How to Choose the Right Esthetician School Near Islip New York
Since you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Islip NY, the task begins to find and enroll in the ideal program. It's important that the school you choose not only furnishes the necessary training for the specialty you have chosen, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you may be somewhat puzzled about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both pertain 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 Islip residence. Tuition will also be an important factor when evaluating possible schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it's not necessarily the right choice. There are various other considerations that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask about the aesthetician schools you are thinking about later within this article. Before we do, let's discuss a little bit about what types of programs are available.
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Esthetics Degrees
There are basically two avenues offered to obtain 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 typically take 12 to 18 months to finish, while an Associate's degree commonly takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be instructed in each of the main areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are offered if you prefer to focus on just one area, such as esthetics. A degree program will also likely feature management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to manage a salon or other Islip NY business. More advanced degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master's degree programs are available in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whatever type of program you opt for, it's imperative to make certain that it's recognized by the New York Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only certify schools that are accredited by certain respected organizations, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the advantages of accreditation for the school you decide on in the upcoming segment.
Online Esthetics Courses
Online esthetician classes are accommodating for Islip NY students who are working full-time and have family responsibilities that make it challenging to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of web-based beauty school programs available that can be attended through a desktop computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More traditional beauty programs are often fast paced because many programs are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a considerable portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you're not devoting numerous hours away from your home or driving to and from classes. However, it's essential that the program you choose can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors in order that you also receive the hands-on training needed for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it's impossible to obtain the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology field. So be sure if you choose to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is provided in your area.
Questions to Ask Aesthetician Training 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 discussed, the location of the school relative to your Islip residence, in addition to the expense of tuition, will probably be your initial qualifiers. Whether you wish to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have compiled some of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final determination.
Is the Esthetician School Accredited? It's essential to make sure that the esthetician training program you choose 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 meet their high standards guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which often are not obtainable for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many Islip NY employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Every esthetician school that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating companies for reviews together with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Islip NY salon owners or managers, or any person working in the field, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. Finally, consult the New York school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Many esthetician schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, for instance hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you pick a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your objective 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 launch a Islip NY beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator as well. Selecting a highly rated school with a weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you need.
Is Enough Live Training Provided? Practicing 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 classes you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that allow students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a beauty academy furnishes limited or no scheduled live training, but rather depends heavily on the use of mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for acquiring your skills. So search for other schools that furnish this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from an esthetician academy, it's essential that she or he gets assistance in finding that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer assistance develop relationships with Islip NY employers that are searching for skilled graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and find out which salons and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Assistance Available? Many esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and find out 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 available to students too. If a school meets each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not omit it as an option until you learn what financial help may be provided.
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Enroll in the Right Islip Esthetician Program
Finding and enrolling in the ideal esthetician school is imperative to receive the necessary 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 responses you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that data to compare schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the academy and program you decide on are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and answer the additional questions supplied in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the proper selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are prepared to begin your career as a professional esthetician in Islip New York.