How to Find the Right Aesthetician College Near Boston Massachusetts

Since you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Boston MA, the process begins to locate and enroll in the right program. It's important that the program you select not only furnishes the proper instruction for the specialty you have selected, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your initial search, you may be rather unclear about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the titles are basically interchangeable and both relate to the same type of school. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Boston home. Tuition will additionally be a critical aspect when reviewing 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 qualifications that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask about the aesthetician schools you are thinking about later within this article. Before we do, let's talk a little bit about what types of programs are offered.

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Esthetics Degrees and Certificates

There are basically two options 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 normally 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 instructed in each of the main areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are offered if you wish to focus on just one area, for example esthetics. A degree program will also most likely incorporate management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to operate a parlor or other Boston MA business. Higher degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master's degree programs are offered in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whichever type of training program you opt for, it's imperative to make certain that it's approved by the Massachusetts Board of Cosmetology. Many states only approve schools that are accredited by certain respected agencies, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the benefits of accreditation for the school you decide on in the upcoming segment.

Online Esthetician Training

Online esthetician classes are accommodating for Boston MA students who are working full-time and have family commitments that make it hard to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of online beauty school programs offered that can be attended via a home computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More conventional beauty programs are often fast paced because many courses are as short as six or eight months. This means that a significant portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you are not devoting numerous hours away from your home or driving back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it's important that the program you pick can provide internship training in area salons and parlors in order that you also obtain the hands-on training needed for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it's difficult to gain the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology industry. So don't forget if you decide to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is available in your area.

What to Ask Esthetician Schools

Following is a series of questions that you should investigate for any esthetician training school you are contemplating. As we have already covered, the location of the school in relation to your Boston home, in addition to the expense of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you wish 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 initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have collected several of those supplemental questions that you should ask every school before making a final selection.

Is the Esthetician Program Accredited? It's important to make sure that the esthetician college you choose is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards ensuring 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 prerequisite for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many Boston MA employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation?  Each esthetician institute that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent 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, showing that their students are highly sought after. Check rating companies for reviews together with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Boston MA salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the industry, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to propose others that you had not considered. And finally, check with the Massachusetts school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in full compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty?  A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific 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 specializes in 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 launch a Boston MA beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator as well. Picking a highly ranked school with a weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you require.

Is Any Hands-On Training Provided?  Practicing and mastering esthetician techniques and abilities demands lots of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the cosmetology lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that allow students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a beauty academy provides little or no scheduled live training, but instead depends heavily on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the most effective alternative for acquiring your skills. Therefore search for alternate schools that offer this type of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance?  When a student graduates from an esthetician academy, it's essential that he or she receives support in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide aid develop relationships with Boston MA businesses that are seeking trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and inquire which salons and businesses they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have wide 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 reviewing have a financial aid office. Consult with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you may qualify 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 with the exception of expense, do not discard it as an option until you learn what financial assistance may be available.

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Enroll in the Right Boston Esthetician Training

Selecting and enrolling in the right esthetician program is imperative to get the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel positive about your decision. Make sure to collect all of the information you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that data to contrast schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the institution and program you pick are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the field. If you begin with that foundation, and answer the additional questions supplied in this post, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the ideal choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are qualified to launch your career as a professional esthetician in Boston Massachusetts.

 

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