How to Select the Best Aesthetician School Near Cambridge Massachusetts

Now that you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Cambridge MA, the task begins to find and enroll in the right program. It's essential that the school you select not only provides the necessary education for the specialty you have selected, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you might be a little bit unclear about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both refer 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 Cambridge residence. Tuition will also be an important factor when evaluating potential schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it's not necessarily the best option. There are a number of other qualifications that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask regarding the aesthetician schools you are thinking about later in this article. Before we do, let's discuss a bit about what types of training programs are offered.

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Esthetician Degrees

There are primarily two avenues offered to get esthetician training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can pursue an Associate's degree. Certificate programs generally take 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 major areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are available if you prefer to concentrate on just one area, for example esthetics. A degree program will also most likely include management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to run a parlor or other Cambridge MA business. Higher degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master's degree programs are available in such areas as salon or spa management. Whichever type of training program you choose, it's important to make certain that it's approved by the Massachusetts Board of Cosmetology. Many states only approve schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded organizations, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the benefits of accreditation for the school you decide on in the following section.

Online Esthetics Programs

Online esthetician classes are accommodating for Cambridge MA students who are working full-time and have family obligations that make it challenging to attend a more traditional school. There are numerous online beauty school programs offered that can be accessed by means of a desktop computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More conventional beauty schools are frequently fast paced since many courses are as short as six or eight months. This means that a substantial amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are dealing with the same volume of material, but you are not spending many hours outside of your home or travelling to and from classes. However, it's imperative that the school you select can provide internship training in area salons and parlors so that you also obtain the hands-on training necessary for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it's impossible to gain the skills required to work in any facet of the cosmetology field. So make sure if you choose to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is available in your area.

What to Ask Esthetician Degree Programs

Following is a list of questions that you will want to look into for any esthetician training program you are considering. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Cambridge residence, together with the price of tuition, will undoubtedly be your primary qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you should research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have compiled several of those supplemental questions that you should ask every school before making a final decision.

Is the Esthetician School Accredited? It's important to make sure that the esthetician school you pick 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which often are not offered 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 Cambridge MA employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation?  Each esthetician school that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly regarded. Check rating companies for reviews along with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Cambridge MA salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the industry, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. And finally, consult the Massachusetts 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?  Many esthetician schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for instance hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you choose a school that specializes in your area of interest. Since your ambition is to be trained as an esthetician, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your desire is to start a Cambridge MA 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 rated school with a weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you need.

Is Any Live Training Provided?  Learning and refining esthetician techniques and abilities demands plenty of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is included in the beauty lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that enable students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a beauty program offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather relies predominantly on the use of mannequins, it may not be the most effective alternative for acquiring your skills. Therefore try to find other schools that provide this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program?  Once a student graduates from an esthetician school, it's essential that she or he gets help in securing that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer assistance maintain relationships with Cambridge MA businesses that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and find out which salons and organizations they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only affirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Assistance Available?  The majority of esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Speak with 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 accessible to students as well. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications except for expense, do not drop it as an option until you find out what financial assistance may be available.

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Enroll in the Right Cambridge Esthetician Training

Finding and enrolling in the right esthetician school is imperative to get the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel confident about your decision. Be sure to compile 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 reasonable beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the institution and program you pick are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. If you begin with that base, and answer the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to begin your career as a professional esthetician in Cambridge Massachusetts.

 

Cambridge Aesthetician Schools Near Me | Cambridge Esthetician Schools Near Me