How to Select the Right Esthetician Program Near Lakewood Washington

Now that you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Lakewood WA, the process begins to find and enroll in the right program. It's important that the program you choose not only furnishes the proper training for the specialty you have chosen, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your initial search, you may be a little bit confused about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both refer to the same kind of school. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Lakewood residence. Tuition will also be a critical consideration when reviewing potential schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it's not necessarily the right option. There are various other factors that you should weigh when comparing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask regarding the aesthetician schools you are considering later in this article. Before we do, let's discuss a little bit about what kinds of courses are offered.

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Esthetics Degrees

There are primarily two pathways available to receive esthetician training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can work toward an Associate's degree. Certificate programs normally require 12 to 18 months to finish, while an Associate's degree commonly 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 prefer to concentrate on just one area, for example esthetics. A degree program will also likely incorporate management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to operate a parlor or other Lakewood WA business. Higher degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master's degree programs are offered in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whichever type of training program you choose, it's imperative to make sure that it's certified by the Washington Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain respected agencies, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the benefits of accreditation for the school you decide on in the next segment.

Online Esthetician Schools

Online esthetician classes are accommodating for Lakewood WA students who are employed full time and have family commitments that make it difficult to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of online cosmetology school programs offered that can be attended by means of a personal computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More conventional cosmetology schools are typically fast paced given that many courses are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a significant amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are dealing with the same volume of material, but you are not spending numerous hours away from your home or driving to and from classes. However, it's important that the training program you choose can provide internship training in area salons and parlors so that you also get the hands-on training required for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it's difficult to gain 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 confirm that internship training is available in your area.

Questions to Ask Esthetician Trade Schools

Below is a list of questions that you will want to investigate for any esthetician training program you are contemplating. As we have already discussed, the location of the school relative to your Lakewood residence, together with the expense of tuition, will probably 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 options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have compiled some of those supplemental questions that you should ask each school before making a final decision.

Is the Esthetician Program Accredited? It's necessary to make certain that the esthetician training program 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 assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for getting student loans or financial aid, which typically are not offered for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous Lakewood WA employers will not employ 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 endorsements from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly sought after. Check rating services for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Lakewood WA salon owners or managers, or someone working in the industry, 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. And last, consult the Washington school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty?  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, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you pick 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 aspiration is to open a Lakewood WA beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator as well. Selecting a highly ranked school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you need.

Is Any Live Training Provided?  Learning and refining esthetician techniques and abilities demands plenty of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the beauty 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 school provides little 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 other schools that furnish this kind of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance?  Once a student graduates from an esthetician program, it's crucial that he or she gets assistance in landing that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer help develop relationships with Lakewood WA businesses that are looking for qualified graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and find out which salons and businesses they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Assistance Offered?  Most esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and identify 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 available to students too. If a school meets each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not discard it as an option before you determine what financial aid may be available.

Learn How to Become an Aesthetician in Lakewood

Enroll in the Best Lakewood Esthetician Program

Locating and enrolling in the ideal esthetician school is essential to get the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel positive about your decision. Make sure to consolidate all of the responses you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to contrast schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the college and program you decide on are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. If you begin with that foundation, 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 ideal selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are ready to start your new career as a professional esthetician in Lakewood Washington.

 

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