How to Choose the Best Esthetician Classes Near North Charleston South Carolina
Since you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near North Charleston SC, the task begins to locate and enroll in the right program. It's imperative that the school you choose not only furnishes the proper instruction for the specialty you have decided on, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your initial search, you may be a little bit unclear about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both relate to the same type of school. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your North Charleston residence. Tuition will also be a critical factor when reviewing prospective schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it's not automatically the best choice. There are many other qualifications that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask concerning the aesthetician schools you are looking at later within this article. Before we do, let's talk a bit about what kinds of programs are offered.
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Esthetics Degrees and Certificates
There are basically two avenues available to get esthetician training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can work toward an Associate's degree. Certificate programs generally require 12 to 18 months to finish, while an Associate's degree usually takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be trained in all of the main areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are available if you wish to specialize in just one area, such as esthetics. A degree program will also probably include management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to manage a salon or other North Charleston SC business. Higher degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master's degree programs are offered in such areas as salon or spa management. Whichever type of training program you opt for, it's essential to make certain that it's approved by the South Carolina Board of Cosmetology. Many states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain reputable organizations, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the benefits of accreditation for the school you select in the upcoming section.
Online Esthetics Classes
Online esthetician schools are convenient for North Charleston SC students who are employed full time and have family commitments that make it difficult to attend a more traditional school. There are many online cosmetology school programs available that can be accessed by means of a home computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More traditional cosmetology programs are typically fast paced given that many courses are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a considerable amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are covering the same amount of material, but you are not devoting numerous hours outside of your home or commuting to and from classes. On the other hand, it's imperative that the school you pick can provide internship training in area salons and parlors so that you also obtain the hands-on training necessary for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it's difficult to gain the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology industry. 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 Aesthetician Programs
Below is a series of questions that you should research for any esthetician training school you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school relative to your North Charleston residence, as well as the cost of tuition, will probably be your primary qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have collected some of those supplemental 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 school you choose is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which typically are not offered for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of North Charleston 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 Good Reputation? Each esthetician school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good 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 services for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with North Charleston SC salon owners or managers, or any person working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. Finally, check with the South Carolina school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Some esthetician schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for instance hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential 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 desire is to start a North Charleston SC beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator as well. Picking a highly ranked school with a weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you require.
Is Any Live Training Provided? Practicing and perfecting esthetician techniques and abilities requires plenty of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is provided in the cosmetology lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that allow students to practice their developing talents on volunteers. If a beauty school offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead relies predominantly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the best option for cultivating your skills. Therefore try to find other schools that furnish this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from an esthetician program, it's essential that she or he gets aid in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer assistance maintain relationships with North Charleston SC employers that are seeking qualified graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which salons and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Assistance Offered? Almost all esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid office. Speak with a counselor and find out 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 accessible to students also. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not discard it as an alternative before you learn what financial help may be provided.
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Enroll in the Right North Charleston Esthetician Training
Picking and enrolling in the ideal esthetician program is important to get the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel confident about your decision. Be sure to collect all of the information you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to compare schools. A good start in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the college and program you select are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and address the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the ideal choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to launch your new career as a professional esthetician in North Charleston South Carolina.
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