How to Enroll In the Right Aesthetician School Near Merrifield Virginia

Since you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Merrifield VA, the task starts to locate and enroll in the ideal program. It's important that the school you choose not only provides the proper instruction for the specialty you have selected, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your initial search, you might be a little bit unclear about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the names are pretty much interchangeable and both refer to the same type of school. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Merrifield home. Tuition will additionally be a critical factor when assessing potential schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it's not necessarily the ideal choice. There are a number of other qualifications that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask regarding the aesthetician schools you are thinking about later within this article. Before we do, let's discuss a little bit about what types of training programs are offered.

It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Start Your Esthetician Career Below!

Esthetics Degrees

There are basically two pathways available to receive esthetician training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can pursue an Associate's degree. Certificate programs usually 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 instructed in all of the major areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are available if you want to specialize in just one area, such as esthetics. A degree program will also likely feature management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to operate a salon or other Merrifield VA business. Higher degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master's degree programs are available in such areas as salon or spa management. Whatever type of program you go with, it's imperative to make certain that it's approved by the Virginia Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded organizations, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the benefits of accreditation for the school you choose in the upcoming segment.

Online Esthetics Classes

Online esthetician schools are convenient for Merrifield VA students who are employed full-time and have family responsibilities that make it difficult to attend a more traditional school. There are numerous web-based beauty school programs available that can be accessed via a desktop computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More conventional cosmetology schools are frequently fast paced due to the fact that many programs are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a large amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are dealing with the same volume of material, but you are not devoting numerous hours away from your home or driving back and forth from classes. However, it's important 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 required for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it's impossible to acquire the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology field. So be sure if you choose to enroll in an online program to verify 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 program you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Merrifield home, together with the cost of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first qualifiers. Whether you wish to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have compiled several of those supplemental questions that you should ask every school before making a final determination.

Is the Esthetician School Accredited? It's important to make sure that the esthetician training program you pick 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which often are not available for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many Merrifield VA businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation?  Every esthetician college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating services for reviews together with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Merrifield VA salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the business, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. And finally, consult the Virginia school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances 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 areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs commonly broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you enroll in a school that specializes in 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 well regarded for that program. If your desire is to start a Merrifield VA beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator as well. Picking a highly regarded school with a weak program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you need.

Is Enough Live Training Provided?  Practicing and refining esthetician techniques and abilities demands lots of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the cosmetology classes you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that enable students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a beauty academy furnishes limited or no scheduled live training, but rather depends mainly on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for acquiring your skills. So search for alternate schools that provide this kind of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance?  When a student graduates from an esthetician academy, it's essential that he or she gets aid in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide aid develop relationships with Merrifield VA employers that are looking for qualified graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which salons and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Aid Available?  Almost all esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are considering have a financial aid department. Talk to a counselor and learn 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 accessible to students too. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not drop it as an option until you find out what financial aid may be available.

Find Out How to Become an Esthetician in Merrifield

Enroll in the Best Merrifield Esthetician Training

Selecting and enrolling in the ideal esthetician school is important to get the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel positive about your decision. Make certain to collect all of the information you get from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to compare schools. A good beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the academy and program you decide on are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. If you begin with that foundation, and address the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the proper selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to start your career as a professional esthetician in Merrifield Virginia.

 

Merrifield How To Become An Esthetician | Merrifield Esthetician Courses Online