How to Select the Right Aesthetician Program Near Southfield Michigan
Now that you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Southfield MI, the task starts to find and enroll in the right program. It's imperative that the school you pick not only furnishes the appropriate instruction for the specialty you have chosen, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you may be rather unclear about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the titles are essentially interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind of school. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Southfield residence. Tuition will additionally be an important aspect when reviewing prospective schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it's not automatically the right option. There are several other factors that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask about the aesthetician schools you are considering later within this article. Before we do, let's talk a bit about what kinds of courses are available.
It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Start Your Esthetician Career Below!
Esthetician 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 Southfield Michigan spas, resorts, salons, hospitals, nursing facilities and dermatologist offices.
Online Esthetician Training
Online esthetician programs are convenient for Southfield MI students who are working full-time and have family commitments that make it hard to attend a more traditional school. There are many online beauty school programs available that can be accessed via a home computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More traditional cosmetology schools are often fast paced given that many programs are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a substantial amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are covering the same amount of material, but you are not devoting numerous hours away from your home or commuting back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it's imperative that the school you pick can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors so that you also get the hands-on training required for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it's difficult to acquire the skills required to work in any facet of the cosmetology industry. So don't forget if you decide to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is available in your area.
Questions to Ask Aesthetician Degree Programs
Following is a series of questions that you will want to investigate for any esthetician training program you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school in relation to your Southfield home, as well as the expense of tuition, will undoubtedly be your initial qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have compiled some of those additional questions that you need to ask every school before making a final determination.
Is the Esthetician School Accredited? It's important to make sure that the esthetician college you enroll in is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged 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 may also be essential for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which typically are not available for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of Southfield MI businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Each esthetician school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating services for reviews along with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Southfield MI salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the business, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to suggest others that you had not looked into. And finally, check with the Michigan school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Some esthetician schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you decide on a school that specializes in your area of interest. Since your ambition is to be trained as an esthetician, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and well regarded for that program. If your desire is to open a Southfield MI 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 ranked school with a weak program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you require.
Is Any Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and mastering esthetician techniques and abilities requires plenty of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is provided in the beauty lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that enable students to practice their developing skills on volunteers. If a beauty school provides limited or no scheduled live training, but instead depends heavily on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for developing your skills. So look for other schools that furnish this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from an esthetician school, it's imperative that she or he receives assistance in landing that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish assistance maintain relationships with Southfield MI employers that are searching for skilled graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and inquire which salons and businesses they refer students to. Also, 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 Available? Most esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid department. Consult with a counselor and learn 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 each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not eliminate it as an option before you find out what financial assistance may be available.
More Info on How to Become an Aesthetician in Southfield
Enroll in the Right Southfield Esthetician Program
Finding and enrolling in the right esthetician school is essential to obtain the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel certain about your decision. Be sure to organize all of the information you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that information to compare schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the academy and program you pick are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. If you begin with that base, 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 examination, you will be confident that you are qualified to begin your career as a professional esthetician in Southfield Michigan.
Southfield Esthetician Courses Online | Southfield Esthetician Classes