How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Hopkins Park IL

How to Select an Esthetician Training Program near Hopkins Park Illinois

Hopkins Park IL esthetician client with cucumber facial Since you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Hopkins Park IL, the task begins to search for and enroll in the best program. It’s essential that the program you pick not only furnishes the proper education for the specialty you have chosen, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your initial search, you may be a little bit puzzled about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. We’ll speak a bit more concerning that in the upcoming segment. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Hopkins Park residence. Tuition will likewise be an important consideration when reviewing prospective schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it’s not automatically the right choice. There are several 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 talk a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of courses are available.

Defining Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Hopkins Park IL Cosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human body look more beautiful through the use of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic can be anything that improves the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states require that you take some form of specialized training and then become licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only Hopkins Park IL beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have acquired experience and a client base, open their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing clients either in their own homes or will go to the client’s house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by many titles and are employed in a wide range of specializations including:

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

As previously stated, in most states working cosmetologists must be licensed. In a few states there is an exemption. Only those performing more skilled services, for example hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others employed in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.

Esthetician Certificates and Degrees

Hopkins Park IL esthetician client with face mask There are primarily two options available 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 generally 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 instructed in all of the main areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you wish to focus on just one area, for instance esthetics. A degree program will also probably feature management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to manage a salon or other Hopkins Park IL business. Higher degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whatever type of course you choose, it’s important to make certain that it’s certified by the Illinois Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only approve schools that are accredited by certain respected organizations, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the benefits of accreditation for the school you decide on in the next segment.

Online Esthetics Programs

woman attending esthetician school online in Hopkins Park IL Online esthetician classes are convenient for Hopkins Park IL students who are working full time and have family obligations that make it difficult to attend a more traditional school. There are many web-based beauty school programs offered that can be attended via a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional cosmetology programs are often fast paced since many programs are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a significant amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are covering the same amount of material, but you’re not devoting many hours outside of your home or driving to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s essential that the training program you pick can provide internship training in area salons and parlors to ensure that you also obtain the hands-on training needed for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s difficult to obtain the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology field. So be sure if you decide to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is provided in your area.

Questions to Ask Esthetics Training Programs

Hopkins Park IL models benefit from esthetic treatments Below is a list of questions that you will want to investigate for any esthetician training school you are contemplating. As we have already covered, the location of the school in relation to your Hopkins Park home, in addition to the cost of tuition, will probably be your primary qualifiers. Whether you wish to earn 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 even more factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have compiled some of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final selection.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s essential to make sure that the esthetician school you select is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified 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 important for securing student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable in 60944 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of Hopkins Park IL employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation? Each esthetician college that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating companies for reviews as well as the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Hopkins Park IL salon owners or managers, or any person working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not considered. And finally, consult the Illinois school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in total compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus? A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you choose a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your goal is to be trained as an esthetician, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and well regarded for that program. If your aspiration is to launch a Hopkins Park IL beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly ranked 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 skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is provided in the cosmetology classes you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that allow students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a beauty program provides little or no scheduled live training, but rather depends predominantly on using mannequins, it may not be the most effective option for cultivating your skills. Therefore search for other schools that offer this kind of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from an esthetician school, it’s important that he or she receives help in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish aid develop relationships with Hopkins Park IL businesses that are seeking trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and ask which salons and organizations they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Assistance Offered? The majority of 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. Talk to a counselor and learn 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 accessible to students as well. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not discard it as an alternative before you determine what financial assistance may be available.

Attending Esthetician School Near Hopkins Park IL?

Perhaps you live in the Hopkins Park Illinois 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.

Hopkins Park, Illinois

As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 711 people, 241 households, and 161 families residing in the village. The population density was 194.2 people per square mile (75.0/km²). There were 271 housing units at an average density of 74.0 per square mile (28.6/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 4.08% White, 92.26% African American, 0.14% Asian, 1.97% from other races, and 1.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.11% of the population.

There were 241 households out of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 27.0% were married couples living together, 30.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.95 and the average family size was 3.60.

In the village, the population was spread out with 37.8% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 22.8% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.9 males.

Pick the Right Esthetics Training Program near Hopkins Park IL

Choosing and enrolling in the ideal esthetician college is essential to get the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel confident about your decision. Be sure to consolidate all of the information you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to compare schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the school and program you choose are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the field. If you begin with that foundation, and address the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the proper selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are qualified to begin your career as a professional esthetician in Hopkins Park IL.