How to Pick the Best Esthetician School Near Jenison Michigan
Once you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Jenison MI, the task begins to find and enroll in the ideal program. It's imperative that the program you pick not only furnishes the appropriate education for the specialty you have decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your initial search, you might be a little bit confused about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Jenison residence. Tuition will additionally be an important consideration when reviewing prospective schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it's not necessarily the best choice. There are various other considerations that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask about the aesthetician schools you are thinking about later in this article. Before we do, let's talk a little bit about what kinds of training programs are available.
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Esthetics Certificates and Degrees
There are essentially two pathways offered 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 generally call for 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 all of the main areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are offered if you want to concentrate on just one area, for instance esthetics. A degree program will also likely feature management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to run a salon or other Jenison MI business. Higher degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master's degree programs are offered in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whatever type of program you choose, it's imperative to make certain that it's certified by the Michigan Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded agencies, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the benefits of accreditation for the school you select in the upcoming section.
Online Esthetics Schools
Online esthetician classes are advantageous for Jenison MI students who are working full-time and have family obligations that make it hard to enroll in a more traditional school. There are a large number of online cosmetology school programs available that can be attended through a personal computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More traditional cosmetology programs are often fast paced because many courses are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a considerable portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are covering the same amount of material, but you are not spending numerous hours away from your home or driving back and forth from classes. However, it's important that the training program you select can provide internship training in area salons and parlors to ensure that you also get the hands-on training needed for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it's impossible to acquire the skills required to work in any facet of the cosmetology field. So don't forget if you choose to enroll in an online school to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.
What to Ask Esthetics Schools
Following is a series of questions that you should investigate for any esthetician training school you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school relative to your Jenison residence, as well as the cost of tuition, will probably 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 options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you should research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have collected some of those supplemental questions that you should ask every school before making a final determination.
Is the Esthetician Program Accredited? It's important to make sure that the esthetician training program 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 ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not available for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many Jenison MI employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Any esthetician institute that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good 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, indicating that their students are highly demanded. Check rating services for reviews as well as the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Jenison MI salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the field, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. And last, contact the Michigan school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you decide on a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your intention 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 start a Jenison MI beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator as well. Selecting a highly ranked school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you require.
Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and mastering esthetician skills and techniques demands plenty of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is furnished 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 volunteers. If a beauty academy provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather depends heavily on the use of mannequins, it may not be the most effective alternative for developing your skills. Therefore search 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 academy, it's essential that she or he gets help in finding that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer help develop relationships with Jenison MI businesses that are searching for skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and ask which salons and businesses 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 Assistance Offered? The majority of esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Speak with a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school is a member of 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 except for cost, do not drop it as an alternative until you learn what financial aid may be offered.
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Enroll in the Right Jenison Esthetician Training
Selecting and enrolling in the ideal esthetician program is important to get the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel certain about your decision. Be sure to compile all of the information you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that information to compare 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 impressive reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and address the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the proper selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to launch your new career as a professional esthetician in Jenison Michigan.
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