How to Choose the Best Aesthetician College Near Fort Bragg North Carolina

Now that you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Fort Bragg NC, the task starts to locate and enroll in the ideal program. It's important that the program you pick not only provides the appropriate training for the specialty you have chosen, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your preliminary search, you might be somewhat confused about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the titles are basically interchangeable and both refer to the same type of school. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Fort Bragg home. Tuition will also be a critical aspect when evaluating potential schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it's not necessarily the best option. There are several other considerations that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding the aesthetician schools you are looking at later in this article. Before we do, let's discuss a bit about what types of training programs are offered.

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Esthetics Certificates and Degrees

There are basically two options available to get esthetician training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can pursue an Associate's degree. Certificate programs generally 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 main areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are offered if you wish to focus on just one area, such as esthetics. A degree program will also probably include management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to manage a salon or other Fort Bragg NC business. Higher degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master's degree programs are available in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whatever type of training program you opt for, it's essential to make sure that it's approved by the North Carolina Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain reputable agencies, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the advantages of accreditation for the school you choose in the upcoming section.

Online Esthetics Classes

Online esthetician classes are convenient for Fort Bragg NC students who are employed full time and have family obligations that make it challenging to attend a more traditional school. There are many web-based beauty school programs available that can be accessed via a personal computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More traditional beauty programs are typically fast paced given that many programs are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a substantial portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you are not devoting numerous hours away from your home or travelling to and from classes. However, it's important that the training program you choose can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors so that you also get the hands-on training required for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it's difficult to acquire the skills needed to work in any area of the cosmetology industry. So make sure if you decide to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is available in your area.

Questions to Ask Aesthetician Training Courses

Below is a series of questions that you will want to investigate for any esthetician training program you are contemplating. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Fort Bragg home, as well as the expense of tuition, will most likely be your primary qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you should research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have collected several 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 sure that the esthetician school you enroll in is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for securing student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not obtainable for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many Fort Bragg NC businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation?  Every esthetician institute that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have referred 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 connections with Fort Bragg NC salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the field, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to propose others that you had not considered. And last, check with the North Carolina school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus?  Many esthetician schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs commonly broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you decide on 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 respected for that program. If your desire is to launch a Fort Bragg NC beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator as well. Choosing a highly rated school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you need.

Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided?  Practicing and refining esthetician skills and techniques requires lots of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is included in the cosmetology classes you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that enable students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a beauty program offers limited or no scheduled live training, but rather relies mainly on using mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for cultivating your skills. So look for other schools that provide this kind of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance?  As soon as a student graduates from an esthetician academy, it's crucial that she or he receives aid in landing that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer assistance maintain relationships with Fort Bragg NC businesses that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and ask which salons and organizations they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered?  Many esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid department. Consult with a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you may get approved for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students also. If a school meets all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not eliminate it as an option before you determine what financial aid may be available.

Learn How to Become an Esthetician in Fort Bragg

Enroll in the Right Fort Bragg Esthetician Course

Finding and enrolling in the right esthetician school is imperative to receive the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel confident about your decision. Be sure to organize all of the responses you get from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to compare schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the institution and program you select are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the profession. If you begin with that foundation, and answer the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to begin your new career as a professional esthetician in Fort Bragg North Carolina.

 

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