How to Pick the Best Aesthetician College Near Southaven Mississippi
Since you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Southaven MS, the process starts to find and enroll in the ideal program. It's essential that the program you select not only provides the proper education for the specialty you have selected, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you may be somewhat puzzled about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Southaven home. Tuition will also be a critical aspect when reviewing potential schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it's not necessarily the right choice. There are many other qualifications that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask concerning the aesthetician schools you are thinking about later in 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 Degrees and Certificates
There are primarily two options offered to receive 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 complete, 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 major areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are available if you wish to concentrate on just one area, for instance esthetics. A degree program will also likely feature management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to manage a salon or other Southaven MS business. Higher degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master's degree programs are available in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whatever type of course you go with, it's important to make certain that it's approved by the Mississippi Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only approve schools that are accredited by certain reputable agencies, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the benefits of accreditation for the school you select in the next section.
Online Esthetician Courses
Online esthetician programs are advantageous for Southaven MS students who are employed full time and have family commitments that make it challenging to attend a more traditional school. There are numerous online cosmetology school programs available that can be accessed via a home computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More traditional beauty schools are typically fast paced due to the fact that many programs are as short as six or eight months. This means that a large amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, 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. On the other hand, it's essential that the training program you select can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors so that you also obtain the hands-on training needed for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it's impossible to acquire the skills necessary to work in any facet of the cosmetology industry. So don't forget if you decide to enroll in an online school to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.
What to Ask Esthetics Training Programs
Following is a series of questions that you should look into for any esthetician training program you are considering. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Southaven home, as well as the cost of tuition, will most likely be your primary qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have collected some of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final decision.
Is the Esthetician Program Accredited? It's important to make certain that the esthetician college you select 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to 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 several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous Southaven MS employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Each esthetician institute that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. 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 sought after. Visit rating companies for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Southaven MS salon owners or managers, or someone working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not thought of. And last, consult the Mississippi 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 Focus? A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing 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 commonly expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you select a school that specializes in your area of interest. Since your goal is to be trained as an esthetician, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your desire is to launch a Southaven MS beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator as well. Picking a highly rated school with a weak program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you require.
Is Any Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and mastering esthetician skills and techniques involves 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 campus that enable students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a beauty program offers limited or no scheduled live training, but instead relies heavily on the use of mannequins, it may not be the most effective option for cultivating your skills. So search for other schools that furnish this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? As soon as a student graduates from an esthetician program, it's essential that he or she gets aid in securing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide assistance maintain relationships with Southaven MS employers that are looking for qualified graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and ask which salons and businesses they refer students to. Additionally, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Aid Available? The majority of esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid department. Consult 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 offered to students as well. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not eliminate it as an option before you learn what financial aid may be available.
Learn How to Become an Esthetician in Southaven
Enroll in the Best Southaven Esthetician Program
Selecting and enrolling in the right esthetician program is essential to get the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel certain about your decision. Make certain to organize all of the responses you get from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that information to contrast schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the school and program you pick are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you start with that base, and answer the additional questions supplied in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are ready to launch your career as a professional esthetician in Southaven Mississippi.
Southaven Esthetician Courses Online | Southaven Esthetician Classes