How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Maryville IL

How to Find the Right Esthetics College near Maryville Illinois

Maryville IL esthetician client with cucumber facial Since you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Maryville IL, the task starts to locate and enroll in the right program. It’s essential that the program you choose not only furnishes the necessary training for the specialty you have decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your preliminary search, you may be somewhat unclear about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are essentially interchangeable and both refer to the same type of school. We’ll discuss a little bit further regarding that in the following segment. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Maryville home. Tuition will also be a critical consideration when reviewing potential schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it’s not automatically the right choice. There are many other qualifications that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will review 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 Maryville IL Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human anatomy look more attractive through the use of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are referred to as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic can be anything that improves the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states require that you go through some type of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work environments include not only Maryville IL beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gained experience and a client base, establish their own shops or salons. Others will begin servicing clients either in their own homes or will go to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many professional names and are employed in a wide variety of specialties 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 must be licensed. In certain states there is an exception. Only those offering more skilled services, for example hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people employed in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.

Esthetics Degrees

Maryville IL esthetician client with face mask There are basically two options offered to receive esthetician training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs usually require 12 to 18 months to finish, 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 offered if you want to specialize in just one area, for example esthetics. A degree program will also likely incorporate management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to manage a salon or other Maryville IL business. Higher degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whatever type of training program you decide on, it’s essential 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 reputable agencies, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the benefits of accreditation for the school you select in the following segment.

Online Esthetician Training

woman attending esthetician school online in Maryville IL Online esthetician schools are advantageous for Maryville IL students who are employed full time and have family obligations that make it difficult to enroll in a more traditional school. There are many online cosmetology school programs available that can be accessed through a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional beauty schools are typically fast paced given that many courses are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a significant portion 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. However, it’s important that the program you pick can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors so that you also receive the hands-on training needed for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s impossible to acquire the skills required to work in any facet of the cosmetology field. So be sure if you decide to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is available in your area.

What to Ask Esthetician Degree Programs

Maryville IL models benefit from esthetic treatments Following is a series of questions that you should research for any esthetician training program you are contemplating. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Maryville home, in addition to the expense of tuition, will most likely be your initial qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly 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 should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have put together some of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final decision.

Is the School Accredited? It’s important to make certain that the esthetician school you choose is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified 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 necessary for getting student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not available in 62062 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many Maryville IL employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively 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 industry. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating companies for reviews along with the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Maryville IL salon owners or managers, or any person working in the trade, 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. And finally, contact the Illinois school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in full compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus? A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs commonly expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s essential that you select a school that specializes in 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 well regarded for that program. If your dream is to launch a Maryville IL beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly ranked school with a weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you require.

Is Any Live Training Provided? Practicing and perfecting esthetician skills and techniques involves lots of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is included in the beauty classes you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that make it possible for students to practice their developing talents on volunteers. If a beauty academy furnishes limited or no scheduled live training, but instead depends mainly on the use of mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for acquiring your skills. Therefore search for alternate schools that offer this type of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from an esthetician school, it’s important that he or she gets assistance in finding that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide aid maintain relationships with Maryville IL employers that are searching for qualified graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which salons and businesses they refer students to. Additionally, 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 Assistance Available? Many esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid department. Talk to a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students also. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not discard it as an alternative until you find out what financial assistance may be available.

Attending Esthetician School Near Maryville IL?

Perhaps you live in the Maryville 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.

Maryville, Illinois

Maryville is located at 38°43′31″N 89°57′28″W / 38.72528°N 89.95778°W / 38.72528; -89.95778 (38.725298, -89.957674).[7] It is located 17 miles (27 km) east of downtown St. Louis, Missouri.

According to the 2010 census, Maryville has a total area of 5.418 square miles (14.03 km2), of which 5.34 square miles (13.83 km2) (or 98.56%) is land and 0.078 square miles (0.20 km2) (or 1.44%) is water.[8]

As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 4,651 people, 1,743 households, and 1,267 families residing in the village. The population density was 996.5 people per square mile (384.5/km²). There were 1,816 housing units at an average density of 389.1 per square mile (150.1/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 94.11% White, 3.46% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.77% from other races, and 1.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.00% of the population.

Find the Right Esthetician Training Program near Maryville IL

Choosing and enrolling in the right esthetician school is imperative to get the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel certain about your decision. Be sure to collect all of the responses you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to compare schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the college and program you decide on are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. If you begin with that foundation, and answer the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are ready to start your new career as a professional esthetician in Maryville IL.