How to Choose the Best Esthetician Program 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 process begins to find and enroll in the ideal program. It's imperative that the school you select not only provides the appropriate education for the specialty you have chosen, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your preliminary search, you might be rather confused about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the names are pretty much interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. If you intend on commuting to classes you will need to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Durham home. Tuition will also be an important factor when evaluating prospective schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it's not necessarily the right choice. There are a number of other factors that you should weigh when comparing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding the aesthetician schools you are thinking about later in this article. Before we do, let's talk a little bit about what kinds of training programs are available.

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Esthetician Training Programs

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 Durham North Carolina nursing facilities, luxury resorts, dermatologist offices or hospitals.

Online Esthetics Classes

Online esthetician schools are accommodating for Durham NC students who are employed full time and have family commitments that make it difficult to attend a more traditional school. There are many online beauty school programs available that can be attended through a desktop computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More conventional beauty schools are frequently fast paced due to the fact that many programs are as short as six or eight months. This means that a considerable amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are dealing with the same volume of material, but you're not spending numerous hours away from your home or travelling back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it's imperative that the training 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 impossible to gain the skills needed to work in any facet of the cosmetology industry. So don't forget if you choose to enroll in an online school to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.

Questions to Ask Aesthetician Trade Schools

Below is a list of questions that you need to research for any esthetician training school you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school relative to your Durham home, together with the expense of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have put together several of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final decision.

Is the Esthetician School Accredited? It's necessary to make sure that the esthetician training program you enroll in 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 assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of Durham NC employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation?  Any esthetician school that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good 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 regarded. Check rating companies for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Durham NC salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. And finally, check with the North Carolina 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?  A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you select a school that specializes in 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 dream is to open a Durham NC beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator as well. Choosing a highly regarded school with a weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you require.

Is Any Live Training Provided?  Learning and mastering esthetician skills and techniques involves plenty of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the cosmetology lessons you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that allow students to practice their developing talents on volunteers. If a beauty program offers limited or no scheduled live training, but rather depends heavily on using mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for developing your skills. So look for alternate schools that offer this type of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance?  When a student graduates from an esthetician school, it's important that she or he gets support in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish assistance maintain relationships with Durham NC employers that are seeking qualified graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are contemplating 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 affirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Assistance Available?  The majority of esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are considering have a financial aid department. Talk to a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you may get approved 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 satisfies all of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not eliminate it as an option before you determine what financial aid may be provided.

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Enroll in the Right Durham Esthetician Training

Finding and enrolling in the ideal esthetician program is imperative to get the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel confident about your decision. Don't forget to compile all of the information you get from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that information to contrast schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the institution and program you select are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the field. If you begin with that foundation, and address the additional questions supplied in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are ready to launch your career as a professional esthetician in Durham North Carolina.

 

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