal 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 launch a Bowie MD beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator as well. Picking a highly rated school with a weak program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you require.
Is Any Live Training Provided? Practicing and refining esthetician skills and techniques demands lots of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is provided in the cosmetology classes you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that enable students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a beauty school provides limited or no scheduled live training, but rather relies heavily on the use of mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for acquiring your skills. So look for other schools that provide this kind of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from an esthetician school, it's imperative that she or he receives support in finding that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish assistance maintain relationships with Bowie MD businesses that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and ask which salons and establishments they refer students to. In addition, find out 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 Aid Available? Most esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid department. Consult with a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you might get approved for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students too. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not discard it as an option before you find out what financial aid may be available.
Learn How to Become an Esthetician in Bowie
Enroll in the Right Bowie Esthetician Training
Selecting and enrolling in the right esthetician college is imperative to receive the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel positive about your decision. Don't forget to compile all of the responses you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to compare schools. A good beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the academy and program you decide on are accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. If you start with that foundation, and address the additional questions provided in this article, 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 ready to begin your new career as a professional esthetician in Bowie Maryland.
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