How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Olympic Valley CA

How to Pick an Esthetician Program near Olympic Valley California

Olympic Valley CA esthetician client with cucumber facial Now that you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Olympic Valley CA, the task starts to find and enroll in the best program. It’s important that the school you choose not only provides the appropriate instruction for the specialty you have chosen, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your preliminary search, you may be rather confused about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. We’ll discuss a little bit further regarding that in the following section. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Olympic Valley residence. Tuition will additionally be an important factor when evaluating potential schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it’s not automatically the right choice. There are various other qualifications that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask about the cosmetology schools you are thinking about later in this article. Before we do, let’s talk a bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of training programs are offered.

Definition of Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Olympic Valley CA Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human anatomy look more attractive through the use of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but really a cosmetic can be anything that enhances the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states mandate that you undergo some kind of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only Olympic Valley CA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have acquired experience and a customer base, launch their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing clients either in their own homes or will travel to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many names and work in a wide range of specializations including:

Estheticians
Hairdressers
Hairstylists
Beauticians
Barbers
Manicurists
Nail Technicians
Makeup Artists
Hair Coloring Specialists
Electrolysis Technicians

As formerly mentioned, in the majority of states practicing cosmetologists have to be licensed. In a few states there is an exception. Only those conducting more skilled services, for example hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others working in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.

Esthetics Certificates and Degrees

Olympic Valley CA esthetician client with face mask There are basically two pathways available to get 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 typically take 12 to 18 months to complete, 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. Briefer programs are available if you wish to focus on just one area, such as esthetics. A degree program will also likely feature management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to run a salon or other Olympic Valley CA business. More advanced degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such areas as salon or spa management. Whichever type of training program you go with, it’s essential to make sure that it’s recognized by the California Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only approve schools that are accredited by certain reputable organizations, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the benefits of accreditation for the school you choose in the next segment.

Online Esthetician Training

woman attending esthetician school online in Olympic Valley CA Online esthetician programs are advantageous for Olympic Valley CA students who are working full time and have family commitments that make it challenging to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of web-based beauty school programs available that can be accessed by means of a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional cosmetology schools are often fast paced because many programs are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a considerable amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you’re not spending many hours outside of your home or travelling back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it’s essential that the school you select can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors to ensure that you also receive the hands-on training necessary for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s impossible to gain the skills required to work in any area of the cosmetology profession. So don’t forget if you decide to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.

Questions to Ask Esthetics Training Classes

Olympic Valley CA models benefit from esthetic treatments Below is a series of questions that you need to investigate for any esthetician training school you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Olympic Valley home, in addition to the price of tuition, will most likely be your primary qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have reduced 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 school. Below we have compiled some of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final selection.

Is the School 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 comply with their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not available in 96146 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many Olympic Valley CA employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation? Any esthetician school that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating companies for reviews together with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Olympic Valley CA salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the business, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. And finally, check with the California school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty? Many esthetician schools offer programs that are comprehensive 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 frequently expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s imperative that you choose a school that specializes in 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 respected for that program. If your desire is to start a Olympic Valley CA beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly rated school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you require.

Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and refining esthetician skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on volunteers. Ask 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 volunteers. If a beauty school offers little or no scheduled live training, but instead relies mainly on the use of mannequins, it may not be the most effective alternative for developing your skills. So search for alternate schools that provide this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from an esthetician school, it’s important that she or he gets aid in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish help maintain relationships with Olympic Valley CA employers that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and ask which salons and businesses they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only affirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered? Almost all esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you may qualify for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students too. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications except for cost, do not drop it as an option before you determine what financial help may be provided.

Attending Esthetician School Near Olympic Valley CA?

Perhaps you live in the Olympic Valley California area, or have found a school that you will commute to or even relocate to attend. Either way, following is some interesting background information about the location of your new esthetician program.

Squaw Valley, Placer County, California

Olympic Valley, California (also known as Squaw Valley) is an unincorporated community located in Placer County northwest of Tahoe City along California State Highway 89 on the banks of the Truckee River near Lake Tahoe. It is home to Squaw Valley Ski Resort, the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics. Olympic Valley is the smallest resort area to host the Olympic Winter Games.[2]

The town of Claraville, formerly located at the mouth of Squaw Valley was once among the biggest mining operations in the Lake Tahoe region. There were rumors that the mine was salted with ore brought in from Virginia City, Nevada.[7]George Wharton James, author of the book The Lake of the Sky doubts the mines were salted with ore and suggests that the energetic prospector Shannon Knox started the mine with good faith.[7] He writes about the History of the Tahoe Region (pre 1915) in many of the chapters of his book. The Squaw Valley Mining boom was short lived and by 1863–64 the valley had lost almost all of its inhabitants to the Comstock lode in Virginia City.

By 1942, Wayne Poulsen, a former star skier from the University of Nevada, had acquired 2,000 acres (810 ha) in Squaw Valley from the Southern Pacific Railroad. Poulsen met Alex Cushing, a Harvard University-trained lawyer, in 1946 while Cushing was vacationing at Sugar Bowl Ski Resort.[8] During his vacation, Cushing toured Squaw Valley at Poulsen's invitation and decided to invest in building a ski resort there.[8] Unlike Poulsen, Cushing had the political connections and access to the capital necessary to create a ski resort. In June 1948, the two founded the Squaw Valley Development Company[9] and Cushing replaced Poulsen as president of the Squaw Valley Development Corporation by October 1949.[10]Squaw Valley Ski Resort opened on Thanksgiving Day 1949.[11] The resort was constructed with $400,000 raised by Cushing, including $150,000 of his own money.[10] The creation of the Squaw Valley Development Corporation and Squaw Valley Ski Resort mark the modern era of Squaw Valley.[12]

Select the Right Esthetician Program near Olympic Valley CA

Finding and enrolling in the right esthetician program is important to get the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel positive about your decision. Make sure to collect all of the information you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to compare schools. A sensible start in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the institution and program you decide on are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. If you begin with that base, and answer the additional questions supplied in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the right selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are ready to launch your career as a professional esthetician in Olympic Valley CA.