How to Pick the Best Esthetician Program Near Lubbock Texas
Now that you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Lubbock TX, the task begins to search for and enroll in the right program. It's essential that the school you select not only provides the appropriate education 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 puzzled about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both refer to the same kind of school. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Lubbock home. Tuition will additionally be an important factor when evaluating potential schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it's not automatically the ideal option. There are several other considerations that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding the aesthetician schools you are considering later within this article. Before we do, let's discuss a bit about what types of programs are available.
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Esthetician Training Programs
An esthetics program may be found in a school of cosmetology, a dedicated esthetics school or, in some cases, a junior college. An esthetics program’s length is generally determined by the state in which it is located, as each state board of cosmetology sets minimum requirements for the number of hours of training an esthetics program must provide to meet the state’s licensing requirements. However, it is also quite common for esthetics programs to offer more extensive study beyond what is required for licensing purposes. In general, an esthetics program consists of about 600 hours, a common requirement in many states. However, a number of states require less than 600 hours and perhaps just as many require more than 600. Most state boards of cosmetology maintain lists of approved programs of esthetics within the state, while others recognize all programs that meet the state’s minimum clock-hour requirement. A comprehensive esthetics program includes instruction not only in esthetic treatment procedures and services, but in areas such as the structure of the skin and its function, disorders of the skin, and professional business skills.
Esthetician Job Description
As skilled skincare experts, estheticians need to be knowledgeable of everything from skin histology and physiology to bacteriology and sanitation protocols. As beauty professionals, estheticians must be trained to perform the services that promote healthy, radiant skin – including everything from hair removal methods, pore cleansing and extractions to microdermabrasion, makeup artistry, chemical peels, and light therapy. As beauty and wellness experts, people also turn to estheticians for consultations, advice, and tips for home skincare regimens. They may recommend products, educate clients, and recommend esthetic procedures based on their clients’ needs and wants. Their work environments can include Lubbock Texas spas, resorts, salons, hospitals, nursing facilities and dermatologist offices.
Online Esthetics Schools
Online esthetician classes are accommodating for Lubbock TX students who are working full time and have family obligations that make it challenging to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of web-based cosmetology school programs available that can be accessed via a personal computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More conventional cosmetology programs are frequently fast paced since many courses are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a large amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are covering the same volume of material, but you're not spending many hours away from your home or driving to and from classes. On the other hand, it's important that the program you choose can provide internship training in area salons and parlors in order that you also obtain the hands-on training required for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it's impossible to obtain the skills required to work in any area of the cosmetology industry. So be sure if you decide to enroll in an online school to confirm that internship training is available in your area.
Questions to Ask Esthetician Programs
Below is a list of questions that you should investigate for any esthetician training school you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school in relation to your Lubbock home, as well as the cost of tuition, will most likely be your initial qualifiers. Whether you want to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Following we have collected several of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final determination.
Is the Esthetician School Accredited? It's necessary to make sure that the esthetician college you select is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which often are not offered for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of Lubbock TX businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Any esthetician college that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly demanded. Check rating companies for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Lubbock TX salon owners or managers, or someone working in the industry, 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. And last, check with the Texas school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Many esthetician schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing 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 expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you select 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 respected for that program. If your desire is to launch a Lubbock TX 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 pursuing will not deliver the training you need.
Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and perfecting esthetician techniques and abilities demands lots of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the cosmetology classes you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that enable students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a beauty program furnishes minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather relies predominantly on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for cultivating your skills. So try to find other schools that furnish this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from an esthetician school, it's important that she or he gets help in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer aid develop relationships with Lubbock TX businesses that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and inquire which salons and establishments they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Assistance Offered? Most esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are considering have a financial aid office. Consult with a counselor and find out 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 satisfies each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not drop it as an alternative until you learn what financial assistance may be offered.
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Enroll in the Right Lubbock Esthetician Training
Finding and enrolling in the right esthetician college is important to get the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel positive about your decision. Make certain to collect all of the responses you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that data to contrast schools. A good start in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the institution and program you decide on are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. If you begin with that base, and answer the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are prepared to start your career as a professional esthetician in Lubbock Texas.
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