Esthetician Cosmetology School
How to Pick the Best One Near Anchorage Alaska

Now that you have made the decision to begin your career in cosmetology, you must enroll in the best esthetician school near Anchorage AK to get your training. Because estheticians are required to be licensed in all states, the college you choose should prepare you to pass the licensing exam as well as provide the proper training for your specialty. When you begin your initial search, you may be a little bit puzzled about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Since the names are for all practical purposes interchangeable and relate to the same kind of school, you shouldn’t be. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Anchorage residence. An additional consideration when examining possible esthetician schools is the cost of tuition. But bear in mind that just because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it's not automatically the right choice. There are a number of other considerations that you should evaluate when comparing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask about the cosmetology schools you are looking at later within this article. Before we do, let's discuss a little bit about what kinds of programs are offered.

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Esthetician Degrees and Certificates

There are primarily two avenues offered to receive esthetician training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can work toward an Associate's degree. Certificate programs normally require 12 to 18 months to finish, while an Associate's degree ordinarily 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 offered if you prefer to specialize in just one area, for instance esthetics. A degree program will also likely incorporate management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to run a parlor or other Anchorage AK business. More advanced degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master's degree programs are available in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whatever type of course you opt for, it's imperative to make certain that it's certified by the Alaska Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded organizations, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the advantages of accreditation for the school you select in the following section.

Online Esthetics Schools

Online esthetician programs are accommodating for Anchorage AK students who are employed full-time and have family responsibilities that make it difficult to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of web-based beauty school programs offered that can be accessed via a home computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More traditional cosmetology schools are typically fast paced given that many courses are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a substantial portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are dealing with the same volume of material, but you are not spending many hours away from your home or travelling back and forth from classes. However, it's important that the training program you select can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors to ensure that you also obtain the hands-on training necessary for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it's difficult to acquire the skills necessary to work in any facet of the cosmetology field. So make sure if you choose to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is provided in your area.

Questions to Ask Esthetics Trade Schools

Following is a series of questions that you will want to look into for any esthetician training program you are considering. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Anchorage home, in addition to the expense of tuition, will most likely be your initial 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 choices based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Following we have put together some of those supplemental questions that you should ask each school before making a final decision.

Is the Esthetician School Accredited? It's necessary to make certain that the esthetician training program you enroll in 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 meet their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which typically are not offered for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many Anchorage AK businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation?  Each esthetician institute that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly demanded. Check rating services for reviews along with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Anchorage AK salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. Finally, consult the Alaska 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?  Many esthetician schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you choose 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 respected for that program. If your desire is to start a Anchorage AK beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly rated school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you require.

Is Any Hands-On Training Provided?  Learning and perfecting esthetician techniques and abilities involves lots of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the beauty classes you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that enable students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a beauty academy provides little or no scheduled live training, but rather depends mainly on using mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for developing your skills. So try to find alternate schools that offer this kind of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance?  As soon as a student graduates from an esthetician school, it's essential that she or he receives support in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide help develop relationships with Anchorage AK employers that are seeking qualified graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are contemplating 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 broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Assistance Offered?  Many esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are considering have a financial aid department. Consult with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students too. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not eliminate it as an option before you find out what financial help may be offered.

Learn More about Becoming an Esthetician in Anchorage

Choose the Right Anchorage Esthetician Course

Selecting and enrolling in the right esthetician school near Anchorage AK is imperative to obtain the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel confident about your decision. Don't forget to collect all of the information 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 process is to make certain that the academy and program you select are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. If you start with that base, and address the additional questions supplied in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to begin your new career as a professional esthetician.

 

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