How to Enroll In the Best Aesthetician College Near Durham North Carolina

Now that you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Durham NC, the task starts to find and enroll in the ideal program. It's imperative that the school you select not only furnishes the necessary instruction for the specialty you have decided on, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your preliminary search, you may be a little bit puzzled about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both relate to the same type of school. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Durham residence. Tuition will additionally be a critical consideration when evaluating prospective schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it's not necessarily the ideal choice. There are several other considerations that you should evaluate when comparing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask concerning the aesthetician schools you are thinking about later within this article. Before we do, let's talk a bit about what kinds of programs are available.

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Esthetics Certificates and Degrees

There are primarily two pathways available 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 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 all of the main areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you prefer to focus on just one area, for instance esthetics. A degree program will also probably include management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to manage a salon or other Durham NC business. More advanced degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master's degree programs are available in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whatever type of training program you choose, it's important to make certain that it's recognized by the North Carolina Board of Cosmetology. Many states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain reputable organizations, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the advantages of accreditation for the school you select in the upcoming section.

Online Esthetician Courses

Online esthetician programs are accommodating for Durham NC students who are working full time and have family responsibilities that make it difficult to attend a more traditional school. There are many online cosmetology school programs offered that can be accessed through a personal computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More traditional beauty programs are often 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 internet programs, you are covering the same amount of material, but you're not devoting many hours outside of your home or commuting to and from classes. On the other hand, it's vital that the program you choose can provide internship training in area salons and parlors to ensure that you also receive the hands-on training necessary for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it's impossible to gain the skills required to work in any area of the cosmetology field. So make sure if you choose to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is available in your area.

Questions to Ask Esthetician Training Courses

Below is a series of questions that you should investigate for any esthetician training program you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school relative to your Durham home, in addition to the price of tuition, will most likely be your primary qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue 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 school. Following we have put together some of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final determination.

Is the Esthetician School Accredited? It's essential to make certain that the esthetician college you enroll in is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which typically are not offered for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous Durham NC employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation?  Every esthetician college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly sought after. Check rating services for reviews along with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Durham NC salon owners or managers, or someone working in the business, 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 finally, contact the North Carolina school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints submitted 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, offering training in a particular 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 focuses on your area of interest. Since your intention 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 aspiration is to open a Durham NC beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator as well. Choosing a highly ranked school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you require.

Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided?  Practicing and perfecting esthetician techniques and abilities involves lots of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is provided in the beauty courses you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that enable students to practice their growing talents on volunteers. If a beauty program provides little or no scheduled live training, but rather relies heavily on the use of mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for developing your skills. Therefore try to find other schools that offer this kind of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program?  Once a student graduates from an esthetician program, it's essential that he or she gets help in securing that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide help maintain relationships with Durham NC employers that are seeking skilled graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and find out which salons and organizations they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered?  Almost all 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. Talk to a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students as well. If a school meets all of your other qualifications except for expense, do not omit it as an alternative until you learn what financial aid may be available.

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Enroll in the Best Durham Esthetician Program

Locating and enrolling in the ideal esthetician program is essential to obtain the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel certain about your decision. Don't forget to collect all of the information you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that information to compare schools. A good 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 begin with that foundation, and address the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to start your new career as a professional esthetician in Durham North Carolina.

 

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