How to Select the Best Esthetician Training Program Near Lake Stevens Washington
Once you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Lake Stevens WA, the process starts to search for and enroll in the ideal program. It's essential that the program you select not only provides the proper instruction for the specialty you have selected, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your initial search, you may be somewhat 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 anticipate commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Lake Stevens residence. Tuition will also be a critical consideration when assessing prospective schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it's not necessarily the best choice. There are a number of other factors that you should evaluate when comparing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding the aesthetician schools you are thinking about later in this article. Before we do, let's talk a bit about what types of programs are offered.
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Esthetician Degrees
There are essentially two options offered 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 generally call for 12 to 18 months to finish, 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 offered if you wish to focus on just one area, for example esthetics. A degree program will also probably incorporate management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to operate a parlor or other Lake Stevens WA business. Higher degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master's degree programs are available in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whatever type of course you go with, it's important to make certain that it's recognized by the Washington Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only approve schools that are accredited by certain respected organizations, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the benefits of accreditation for the school you select in the next section.
Online Esthetics Classes
Online esthetician classes are convenient for Lake Stevens WA students who are employed full-time and have family obligations that make it challenging to enroll in a more traditional school. There are numerous web-based cosmetology school programs offered that can be accessed through a personal computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More traditional cosmetology schools are typically fast paced given that many programs are as short as six or eight months. This means that a large amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are covering the same amount of material, but you are not spending numerous hours outside of your home or commuting to and from classes. On the other hand, it's important that the program you select can provide internship training in local salons and parlors to ensure that you also obtain the hands-on training required for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it's impossible to gain the skills necessary to work in any facet of the cosmetology profession. So be sure if you choose to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is provided in your area.
Questions to Ask Aesthetician Training Programs
Following is a list of questions that you will want to investigate for any esthetician training program you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Lake Stevens residence, as well as the expense of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you wish to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly 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 consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have compiled several of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final selection.
Is the Esthetician School Accredited? It's important to make certain that the esthetician college you select 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which often are not offered for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many Lake Stevens WA businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Each esthetician college that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly demanded. Check rating services for reviews together with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Lake Stevens WA salon owners or managers, or someone working in the trade, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to suggest others that you had not considered. Finally, contact the Washington school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? A number of 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 typically 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 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 open a Lake Stevens WA beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator as well. Selecting a highly ranked school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you require.
Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and perfecting esthetician techniques and abilities involves plenty of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the cosmetology courses you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that enable students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a beauty program provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead relies heavily on using mannequins, it may not be the best option for developing your skills. So search for alternate schools that offer this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from an esthetician program, it's important that she or he gets support in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer assistance maintain relationships with Lake Stevens WA businesses that are seeking skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which salons and businesses 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 regarded as well.
Is Financial Aid Offered? Almost all esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are considering have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you may qualify for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students also. If a school meets each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not drop it as an alternative until you learn what financial aid may be available.
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Enroll in the Right Lake Stevens Esthetician Program
Finding and enrolling in the ideal esthetician school is imperative to get the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel positive about your decision. Make certain to consolidate all of the responses you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to contrast schools. A good start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the academy and program you pick are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the field. If you start with that base, and address the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are ready to launch your new career as a professional esthetician in Lake Stevens Washington.
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