How to Select the Right Esthetician School Near Laurel Mississippi

Now that you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Laurel MS, the task begins to locate and enroll in the ideal program. It's imperative that the school you select not only provides the proper instruction for the specialty you have chosen, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your preliminary 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 pretty much interchangeable and both relate to the same type of school. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Laurel home. Tuition will also be an important factor when reviewing possible schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it's not always the best choice. There are several other factors that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask about the aesthetician schools you are looking at later within this article. Before we do, let's discuss a little bit about what types of courses are available.

It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Start Your Esthetician Career Below!

Esthetics Certificates and Degrees

There are essentially two pathways offered to get esthetician training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can pursue an Associate's degree. Certificate programs normally call for 12 to 18 months to finish, 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 main areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are offered if you prefer to focus on just one area, such as esthetics. A degree program will also likely incorporate management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to operate a parlor or other Laurel MS business. More advanced degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master's degree programs are available in such areas as salon or spa management. Whatever type of training program you choose, it's imperative to make sure that it's recognized by the Mississippi Board of Cosmetology. Many states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain reputable agencies, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the benefits of accreditation for the school you decide on in the upcoming section.

Online Esthetics Schools

Online esthetician programs are accommodating for Laurel MS students who are employed full-time and have family responsibilities that make it difficult to enroll in a more traditional school. There are many web-based beauty school programs offered that can be accessed via a home computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More conventional beauty schools are typically fast paced since 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 programs, you are covering the same amount of material, but you are not devoting numerous hours away from your home or commuting to and from classes. However, it's essential that the school you choose can provide internship training in local salons and parlors so that you also get the hands-on training necessary for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it's difficult to gain the skills necessary to work in any facet of the cosmetology profession. So be sure if you decide to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is provided in your area.

What to Ask Aesthetician Training Courses

Following is a list of questions that you need to look into for any esthetician training program you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school relative to your Laurel home, in addition to the cost of tuition, will most likely be your first qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have collected several of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final selection.

Is the Esthetician Program Accredited? It's important to make certain that the esthetician training program you choose 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not available for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of Laurel MS employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Great Reputation?  Any esthetician college that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating companies for reviews together with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Laurel MS salon owners or managers, or any person working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not thought of. And last, contact the Mississippi school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in full compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus?  Some esthetician schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating 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 frequently expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you pick a school that specializes in your area of interest. Since your objective is to be trained as an esthetician, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and well regarded for that program. If your desire is to launch a Laurel 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 regarded school with a weak program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you require.

Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided?  Studying and mastering esthetician techniques and abilities demands plenty of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is provided in the cosmetology lessons you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that make it possible for students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a beauty school furnishes minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead depends heavily on using mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for acquiring your skills. So try to find other schools that furnish this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program?  As soon as a student graduates from an esthetician school, it's essential that he or she receives assistance in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide assistance maintain relationships with Laurel MS employers that are seeking skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and ask which salons and establishments they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Assistance Available?  Most esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are considering have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and identify 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 meets each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not eliminate it as an option before you find out what financial aid may be provided.

More Info on How to Become an Aesthetician in Laurel

Enroll in the Best Laurel Esthetician Program

Selecting and enrolling in the ideal esthetician college is imperative to get the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel confident about your decision. Be sure to compile all of the information you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to contrast schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the academy and program you pick are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. If you start with that foundation, 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 test, you will be confident that you are ready to launch your new career as a professional esthetician in Laurel Mississippi.

 

Laurel Esthetician Programs Near Me | Laurel Esthetician Courses