How to Select the Best Esthetician Program Near Myrtle Beach South Carolina
Now that you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Myrtle Beach SC, the task begins to search for and enroll in the best program. It's important that the program you select not only furnishes the proper training for the specialty you have decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your initial search, you might be somewhat confused about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the titles are essentially interchangeable and both refer to the same kind of school. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Myrtle Beach residence. Tuition will also be an important aspect when assessing prospective schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it's not necessarily the best choice. There are various other factors that you should weigh when comparing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask about the aesthetician schools you are thinking about later in this article. Before we do, let's talk a bit about what types of courses are offered.
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Esthetician Training Programs
Esthetics school is an investment of time, energy, and money. Requirements vary from state to state, but the majority of states require that you complete at least 600 hours of training. Full-time school can take an average of six months to complete, and part-time school can take anywhere from 9-12 months. The primary purpose of esthetics school is to get you ready to pass the state licensing exam. They also teach basic skills that you will need to perfect through experience and sometimes additional classes, such as giving facials, body treatments, and performing waxing. More advanced training includes learning to work with machines, such as IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) and Lasers used to rejuvenate the skin and permanently remove hair.
Esthetician Job Description
Estheticians provide a wide range of beauty services to help their Myrtle Beach South Carolina clients look and feel better. This includes improving the quality of the skin (including the treatment of skin disorders), hair removal, permanent makeup application, and facial massage. Some types of estheticians, like medical estheticians, provide highly specialized procedures that require detailed training in order for it to be done safely and effectively. Medical estheticians can help individuals suffering from serious skin disorders, burns, and other trauma, and to help with pre and post-operative surgery affecting the health of their skin. Estheticians work closely with their clients in a friendly and positive manner, so an enthusiastic attitude and desire to help people is an excellent attribute for an aspiring esthetician to possess. Some of the basic duties an esthetician may perform will include such tasks as:
- Assessing a patient’s needs
- Chemical peels
- Laser treatments
- Waxing
- Facials
- Massage of the head and neck
- Microdermabrasion
Online Esthetics Schools
Online esthetician classes are convenient for Myrtle Beach SC students who are working full time and have family obligations that make it difficult to attend a more traditional school. There are many online cosmetology school programs available that can be accessed through a desktop computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More traditional cosmetology programs are often fast paced because many courses are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a considerable portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you are not spending many hours away from your home or commuting back and forth from classes. However, it's essential that the school you pick can provide internship training in local salons and parlors so that you also receive the hands-on training necessary for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it's impossible to acquire the skills required to work in any facet of the cosmetology profession. So don't forget if you decide to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.
What to Ask Esthetician Training Classes
Following is a series of questions that you should investigate for any esthetician training program you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Myrtle Beach residence, as well as the price of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like 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 must research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have compiled some of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final decision.
Is the Esthetician Program Accredited? It's essential to make sure that the esthetician college you select 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 assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which typically are not available for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous Myrtle Beach SC employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Any esthetician college that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly sought after. Check rating companies for reviews along with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Myrtle Beach SC salon owners or managers, or any person 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 looked into. And finally, check with the South Carolina school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Some esthetician schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you choose a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your ambition is to be trained as an esthetician, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and well regarded for that program. If your aspiration is to open a Myrtle Beach SC 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 pursuing will not provide the training you need.
Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and refining esthetician skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the beauty classes you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that enable students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a beauty program offers limited or no scheduled live training, but rather relies mainly on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the most effective alternative for developing your skills. So try to find other schools that offer this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from an esthetician program, it's crucial that she or he receives aid in finding that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide assistance maintain relationships with Myrtle Beach SC businesses that are seeking qualified graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and inquire which salons and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only affirm that they have wide 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. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and learn 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 offered to students also. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not eliminate it as an alternative until you learn what financial aid may be offered.
Find Out How to Become an Aesthetician in Myrtle Beach
Enroll in the Best Myrtle Beach Esthetician Program
Selecting and enrolling in the right esthetician college is important to receive the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel confident about your decision. Make certain to organize all of the information 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 reasonable beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the school and program you choose are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you start 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 ideal selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are qualified to launch your career as a professional esthetician in Myrtle Beach South Carolina.
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