How to Choose the Right Aesthetician College Near Columbus Ohio

Since you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Columbus OH, the process begins to search for and enroll in the right program. It's essential that the school you pick not only provides the proper training for the specialty you have chosen, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your preliminary search, you may be rather confused about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both refer to the same kind of school. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Columbus home. Tuition will likewise be a critical consideration when assessing potential schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it's not always the ideal option. There are a number of other factors that you should weigh when comparing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask concerning the aesthetician schools you are thinking about later within this article. Before we do, let's talk a little bit about what kinds of courses are offered.

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Esthetics Certificates and Degrees

There are essentially two options offered to obtain esthetician training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can work toward an Associate's degree. Certificate programs usually require 12 to 18 months to complete, 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 specialize in just one area, for instance esthetics. A degree program will also most likely include management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to operate a salon or other Columbus OH business. Higher degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master's degree programs are offered in such areas as salon or spa management. Whatever type of course you decide on, it's important to make sure that it's recognized by the Ohio Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain reputable agencies, for example 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 Esthetician Schools

Online esthetician schools are advantageous for Columbus OH students who are employed full-time and have family commitments that make it hard to enroll in a more traditional school. There are many web-based beauty school programs offered that can be attended through a home computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More traditional beauty programs are typically fast paced given that many programs are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a considerable portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are covering the same volume of material, but you're not spending many hours outside of your home or travelling back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it's essential that the school you select can provide internship training in local salons and parlors to ensure that you also get the hands-on training necessary for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it's difficult to gain the skills required to work in any area of the cosmetology field. So be sure if you decide to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is available in your area.

Questions to Ask Esthetics Training Classes

Following is a series of questions that you should look into for any esthetician training program you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Columbus home, in addition to the price of tuition, will most likely be your primary qualifiers. Whether you wish to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Following we have put together some of those supplemental questions that you should ask each school before making a final decision.

Is the Esthetician Program Accredited? It's necessary to make certain that the esthetician training program you pick 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for getting student loans or financial aid, which often are not obtainable for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many Columbus OH employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation?  Every esthetician college that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating companies for reviews together with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Columbus OH salon owners or managers, or any person working in the business, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not thought of. Finally, check with the Ohio school licensing authority to see 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 comprehensive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering 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 choose a school that specializes in your area of interest. Since your objective 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 Columbus OH 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 poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you need.

Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided?  Practicing and mastering esthetician skills and techniques involves lots of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is provided in the cosmetology classes you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that allow students to practice their developing skills on volunteers. If a beauty program furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but rather depends mainly on using mannequins, it might not be the best option for acquiring your skills. Therefore search for other schools that furnish this kind of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance?  As soon as a student graduates from an esthetician academy, it's important that she or he receives support in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish assistance maintain relationships with Columbus OH employers that are seeking skilled graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and find out which salons and organizations they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only affirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Aid Available?  The majority of esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you may 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 fulfills each of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not eliminate it as an option before you determine what financial help may be provided.

Find Out How to Become an Esthetician in Columbus

Enroll in the Right Columbus Esthetician Training

Choosing and enrolling in the ideal esthetician school is important to receive the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel confident about your decision. Don't forget to consolidate all of the responses you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to contrast schools. A good start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the college and program you decide on are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you start with that foundation, and address the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are prepared to launch your career as a professional esthetician in Columbus Ohio.

 

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