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Questions to Ask Aesthetician Training Courses
Below is a list of questions that you should research for any esthetician training program you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Portland home, in addition to the price of tuition, will most likely be your initial qualifiers. Whether you wish to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have compiled some of those supplemental questions that you should ask every school before making a final determination.
Is the Esthetician School Accredited? It's necessary to make sure that the esthetician school you select 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for getting student loans or financial aid, which often are not offered for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous Portland OR employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Each esthetician school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating companies for reviews together with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Portland OR salon owners or managers, or any person working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to propose others that you had not looked into. And last, contact the Oregon school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Some esthetician schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you enroll in a school that focuses on 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 respected for that program. If your aspiration is to open a Portland OR beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator as well. Selecting a highly regarded school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you need.
Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and perfecting esthetician techniques and abilities demands plenty of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is included in the beauty classes you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that allow students to practice their developing talents on volunteers. If a beauty school offers little or no scheduled live training, but rather relies predominantly on the use of mannequins, it may not be the best option for cultivating your skills. So search for other schools that furnish this kind of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from an esthetician school, it's crucial that he or she gets support in finding that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide help maintain relationships with Portland OR businesses that are seeking qualified graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and ask which salons and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm 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 office. Consult with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students also. If a school meets each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not discard it as an option until you learn what financial assistance may be offered.