Esthetician Cosmetology Course
How to Pick the Best One Near Athens Alabama
Now that you have made the decision to become an esthetician, you must find the right esthetician school near Athens AL to receive your training. It's important that the program you choose not only furnishes the proper education for the specialty you have decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your preliminary search, you may be rather unclear about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both pertain 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 Athens home. Another qualification when evaluating prospective esthetician schools is the cost of tuition. But keep in mind, a school is not always the right choice simply because it has the lowest tuition or is located closest to your home. Accreditation and reputation, for example are among the other qualifications that you need to look into when comparing schools. We will go over what questions you should ask about the cosmetology schools you are looking at 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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Esthetician Degrees and Certificates
There are basically two options offered to obtain 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 usually 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 trained in all of the major areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you prefer to focus on just one area, such as esthetics. A degree program will also most likely incorporate management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to manage a parlor or other Athens AL business. Higher degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master's degree programs are available in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whichever type of course you decide on, it's essential to make certain that it's certified by the Alabama Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only approve schools that are accredited by certain reputable agencies, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the benefits of accreditation for the school you choose in the upcoming section.
What to Ask Esthetician Trade Schools
Below is a list of questions that you need to investigate for any esthetician training school you are considering. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Athens home, together with the cost of tuition, will most likely be your primary qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have compiled some of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each school before making a final decision.
Is the Esthetician Program Accredited? It's important to make certain that the esthetician college you choose 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 assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for securing student loans or financial aid, which typically 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, a number of Athens AL businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Each esthetician college that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating services for reviews as well as the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Athens AL salon owners or managers, or someone working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not looked into. Finally, consult the Alabama school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Some esthetician schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering 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. If your ambition is to be trained as an esthetician, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and well regarded for that program. If your dream is to open a Athens AL beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly regarded school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you need.
Is Any Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and refining esthetician techniques and abilities involves lots of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is provided in the beauty lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that enable students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a beauty school provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead relies predominantly on the use of mannequins, it might not be the most effective option for developing your skills. So try to find alternate schools that furnish 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 important part of that process. Schools that furnish aid maintain relationships with Athens AL businesses that are looking for qualified graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and ask which salons and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have wide 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. Find out if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you might get approved for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students as well. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not eliminate it as an alternative until you find out what financial help may be available.
Learn More about Training to Become an Esthetician in Athens
Choose the Right Athens Esthetician Training
Selecting and enrolling in the right esthetician program near Athens AL is essential to obtain the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel confident about your decision. Make sure to organize all of the information you get from the beauty 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 procedure is to make certain that the academy and program you pick are accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and address the additional questions supplied in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the proper selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to start your new career as a professional esthetician.