How to Select the Best Esthetician Program Near Concord Missouri
Now that you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Concord MO, the process starts to search for and enroll in the right program. It's imperative that the program you pick not only furnishes the appropriate training for the specialty you have selected, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your preliminary search, you might be somewhat puzzled about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the names are pretty much interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Concord home. Tuition will likewise be an important consideration when reviewing possible schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it's not always the right option. There are various other considerations that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for example 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 little bit about what types of programs are offered.
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Esthetician Training Requirements
Estheticians are highly trained, in-demand skincare experts, which is why an esthetics program requires around 600 hours of hands-on training hours. For licensure, you need to demonstrate a thorough understanding of the skin and the technology used in advanced treatments like lasers, LED lights, oxygen, or ultrasonic waves. Keep in mind that program requirements can vary by state, but most states require at least 600 hours of training to obtain a license in the field. In addition to training, estheticians should also have a professional and friendly personality that instills confidence in their clients. A skilled esthetician must be able to listen and empathize with their clients’ needs and concerns, often personalizing treatment for them.
Esthetician Job Description
An esthetician is a professional skin specialist who identifies cosmetic issues (such as wrinkles, pigmentation, or blemishes) and applies treatments to improve their condition. Most estheticians perform skin treatments like facials, superficial chemical peels, body treatments, skin conditioning, and blemish extraction, but they may also do waxing, lash extensions, and makeovers. Estheticians, unlike licensed cosmetologists, are also able to provide advanced treatments like microdermabrasion, chemical peels, light therapy, and hair removal. They may also educate clients on products, skincare regimens, and the benefits of esthetic procedures. Medical estheticians in clinical settings may help people identify and recover from health issues affecting the skin, such as working with cancer patients or burn victims after surgical procedures. Typically an esthetician works with a client in a spa or salon setting. Some estheticians work in a medical setting to complement medical services, such as in a dermatologist’s office, but they are not medical professionals. Estheticians may also work in locations as varied as Concord Missouri nursing facilities, luxury resorts, dermatologist offices or hospitals.
Online Esthetics Schools
Online esthetician programs are convenient for Concord MO students who are working full time and have family commitments that make it hard to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of online cosmetology school programs offered that can be attended by means of a home computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More traditional beauty programs are often fast paced since many courses are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a significant amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are dealing with the same volume of material, but you're not spending many hours outside of your home or commuting to and from classes. However, it's imperative that the program you choose can provide internship training in local salons and parlors to ensure that you also get the hands-on training needed for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it's difficult to obtain the skills needed to work in any facet of the cosmetology field. So make sure if you decide to enroll in an online school to confirm that internship training is available in your area.
What to Ask Esthetics Degree Programs
Below is a list of questions that you need to research for any esthetician training school you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school in relation to your Concord home, in addition to the expense of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first 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 must research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below 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 necessary to make sure that the esthetician school you select 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for getting student loans or financial aid, which often are not offered for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many Concord MO businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Any esthetician institute that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly regarded. Check rating companies for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Concord MO salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the industry, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. And finally, consult the Missouri school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Some esthetician schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative 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 well regarded for that program. If your vision is to start a Concord MO beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator as well. Selecting a highly ranked school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you require.
Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Learning and perfecting esthetician techniques and abilities requires plenty of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is included in the beauty lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that make it possible for students to practice their developing skills on volunteers. If a beauty academy offers limited or no scheduled live training, but rather relies predominantly on using mannequins, it may not be the most effective option for developing your skills. So search for alternate schools that provide this kind of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from an esthetician program, it's crucial that she or he receives assistance in landing that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer assistance develop relationships with Concord MO businesses that are looking for qualified graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and ask which salons and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only affirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Assistance Offered? Many esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and find out 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 all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not omit it as an option before you learn what financial help may be provided.
Learn How to Become an Esthetician in Concord
Enroll in the Best Concord Esthetician Training
Locating and enrolling in the ideal esthetician school is imperative to obtain the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel confident about your decision. Make 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 employ that data to compare schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the college and program you select are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. If you start with that base, and address the additional questions provided 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 test, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to start your new career as a professional esthetician in Concord Missouri.
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