How to Choose the Right Aesthetician Course Near Towson Maryland

Now that you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Towson MD, the process starts to find and enroll in the right program. It's important that the school you select not only furnishes the proper training for the specialty you have decided on, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you start 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 pretty much interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Towson residence. Tuition will also be an important consideration when assessing potential schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it's not necessarily the best choice. There are several other considerations that you should weigh when comparing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask concerning the aesthetician schools you are thinking about later in this article. Before we do, let's talk a bit about what kinds of programs are available.

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Esthetics Training Requirements

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

An esthetician is a professional skin specialist who identifies cosmetic issues (such as wrinkles, pigmentation, or blemishes) and applies treatments to improve their condition. Most estheticians perform skin treatments like facials, superficial chemical peels, body treatments, skin conditioning, and blemish extraction, but they may also do waxing, lash extensions, and makeovers. Estheticians, unlike licensed cosmetologists, are also able to provide advanced treatments like microdermabrasion, chemical peels, light therapy, and hair removal. They may also educate clients on products, skincare regimens, and the benefits of esthetic procedures. Medical estheticians in clinical settings may help people identify and recover from health issues affecting the skin, such as working with cancer patients or burn victims after surgical procedures. Typically an esthetician works with a client in a spa or salon setting. Some estheticians work in a medical setting to complement medical services, such as in a dermatologist’s office, but they are not medical professionals. Estheticians may also work in locations as varied as Towson Maryland nursing facilities, luxury resorts, dermatologist offices or hospitals.

Online Esthetics Schools

Online esthetician schools are advantageous for Towson MD students who are employed full time and have family responsibilities that make it hard to enroll in a more traditional school. There are a large number of online cosmetology school programs offered that can be accessed by means of a desktop computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More traditional cosmetology programs are typically fast paced due to the fact that many programs are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a large portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are covering the same amount of material, but you're not spending many hours away from your home or driving back and forth from classes. However, it's vital that the training program you select can provide internship training in area salons and parlors in order that you also receive the hands-on training required for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it's difficult to acquire the skills needed to work in any area of the cosmetology field. So don't forget if you choose to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is provided in your area.

Questions to Ask Esthetics Training Courses

Following is a series of questions that you will want to research for any esthetician training program you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Towson home, together with the price of tuition, will most likely be your initial qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have put together several of those additional questions that you need to ask every school before making a final determination.

Is the Esthetician Program Accredited? It's essential to make sure that the esthetician school 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for getting student loans or financial aid, which typically are not offered for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of Towson MD employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Great Reputation?  Every esthetician school 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 testimonials from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly regarded. Check rating services for reviews along with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Towson MD salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to propose others that you had not looked into. And last, consult the Maryland school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus?  Some esthetician schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs often broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you pick 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 start a Towson MD beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator as well. Choosing a highly rated school with a weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you need.

Is Any Hands-On Training Provided?  Studying and mastering esthetician techniques and abilities demands plenty of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the beauty lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that enable students to practice their developing talents on volunteers. If a beauty academy provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead depends predominantly on the use of mannequins, it might not be the best option for developing your skills. So look for other schools that offer this kind of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance?  Once a student graduates from an esthetician program, it's important that she or he receives support in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish aid maintain relationships with Towson MD employers that are searching for skilled graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and find out which salons and organizations they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Assistance Offered?  Almost all esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are considering have a financial aid department. Consult with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you might get approved for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students also. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not omit it as an alternative until you determine what financial assistance may be provided.

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Enroll in the Right Towson Esthetician Training

Finding and enrolling in the ideal esthetician school is essential 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 confident about your decision. Make certain to collect 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 compare 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 exceptional reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and answer the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to filter 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 qualified to start your career as a professional esthetician in Towson Maryland.

 

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