How to Enroll In the Right Aesthetician Classes Near Alexandria Virginia

Once you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Alexandria VA, the process begins to search for and enroll in the best program. It's important that the program you select not only furnishes the appropriate training for the specialty you have selected, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you may be rather puzzled about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind of school. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Alexandria home. Tuition will likewise be a critical consideration when evaluating potential schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it's not necessarily the best choice. There are various other qualifications that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, such as 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 discuss a little bit about what types of courses are offered.

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Esthetics Certificates and Degrees

There are primarily two options available to get esthetician training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can work toward an Associate's degree. Certificate programs generally require 12 to 18 months to complete, while an Associate's degree ordinarily takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be instructed in all of the main areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you prefer to focus on just one area, such as esthetics. A degree program will also likely incorporate management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to run a parlor or other Alexandria VA business. Higher degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master's degree programs are offered in such areas as salon or spa management. Whatever type of training program you choose, it's imperative to make sure that it's approved by the Virginia Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain respected organizations, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the advantages of accreditation for the school you choose in the upcoming section.

Online Esthetics Classes

Online esthetician programs are accommodating for Alexandria VA students who are employed full time and have family commitments that make it hard to enroll in a more traditional school. There are a large number of online cosmetology school programs offered that can be attended via a home computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More traditional beauty schools are typically fast paced given that many programs are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a large portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are covering the same volume of material, but you are not devoting many hours outside of your home or driving back and forth from classes. However, it's essential that the training program you select can provide internship training in local salons and parlors in order that you also get the hands-on training necessary for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it's difficult to obtain the skills needed to work in any facet of the cosmetology field. So make sure if you decide to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.

Questions to Ask Aesthetician Degree Programs

Below is a series of questions that you need to investigate for any esthetician training school you are contemplating. As we have already covered, the location of the school in relation to your Alexandria residence, together with the cost of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have collected several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each school before making a final selection.

Is the Esthetician School Accredited? It's necessary to make sure that the esthetician training program you enroll in is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which often are not available for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous Alexandria VA businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation?  Any esthetician college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly sought after. Check rating services for reviews along with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Alexandria VA salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not thought of. Finally, contact the Virginia school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty?  Many esthetician schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs often broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you decide on a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your ambition is to be trained as an esthetician, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your vision is to start a Alexandria VA beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator as well. Picking a highly rated school with a weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you need.

Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided?  Learning and refining esthetician skills and techniques involves plenty of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is included in the cosmetology lessons you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that allow students to practice their developing skills on volunteers. If a beauty academy offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead relies predominantly on the use of mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for cultivating your skills. Therefore try to find alternate schools that offer this type of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance?  Once a student graduates from an esthetician academy, it's crucial that he or she gets support in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer help maintain relationships with Alexandria VA businesses that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and inquire which salons and businesses they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Assistance Offered?  Almost all esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are considering have a financial aid department. Speak with 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 omit it as an option until you determine what financial aid may be provided.

Find Out How to Become an Aesthetician in Alexandria

Enroll in the Right Alexandria Esthetician Training

Choosing and enrolling in the ideal esthetician program is imperative to obtain the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel confident about your decision. Make certain to consolidate all of the responses you get from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to contrast schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the school and program you select are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the field. If you begin with that foundation, and answer the additional questions supplied in this post, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the proper selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are qualified to begin your new career as a professional esthetician in Alexandria Virginia.

 

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