How to Enroll In the Right Esthetician School Near Edmonds Washington

Since you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Edmonds WA, the process starts to find and enroll in the ideal program. It's imperative that the program you select not only provides the necessary education for the specialty you have decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you may be somewhat confused about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both pertain 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 Edmonds home. Tuition will also be an important aspect when reviewing potential schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it's not automatically the best choice. There are several other factors that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask concerning the aesthetician schools you are looking at later in this article. Before we do, let's discuss a little bit about what kinds of courses are available.

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Esthetics Degrees and Certificates

There are primarily two options available to receive esthetician training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can pursue an Associate's degree. Certificate programs generally call for 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 each of the main areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are offered if you prefer to focus on just one area, for instance esthetics. A degree program will also likely include management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to run a parlor or other Edmonds WA business. Higher degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master's degree programs are offered in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whichever type of program you go with, it's imperative to make sure that it's recognized by the Washington Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only approve schools that are accredited by certain respected agencies, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the benefits of accreditation for the school you choose in the next section.

Online Esthetician Schools

Online esthetician programs are advantageous for Edmonds WA students who are working full time and have family obligations that make it hard to enroll in a more traditional school. There are a large number of web-based beauty school programs offered that can be accessed through a personal computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More traditional cosmetology schools are frequently fast paced given that many programs are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a large portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are covering the same amount of material, but you are not devoting many hours away from your home or driving to and from classes. On the other hand, it's imperative that the training program you select can provide internship training in area salons and parlors so that you also receive the hands-on training required for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it's impossible to gain the skills needed to work in any area of the cosmetology field. So don't forget if you choose to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is available in your area.

What to Ask Esthetician Training Programs

Below is a list of questions that you will want to investigate for any esthetician training school you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Edmonds residence, as well as the price of tuition, will undoubtedly be your primary qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Following we have collected some of those additional questions that you need to ask every school before making a final selection.

Is the Esthetician School Accredited? It's necessary to make certain that the esthetician school you pick 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 meet their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many Edmonds WA businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation?  Every esthetician institute that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating companies for reviews as well as the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Edmonds WA salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the industry, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to propose others that you had not looked into. And finally, contact the Washington school licensing authority to see 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, providing training in a particular specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you choose a school that specializes in your area of interest. Since your objective is to be trained as an esthetician, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your dream is to launch a Edmonds WA 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 regarded school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you require.

Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided?  Learning and mastering esthetician techniques and abilities involves plenty of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is provided in the beauty lessons you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that make it possible for students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a beauty program offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather relies heavily on using mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for cultivating your skills. So search for alternate schools that provide this kind of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance?  Once a student graduates from an esthetician school, it's important that he or she gets help in finding that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide assistance develop relationships with Edmonds WA businesses that are searching for qualified graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and inquire which salons and businesses they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only affirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Aid Available?  Many esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are considering have a financial aid department. Consult with a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students too. If a school meets all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not omit it as an alternative before you find out what financial aid may be offered.

Find Out How to Become an Aesthetician in Edmonds

Enroll in the Right Edmonds Esthetician Training

Locating and enrolling in the right esthetician college is important to obtain the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel certain about your decision. Don't forget to organize all of the information you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that information to contrast schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the academy and program you choose are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and answer the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are qualified to begin your career as a professional esthetician in Edmonds Washington.

 

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