How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Ridgway CO

How to Pick an Esthetics College near Ridgway Colorado

Ridgway CO esthetician client with cucumber facial Since you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Ridgway CO, the process starts to find and enroll in the right program. It’s essential that the school you pick not only furnishes the proper training for the specialty you have chosen, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your initial search, you might be a little bit puzzled about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are basically interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. We’ll discuss a bit more regarding that in the following section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Ridgway residence. Tuition will also be a critical factor when assessing prospective schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it’s not always the right option. There are several other factors that you should evaluate when comparing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask concerning the cosmetology schools you are considering later in this article. Before we do, let’s talk a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of programs are available.

Defining Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Ridgway CO Cosmetology is a profession that is all about making the human anatomy look more attractive through the application of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic can be anything that improves the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, most states mandate that you go through some kind of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Ridgway CO beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gotten experience and a clientele, open their own shops or salons. Others will begin servicing clients either in their own residences or will go to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many names and are employed in a wide range of specialties including:

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

As previously mentioned, in most states practicing cosmetologists have to be licensed. In certain states there is an exception. Only those performing more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others employed in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.

Esthetics Certificates and Degrees

Ridgway CO esthetician client with face mask There are primarily two avenues available to receive esthetician training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs generally call for 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 main areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are offered if you prefer to concentrate on just one area, such as esthetics. A degree program will also most likely incorporate management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to operate a salon or other Ridgway CO business. More advanced degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whichever type of training program you go with, it’s imperative to make sure that it’s certified by the Colorado Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only certify schools that are accredited by certain respected organizations, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the benefits of accreditation for the school you decide on in the following segment.

Online Esthetics Programs

woman attending esthetician school online in Ridgway CO Online esthetician schools are advantageous for Ridgway CO students who are working full time and have family responsibilities that make it difficult to enroll in a more traditional school. There are many web-based cosmetology school programs offered that can be accessed via a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional beauty schools are typically fast paced given that many programs are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a significant portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are covering the same amount of material, but you are not spending many hours away from your home or driving back and forth from classes. However, it’s imperative that the program you choose can provide internship training in area salons and parlors in order that you also receive the hands-on training necessary for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s difficult to gain the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology field. So don’t forget if you decide to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is provided in your area.

Questions to Ask Esthetics Training Courses

Ridgway CO models benefit from esthetic treatments Below is a series of questions that you need to research for any esthetician training program you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Ridgway residence, as well as the expense of tuition, will probably be your first 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 options based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have compiled several of those additional questions that you need to ask every school before making a final selection.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s essential to make certain that the esthetician training program you choose is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for securing student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not obtainable in 81432 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of Ridgway CO businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon individuals 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 field. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly demanded. Check rating services for reviews together with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Ridgway CO salon owners or managers, or someone working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not considered. Finally, check with the Colorado school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty? Many esthetician schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you enroll in 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 launch a Ridgway CO beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly ranked school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you need.

Is Any Live Training Provided? Practicing and perfecting esthetician skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the beauty courses you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that allow students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a beauty academy provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead depends predominantly on using mannequins, it may not be the most effective option for developing your skills. So search for other schools that offer this type of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance? As soon as a student graduates from an esthetician school, it’s crucial that he or she gets help in securing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish help maintain relationships with Ridgway CO employers that are seeking trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and find out which salons and establishments they refer students to. Additionally, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only affirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered? Almost all esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid department. Consult with 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 available to students also. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not omit it as an alternative until you determine what financial aid may be offered.

Attending Esthetician School Near Ridgway CO?

Perhaps you live in the Ridgway Colorado 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.

Ridgway, Colorado

The Town of Ridgway, coined Gateway to the San Juans, is a Home Rule Municipality in Ouray County, in the southwestern portion of the U.S. State of Colorado. The town is a former railroad stop on the Uncompaghre River in the northern San Juan Mountains. The town population was 713 at the 2000 census and 924 according to the 2010 census.[6]

Steep forested mountains and cliffs surround Ridgway on the south, east, and northeast. The Uncompahgre River runs through the town and flows into the Ridgway State Park and Reservoir, to the north. Dallas Creek also flows from the south-west and forms a confluence with the Uncompahgre before entering the reservoir. There is a notable wildlife presence — mountain lions, badgers, deer, elk, bears, coyotes, wild turkey, and bald eagles are indigenous to the area. The regions bald eagles nest in the cottonwoods along the river and are a common sight in the late fall.

Ridgway and the surrounding area have featured predominantly in pop culture. Most notably the area is the setting of John Wayne's western movie True Grit, and others including How the West Was Won and Tribute to a Bad Man. Ridgway has the only stoplight in Ouray County, at the intersection of Highways 550 and 62.[7]

Pick the Right Esthetics Program near Ridgway CO

Selecting and enrolling in the ideal esthetician school is imperative to obtain the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel certain about your decision. Make certain to consolidate all of the responses you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to compare schools. A good beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the college and program you choose are accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and answer the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are prepared to launch your career as a professional esthetician in Ridgway CO.