Esthetician Cosmetology Program
How to Choose the Best One Near Athens Alabama

Now that you have decided to become an esthetician, you must enroll in the best esthetician school near Athens AL to receive your training. It's essential that the school you choose not only furnishes the necessary instruction for the specialty you have selected, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you may be rather unclear about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Because the names are in effect interchangeable and relate to the same type of school, you shouldn’t be. You will need to find a school that is within reasonable driving distance of your home unless you plan to relocate for training. Another qualification when examining prospective esthetician schools is the cost of tuition. But remember that just because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it's not always the right option. There are several other considerations that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask concerning the cosmetology schools you are thinking about later within this article. Before we do, let's talk a bit about what types of courses are available.

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Esthetician Certificate and Degree Programs

There are primarily two pathways offered to receive esthetician training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can work toward an Associate's degree. Certificate programs typically take 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 each of the main areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are available if you want to focus on just one area, for example esthetics. A degree program will also likely feature management and marketing training in order 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 offered in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whichever type of course you go with, it's imperative to make certain that it's recognized by the Alabama Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded agencies, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the advantages of accreditation for the school you decide on in the next segment.

Esthetician Online Programs

Online esthetician schools are advantageous for Athens AL students who are employed full-time and have family obligations that make it hard to enroll in a more traditional school. There are numerous web-based cosmetology school programs available that can be accessed by means of a home computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More traditional cosmetology programs are frequently fast paced because many courses are as short as six or eight months. This means that a considerable amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are covering the same volume of material, but you are not spending numerous hours away from your home or travelling to and from classes. On the other hand, it's essential that the training program you pick can provide internship training in local salons and parlors in order that you also obtain the hands-on training required for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it's difficult to obtain 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 verify that internship training is available in your area.

Questions to Ask Esthetics Schools

Below is a series of questions that you will want to look into for any esthetician training program you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Athens home, in addition to the price of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first 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 choices based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have compiled some of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final decision.

Is the Esthetician Program Accredited? It's essential to make sure that the esthetician school you choose 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for securing student loans or financial aid, which often are not obtainable for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous Athens AL employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation?  Any esthetician school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly regarded. Check rating companies for reviews as well as the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Athens AL salon owners or managers, or someone working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not thought of. Finally, consult the Alabama 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 Focus?  Many esthetician schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, for instance hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs commonly 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 objective is to be trained as an esthetician, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and well regarded for that program. If your desire is to launch 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 ranked school with a weak program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you require.

Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided?  Practicing and mastering esthetician techniques and abilities demands lots of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the beauty lessons you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that allow students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a beauty school provides limited or no scheduled live training, but instead depends predominantly on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the best option for cultivating your skills. So look for other schools that offer this kind of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance?  When a student graduates from an esthetician program, it's important that she or he gets assistance in landing that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish aid develop relationships with Athens AL employers that are searching for skilled graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and inquire which salons and businesses they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Aid Available?  Most esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are considering have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you may qualify for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students as well. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not drop it as an option until you find out what financial aid may be offered.

Learn More on Becoming an Esthetician in Athens

Choose the Right Athens Esthetician Program

Finding and enrolling in the ideal esthetician school near Athens AL is essential to get the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel confident 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 utilize that information to contrast schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the academy and program you pick are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. If you start with that base, and address the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are prepared to start your career as a professional esthetician.

 

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