How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Friendship ME

How to Find the Right Esthetician College near Friendship Maine

Friendship ME esthetician client with cucumber facial Since you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Friendship ME, the process begins to locate and enroll in the ideal program. It’s important that the school you choose not only provides the appropriate training for the specialty you have chosen, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your preliminary search, you may be a little bit puzzled about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. We’ll discuss a bit further regarding that in the upcoming segment. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Friendship residence. Tuition will additionally be a critical factor when reviewing prospective schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it’s not always the ideal choice. There are a number of other factors that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are thinking about later in this article. Before we do, let’s talk a bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of training programs are offered.

Defining Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Friendship ME Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human body look more beautiful through the application 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 actually a cosmetic may be anything that enhances the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states mandate that you undergo some kind of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Friendship ME beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have gotten experience and a customer base, launch their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing customers either in their own residences or will go to the client’s house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many names and work in a wide variety of specialties including:

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

As earlier mentioned, in the majority of states working cosmetologists have to be licensed. In certain states there is an exception. Only those performing more skilled services, for instance hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people working in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.

Esthetics Certificates and Degrees

Friendship ME esthetician client with face mask There are basically two pathways offered to obtain 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 generally take 12 to 18 months to finish, while an Associate’s degree ordinarily 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 specialize in just one area, for instance esthetics. A degree program will also likely include management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to operate a salon or other Friendship ME business. More advanced degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whatever type of program you decide on, it’s essential to make sure that it’s approved by the Maine Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only certify schools that are accredited by certain reputable organizations, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the advantages of accreditation for the school you select in the next section.

Online Esthetics Schools

woman attending esthetician school online in Friendship ME Online esthetician schools are accommodating for Friendship ME students who are employed full-time and have family obligations that make it hard to enroll in a more traditional school. There are many web-based cosmetology school programs available that can be attended via a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional beauty programs are frequently fast paced because many courses are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a significant amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are covering the same volume of material, but you’re not devoting numerous hours outside of your home or driving back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it’s vital that the school you select can provide internship training in area salons and parlors in order that you also get the hands-on training needed for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s impossible to obtain the skills necessary to work in any facet of the cosmetology profession. So don’t forget if you decide to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.

Questions to Ask Esthetics Schools

Friendship ME models benefit from esthetic treatments Below is a series of questions that you should investigate for any esthetician training program you are contemplating. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Friendship home, in addition to the price of tuition, will most likely be your first qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you should research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have put together several of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final determination.

Is the School Accredited? It’s important to make sure that the esthetician training program 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for getting student loans or financial aid, which typically are not offered in 04547 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous Friendship ME employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Every esthetician institute that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly regarded. Check rating services for reviews in addition to the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Friendship ME salon owners or managers, or someone working in the field, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to suggest others that you had not considered. And last, consult the Maine school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty? Some 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, 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 pick a school that specializes in your area of interest. If your objective 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 dream is to launch a Friendship ME beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly rated school with a weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you require.

Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and refining esthetician skills and techniques requires lots of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is furnished 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 furnishes limited or no scheduled live training, but instead depends predominantly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for cultivating your skills. Therefore try to find other schools that furnish this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from an esthetician academy, it’s imperative that she or he receives aid in securing that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer help develop relationships with Friendship ME employers that are seeking skilled graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and ask which salons and establishments they refer students to. In addition, 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 regarded as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered? Almost all esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you may get approved for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students as well. If a school meets all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not discard it as an option before you determine what financial help may be offered.

Attending Esthetician School Near Friendship ME?

Perhaps you live in the Friendship Maine 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.

Friendship, Maine

Abenaki Native Americans called it Meduncook, meaning "bay at the end of the sandbar." Part of the Waldo Patent, it was first settled in 1750. A garrison was built on Garrison Island, which connects to the mainland at low tide. By 1754, 22 families lived in Meduncook, most taking shelter within the garrison when the French and Indian War broke out.

During the French and Indian War, the community was raided twice. The first attack was from the Abenaki just after sunrise on May 22, 1758.[4] They killed and scalped Joshua and Hannah Bradford and their infant son Winslow. An original settler from Kingston, Massachusetts and great-grandson of Governor William Bradford, he had remained in his house, believing it close enough to the garrison that his family could flee there when necessary. But while pounding corn, the Bradfords missed hearing the garrison's alarm gun. Five of their children managed to escape their pursuers into the fort, but two of their sons Cornelius (21) and Joshua (12) were captured and carried to Canada.[5]

After trying to lay siege to Thomaston, Maine in September 1758, a party of Native Americans and Acadians under the command of French Officer Boishebert raided the village. Eight British were captured or killed.[4]

Find the Right Esthetics School near Friendship ME

Locating and enrolling in the right esthetician college is essential to get the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel positive about your decision. Make certain to consolidate all of the responses you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that information to compare schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the institution and program you choose are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. If you begin with that foundation, and address the additional questions supplied in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are ready to start your new career as a professional esthetician in Friendship ME.