How to Pick the Right Esthetician College Near Biloxi Mississippi

Now that you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Biloxi MS, the process starts to locate and enroll in the right program. It's important that the program you select not only furnishes the appropriate education for the specialty you have chosen, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your initial search, you may be somewhat puzzled about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the titles are basically interchangeable and both refer to the same type of school. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Biloxi home. Tuition will also be an important consideration when assessing possible schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it's not always the right choice. There are several other factors that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask concerning the aesthetician schools you are looking at later in this article. Before we do, let's discuss a bit about what types of courses are offered.

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Esthetician Certificates and Degrees

There are primarily two pathways offered to obtain esthetician training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can work toward an Associate's degree. Certificate programs normally require 12 to 18 months to finish, while an Associate's degree ordinarily takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be instructed in all of the main areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are offered if you prefer to focus on just one area, for example esthetics. A degree program will also most likely incorporate management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to manage a parlor or other Biloxi MS business. Higher degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master's degree programs are offered in such areas as salon or spa management. Whichever type of program you decide on, it's essential to make sure that it's certified by the Mississippi Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only approve schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded agencies, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the advantages of accreditation for the school you choose in the next segment.

Online Esthetics Courses

Online esthetician programs are advantageous for Biloxi MS students who are working full time and have family commitments that make it challenging to attend a more traditional school. There are many web-based beauty school programs available that can be attended by means of a personal computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More traditional cosmetology programs are typically fast paced because many courses are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a substantial portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are dealing with the same volume of material, but you are not devoting many hours away from your home or driving to and from classes. On the other hand, it's vital that the school you pick can provide internship training in area salons and parlors in order that you also obtain the hands-on training required for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it's impossible to acquire the skills needed to work in any area of the cosmetology field. So don't forget if you choose to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.

What to Ask Esthetics Training Programs

Following is a series of questions that you need to look into for any esthetician training school you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Biloxi home, as well as the price of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first qualifiers. Whether you want to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Following we have collected several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final decision.

Is the Esthetician School Accredited? It's important to make certain that the esthetician school you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for getting student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not available 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 Biloxi MS businesses will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Great Reputation?  Every esthetician school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good beginning. 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, showing that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating companies for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Biloxi MS salon owners or managers, or someone working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not looked into. And last, check with the Mississippi 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 Specialty?  A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs commonly broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you enroll in a school that focuses on 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 respected for that program. If your dream is to open a Biloxi MS 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 ranked school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you need.

Is Plenty of Live Training Provided?  Learning and perfecting esthetician skills and techniques requires lots of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is included in the beauty lessons you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that allow students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a beauty school offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead relies heavily on using mannequins, it may not be the most effective alternative for developing your skills. So look for other schools that offer this type of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance?  When a student graduates from an esthetician program, it's essential that he or she gets assistance in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer aid develop relationships with Biloxi MS employers that are seeking skilled graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and inquire which salons and establishments they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Assistance Available?  The majority of esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you may qualify for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students also. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not eliminate it as an alternative until you find out what financial aid may be available.

Learn How to Become an Aesthetician in Biloxi

Enroll in the Right Biloxi Esthetician Program

Choosing and enrolling in the right esthetician college is essential to obtain the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel positive about your decision. Make sure to organize all of the responses you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that information to compare schools. A good start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the institution and program you pick are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and address the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are qualified to launch your new career as a professional esthetician in Biloxi Mississippi.

 

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