Esthetician Cosmetology Training School
How to Find the Right One Near Auburn Alabama
Now that you have made the decision to become an esthetician, you must enroll in the best esthetician school near Auburn AL to receive your training. Because estheticians are licensed in all 50 states, the college you choose should prepare you to pass the licensing test and provide the necessary training for your specialty. You might be a little confused when beginning your search for esthetician classes as to the difference between beauty and cosmetology schools, since both offer esthetician training. Well don't be, because the names are pretty much interchangeable and both refer to the same kind of school. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Auburn home. An additional consideration when examining prospective esthetician schools is the price of tuition. But keep in mind, a school is not always the best choice just because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. Accreditation and reputation, as examples are two of the other qualifications that you should evaluate when comparing schools. We will go over what questions you should ask about the cosmetology schools you are considering later within this article. Before we do, let's discuss a little bit about what types of courses are offered.
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Esthetician Certificates
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 usually 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 instructed in each of the major areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are available if you prefer to specialize in just one area, for instance esthetics. A degree program will also probably incorporate management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to run a parlor or other Auburn AL business. More advanced degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master's degree programs are offered in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whichever type of program you opt for, it's important to make sure that it's certified by the Alabama Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded organizations, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the advantages of accreditation for the school you choose in the upcoming section.
Esthetics Online Courses
Online esthetician schools are advantageous for Auburn AL students who are employed full-time and have family commitments that make it challenging to enroll in a more traditional school. There are numerous online beauty school programs offered that can be accessed by means of a personal computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More traditional beauty programs are often fast paced since many programs are as short as six or eight months. This means that a substantial portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are dealing with the same volume of material, but you are not spending many hours outside of your home or driving to and from classes. On the other hand, it's vital that the school you select can provide internship training in local salons and parlors to ensure that you also get the hands-on training needed for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it's impossible to obtain the skills required to work in any area of the cosmetology field. So make sure if you choose to enroll in an online school to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.
What to Ask Esthetician Programs
Following is a series of questions that you need to look into for any esthetician training program you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Auburn home, together with the expense of tuition, will undoubtedly be your initial qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have put together some of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final decision.
Is the Esthetician School Accredited? It's important to make sure that the esthetician training program you choose is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for obtaining 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, many Auburn AL employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Every esthetician school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly sought after. Check rating companies for reviews together with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Auburn AL salon owners or managers, or any person 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. And last, 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 Focus? Some esthetician schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you choose a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your ambition 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 open a Auburn AL beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly rated school with a weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you require.
Is Enough Live Training Provided? Practicing and perfecting esthetician skills and techniques demands lots of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is provided in the cosmetology lessons you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that enable students to practice their growing talents on volunteers. If a beauty program furnishes limited or no scheduled live training, but rather depends mainly on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the best option for developing your skills. Therefore try to find other schools that furnish this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from an esthetician academy, it's essential that he or she receives support in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer aid maintain relationships with Auburn AL employers that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and inquire which salons and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Assistance Offered? Almost all esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid department. Talk to a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you may get approved for. If the school is a member of 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 cost, do not drop it as an option before you determine what financial assistance may be available.
Learn More about Training to Become an Esthetician in Auburn
Enroll in the Right Auburn Esthetician Course
Choosing and enrolling in the right esthetician school near Auburn AL is essential to get the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel positive about your decision. Be sure to organize all of the responses you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to compare schools. A good beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the academy and program you select are accredited and have impressive reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and answer the additional questions supplied in this post, you will be able to narrow down 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 ready to begin your new career as a professional esthetician.