How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Cascade IA

How to Choose an Esthetician Course near Cascade Iowa

Cascade IA esthetician client with cucumber facial Once you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Cascade IA, the task begins to search for and enroll in the best program. It’s imperative that the school you pick not only provides the proper instruction 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 difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both refer to the same type of school. We’ll discuss a bit more concerning that in the following section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Cascade residence. Tuition will also be an important aspect when assessing prospective schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it’s not necessarily the ideal option. There are several other factors that you should weigh 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 bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of training programs are available.

Definition of Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Cascade IA Cosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human anatomy look more attractive with the use of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are referred to as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic may be almost anything that improves the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states mandate that you go through some kind of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Cascade IA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gained experience and a clientele, launch their own shops or salons. Others will begin seeing clients either in their own residences or will travel to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by many names and work in a wide variety of specializations including:

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

As formerly mentioned, in most states working cosmetologists must be licensed. In a few states there is an exception. Only those performing more skilled services, for instance hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others working in cosmetology and less skilled, such as shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.

Esthetics Certificates and Degrees

Cascade IA esthetician client with face mask There are basically two avenues offered to get 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 take 12 to 18 months to finish, while an Associate’s degree commonly takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be trained in each of the major areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are offered if you wish to concentrate on just one area, for instance esthetics. A degree program will also likely include management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to operate a salon or other Cascade IA business. More advanced degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whatever type of program you decide on, it’s essential to make sure that it’s approved by the Iowa Board of Cosmetology. Many states only approve schools that are accredited by certain reputable agencies, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the benefits of accreditation for the school you select in the next section.

Online Esthetician Classes

woman attending esthetician school online in Cascade IA Online esthetician schools are advantageous for Cascade IA students who are employed full time and have family obligations that make it challenging to attend a more traditional school. There are numerous web-based cosmetology school programs available that can be attended through a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional cosmetology programs are frequently fast paced given that many courses are as short as six or eight months. This means that a considerable amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are dealing with the same volume of material, but you are not devoting many hours away from your home or travelling to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s important that the program you choose can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors so that you also get the hands-on training necessary for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s impossible to acquire the skills necessary to work in any facet of the cosmetology industry. So don’t forget if you choose to enroll in an online school to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.

Questions to Ask Esthetician Training Programs

Cascade IA models benefit from esthetic treatments Below is a list of questions that you should investigate for any esthetician training school you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Cascade residence, as well as the cost of tuition, will most likely be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn 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 should research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have collected several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final selection.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s important to make certain that the esthetician college you pick 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 may also be essential for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which often are not offered in 52033 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of Cascade IA businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation? Each esthetician institute that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the profession. 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, attesting that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating companies for reviews as well as the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Cascade IA salon owners or managers, or any person working in the field, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to propose others that you had not considered. Finally, check with the Iowa school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty? A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering 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 essential that you enroll in a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your objective is to be trained as an esthetician, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your dream is to launch a Cascade IA 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 weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you require.

Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Practicing and perfecting esthetician techniques and abilities requires plenty of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the cosmetology courses you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that allow students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a beauty academy provides little or no scheduled live training, but instead depends heavily on using mannequins, it might not be the best option for developing your skills. So try to find other schools that offer this kind of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from an esthetician program, it’s imperative that he or she receives support in securing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish assistance develop relationships with Cascade IA businesses that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and ask which salons and businesses they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only affirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Aid 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 office. Talk to a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you might get approved for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students as well. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not omit it as an alternative before you find out what financial assistance may be provided.

Attending Esthetician School Near Cascade IA?

Perhaps you live in the Cascade Iowa 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.

Cascade, Iowa

Cascade is a city in Dubuque County and Jones County, Iowa, United States. The Dubuque County portion is part of Dubuque Metropolitan Statistical Area, while the Jones County portion is part of Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,159 at the 2010 census, up from 1,958 at the 2000 census. The city is located at the southwestern edge of Dubuque County, at the border of Dubuque and Jones Counties.

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 2,159 people, 880 households, and 578 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,154.5 inhabitants per square mile (445.8/km2). There were 974 housing units at an average density of 520.9 per square mile (201.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.2% White, 0.4% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 2.5% from other races, and 0.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.6% of the population.

There were 880 households of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.4% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.3% were non-families. 29.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.99.

Select the Right Esthetics Vocational School near Cascade IA

Picking and enrolling in the right esthetician program is important to obtain the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel positive about your decision. Make certain to organize all of the responses you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that data to contrast schools. A good beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the institution and program you choose are accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and address the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the proper selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are ready to launch your new career as a professional esthetician in Cascade IA.