How to Enroll In the Right Aesthetician College Near Seattle Washington

Since you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Seattle WA, the process starts to search for and enroll in the right program. It's important that the school you pick not only furnishes the proper education for the specialty you have chosen, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you may be somewhat confused about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Seattle home. Tuition will additionally be a critical factor when assessing possible schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it's not necessarily the right option. There are various other qualifications that you should weigh when comparing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask about the aesthetician schools you are considering later in this article. Before we do, let's talk a little bit about what kinds of training programs are available.

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Esthetics Degrees and Certificates

There are basically two options available to get esthetician training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can work toward an Associate's degree. Certificate programs generally take 12 to 18 months to complete, while an Associate's degree commonly takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be trained in all of the major areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are offered if you prefer to focus on just one area, for example esthetics. A degree program will also most likely incorporate management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to manage a salon or other Seattle WA business. Higher degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master's degree programs are offered in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whichever type of training program you opt for, it's essential to make sure that it's recognized by the Washington Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain reputable organizations, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the benefits of accreditation for the school you decide on in the upcoming segment.

Online Esthetics Schools

Online esthetician classes are advantageous for Seattle 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 beauty school programs offered that can be attended through a desktop computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More conventional cosmetology schools are frequently fast paced given that many courses are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a considerable portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are covering the same volume of material, but you're not spending many hours outside of your home or travelling back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it's vital that the training program you pick can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors in order that you also obtain the hands-on training necessary for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it's impossible to acquire the skills needed to work in any area of the cosmetology profession. So be sure if you decide to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is available in your area.

What to Ask Aesthetician Training Courses

Following is a series of questions that you should investigate for any esthetician training program you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Seattle home, in addition to the price of tuition, will most likely be your initial 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 initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have put together several of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final selection.

Is the Esthetician School Accredited? It's essential to make certain that the esthetician training program you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for getting student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not available for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous Seattle WA 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?  Each esthetician institute that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating companies for reviews as well as the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Seattle 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 suggest others that you had not looked into. And last, contact the Washington school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in total compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus?  Some esthetician schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, for instance hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you enroll in 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 dream is to start a Seattle 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 weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you require.

Is Any Hands-On Training Provided?  Studying and mastering esthetician skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on volunteers. Ask 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 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 depends predominantly on the use of mannequins, it may not be the most effective option for developing 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 program, it's essential that she or he receives aid in finding that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer assistance develop relationships with Seattle WA businesses that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are looking at 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 verify that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered?  The majority of esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid office. Speak with a counselor and identify 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 offered to students too. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not discard it as an option before you learn what financial aid may be available.

Learn How to Become an Aesthetician in Seattle

Enroll in the Right Seattle Esthetician Course

Picking and enrolling in the ideal esthetician college is essential to receive the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel confident about your decision. Be sure to organize all of the responses you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to contrast schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the college and program you select are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you begin with that foundation, and address the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to begin your new career as a professional esthetician in Seattle Washington.

 

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