How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools West Point IA

How to Select an Esthetics Course near West Point Iowa

West Point IA esthetician client with cucumber facial Once you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near West Point IA, the task starts to search for and enroll in the right program. It’s imperative that the program you choose not only provides the necessary education for the specialty you have selected, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your preliminary search, you might be somewhat puzzled about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are basically interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind of school. We’ll speak a bit further concerning that in the following section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your West Point home. Tuition will also be an important aspect when assessing prospective schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it’s not always the ideal option. There are a number of other considerations that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask about the cosmetology schools you are considering later within this article. Before we do, let’s talk a bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of programs are offered.

Defining Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners West Point IA Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human anatomy 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 almost anything that enhances the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, the majority of states require that you go through some kind of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only West Point IA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gained experience and a customer base, open their own shops or salons. Others will begin seeing clients either in their own residences or will travel to the client’s house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many titles 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 already mentioned, in most states working cosmetologists must be licensed. In certain states there is an exemption. Only those performing more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people working in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.

Esthetician Degrees

West Point IA esthetician client with face mask There are essentially two pathways offered to receive esthetician training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs normally call for 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 instructed in all of the main areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are offered if you wish to focus on just one area, for instance esthetics. A degree program will also most likely include management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to run a parlor or other West Point IA business. More advanced degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such areas as salon or spa management. Whatever type of training program you choose, it’s imperative to make sure that it’s approved by the Iowa Board of Cosmetology. Many states only certify schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded organizations, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the advantages of accreditation for the school you select in the upcoming section.

Online Esthetician Programs

woman attending esthetician school online in West Point IA Online esthetician schools are advantageous for West Point IA students who are working full-time and have family obligations that make it hard to enroll in a more traditional school. There are numerous online cosmetology school programs available that can be attended by means of a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional cosmetology schools are typically fast paced due to the fact that many courses are as short as six or eight months. This means that a significant portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are covering the same amount of material, but you’re not spending numerous hours outside of your home or commuting to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s vital that the program you select can provide internship training in area salons and parlors to ensure that you also obtain the hands-on training necessary for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s difficult to obtain the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology profession. So don’t forget if you choose to enroll in an online school to confirm that internship training is available in your area.

Questions to Ask Esthetician Training Courses

West Point IA 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 previously discussed, the location of the school in relation to your West Point residence, in addition to the cost of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have collected several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each school before making a final decision.

Is the School Accredited? It’s important to make sure that the esthetician school you enroll in 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 meet their high standards guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for getting student loans or financial aid, which typically are not available in 52656 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of West Point IA businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Any esthetician college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials 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 sought after. Visit rating companies for reviews along with the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with West Point 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 may even be able to recommend others that you had not considered. And finally, consult the Iowa school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus? A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs often broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s imperative that you select a school that specializes in your area of interest. If your ambition 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 launch a West Point IA 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 weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you need.

Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and mastering esthetician skills and techniques involves plenty of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the beauty courses you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that allow students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a beauty school provides limited or no scheduled live training, but instead relies predominantly on the use of mannequins, it may not be the most effective option for cultivating your skills. So try to find alternate schools that furnish this kind of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance? As soon as a student graduates from an esthetician academy, it’s essential that he or she receives aid in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish assistance develop relationships with West Point IA businesses that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and inquire 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 wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Assistance Offered? Almost all esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid department. Consult with a counselor and identify 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 available to students as well. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not drop it as an alternative before you learn what financial assistance may be provided.

Attending Esthetician School Near West Point IA?

Perhaps you live in the West Point 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.

West Point, Iowa

As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 966 people, 432 households, and 267 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,583.6 inhabitants per square mile (611.4/km2). There were 452 housing units at an average density of 741.0 per square mile (286.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 99.1% White, 0.3% African American, 0.1% Asian, and 0.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.9% of the population.

There were 432 households of which 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% were married couples living together, 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.2% were non-families. 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.71.

The median age in the city was 44.2 years. 20.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.6% were from 25 to 44; 26.3% were from 45 to 64; and 22.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.2% male and 52.8% female.

Enroll in the Right Esthetician Vocational School near West Point IA

Finding and enrolling in the ideal esthetician college is imperative to get the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel positive about your decision. Be sure to organize all of the information you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that information to compare schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the academy and program you pick are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the field. 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 right selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to begin your career as a professional esthetician in West Point IA.