How to Choose the Best Aesthetician Program Near Taunton Massachusetts
Now that you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Taunton MA, the task begins to find and enroll in the right program. It's important that the school you select not only furnishes the necessary training for the specialty you have selected, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your initial search, you may be rather puzzled about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the names are basically 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 Taunton residence. Tuition will also be an important factor when reviewing potential schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it's not necessarily the best choice. There are many other considerations that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding 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 available.
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Esthetics Training Requirements
An esthetics program may be found in a school of cosmetology, a dedicated esthetics school or, in some cases, a junior college. An esthetics program’s length is generally determined by the state in which it is located, as each state board of cosmetology sets minimum requirements for the number of hours of training an esthetics program must provide to meet the state’s licensing requirements. However, it is also quite common for esthetics programs to offer more extensive study beyond what is required for licensing purposes. In general, an esthetics program consists of about 600 hours, a common requirement in many states. However, a number of states require less than 600 hours and perhaps just as many require more than 600. Most state boards of cosmetology maintain lists of approved programs of esthetics within the state, while others recognize all programs that meet the state’s minimum clock-hour requirement. A comprehensive esthetics program includes instruction not only in esthetic treatment procedures and services, but in areas such as the structure of the skin and its function, disorders of the skin, and professional business skills.
Esthetician Job Description
As skilled skincare experts, estheticians need to be knowledgeable of everything from skin histology and physiology to bacteriology and sanitation protocols. As beauty professionals, estheticians must be trained to perform the services that promote healthy, radiant skin – including everything from hair removal methods, pore cleansing and extractions to microdermabrasion, makeup artistry, chemical peels, and light therapy. As beauty and wellness experts, people also turn to estheticians for consultations, advice, and tips for home skincare regimens. They may recommend products, educate clients, and recommend esthetic procedures based on their clients’ needs and wants. Their work environments can include Taunton Massachusetts spas, resorts, salons, hospitals, nursing facilities and dermatologist offices.
Online Esthetician Classes
Online esthetician programs are convenient for Taunton MA students who are working full-time and have family obligations that make it difficult to enroll in a more traditional school. There are numerous online beauty school programs offered that can be attended by means of a home computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More conventional beauty programs are typically fast paced since many programs 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 covering the same volume of material, but you are not devoting many hours away from your home or commuting to and from classes. However, it's vital that the training 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 part of the training, it's impossible to acquire the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology industry. So be sure if you choose to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is provided in your area.
What to Ask Aesthetician Trade Schools
Following is a list of questions that you should look into for any esthetician training program you are considering. As we have previously covered, the location of the school in relation to your Taunton residence, as well as the expense of tuition, will most likely be your initial 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 options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have compiled several of those supplemental questions that you should ask every school before making a final selection.
Is the Esthetician Program Accredited? It's necessary to make certain that the esthetician school you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which often 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 concluding benefit, numerous Taunton MA 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? Any esthetician college 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 testimonials 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 sought after. Check rating services for reviews along with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Taunton MA salon owners or managers, or someone working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not thought of. And finally, contact the Massachusetts school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in complete 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, offering training in a specific specialty, for instance hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs commonly expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you pick 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 dream is to launch a Taunton MA beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator as well. Picking a highly regarded school with a weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you require.
Is Enough Live Training Provided? Practicing and mastering esthetician techniques and abilities demands lots of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is included in the cosmetology lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that make it possible for students to practice their growing talents on volunteers. If a beauty academy furnishes limited or no scheduled live training, but rather relies mainly on the use of mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for cultivating your skills. So try to find other schools that provide this kind 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 assistance in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer aid develop relationships with Taunton MA employers that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and inquire which salons and organizations they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Aid Available? Almost all esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid department. Consult with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students also. If a school meets all of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not discard it as an option before you learn what financial assistance may be provided.
Find Out How to Become an Esthetician in Taunton
Enroll in the Best Taunton Esthetician Training
Locating and enrolling in the ideal esthetician college is important to receive the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel positive about your decision. Don't forget to collect all of the responses you get from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to contrast schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the academy and program you decide on are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and address the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the proper selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to start your career as a professional esthetician in Taunton Massachusetts.