Esthetician Cosmetology Training Program
How to Choose the Best One Near Auburn Alabama
Since you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Auburn AL, the task starts to search for and enroll in the best program. Because estheticians are licensed in all 50 states, the school you choose should prepare you to pass the licensing exam and provide the proper training for your specialty. When you begin your preliminary search, you may be rather unclear about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Because the names are in effect interchangeable and pertain to the same type of school, you shouldn’t be. You will need to find a school that is within reasonable commuting distance of your home unless you can relocate for training. Tuition will likewise be a critical consideration when evaluating potential schools. But keep in mind, a school is not always the best option just because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. Accreditation and reputation, as examples are among the other qualifications that you need to look into when comparing schools. We will go over what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are looking at later within this article. Before we do, let's discuss a bit about what kinds of courses are available.
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Esthetician Degrees
There are basically two avenues offered to get esthetician training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can pursue 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 all of the main areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you want to focus on just one area, for instance esthetics. A degree program will also probably feature management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to operate a salon 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. Whatever type of course you opt for, it's imperative to make certain that it's certified by the Alabama Board of Cosmetology. Many states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain reputable organizations, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the benefits of accreditation for the school you choose in the next section.
What to Ask Esthetics Training Courses
Following is a series of questions that you should research for any esthetician training school you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Auburn home, together with the price of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Following we have put together several of those additional questions that you need to ask every school before making a final decision.
Is the Esthetician Program Accredited? It's important to make sure that the esthetician college 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for securing student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable 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 Auburn AL businesses will not hire 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 college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly demanded. Check rating services 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 considering. They might even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. Finally, check with the Alabama school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Many esthetician schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, for instance hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs often broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you decide on a school that focuses on your area of interest. If 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 desire is to launch a Auburn AL beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly ranked school with a weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you need.
Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and refining esthetician skills and techniques demands plenty of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is provided in the beauty lessons you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that make it possible for students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a beauty program furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but rather depends mainly on the use of mannequins, it may not be the most effective option for developing your skills. Therefore look for other schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from an esthetician school, it's imperative that he or she gets support in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide assistance maintain relationships with Auburn AL businesses that are searching for skilled graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and inquire which salons and businesses they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Offered? Many esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you might get approved for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students also. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications except for expense, do not omit it as an alternative until you determine what financial aid may be provided.
Learn More on Becoming an Esthetician in Auburn
Choose the Right Auburn Esthetician Training
Selecting and enrolling in the right esthetician school near Auburn AL is important to get the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel positive about your decision. Make sure to compile all of the responses you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to contrast schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the school and program you pick are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. If you begin with that foundation, 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 proper selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are prepared to begin your career as a professional esthetician.