How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools West Medford MA

How to Find the Right Esthetician College near West Medford Massachusetts

West Medford MA 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 Medford MA, the process begins to search for and enroll in the best program. It’s important 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 initial search, you might be rather confused about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are pretty much interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. We’ll discuss a little bit further about that in the upcoming segment. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your West Medford residence. Tuition will additionally be a critical factor when assessing potential schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it’s not always the best option. There are several other factors that you should weigh when comparing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding 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 programs are available.

Definition of Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners West Medford MA Cosmetology is a profession that is all about making the human anatomy look more attractive through the application 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 enhances the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, most states require that you take some form of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work environments include not only West Medford MA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have gotten experience and a customer base, open their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing customers either in their own homes or will go to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go 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 mentioned, in the majority of states working cosmetologists have to be licensed. In some states there is an exception. Only those performing more skilled services, for example hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others working in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.

Esthetics Degrees

West Medford MA esthetician client with face mask There are essentially two pathways offered to get esthetician training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs usually call for 12 to 18 months to complete, 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 focus on just one area, such as esthetics. A degree program will also likely incorporate management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to manage a parlor or other West Medford MA business. Higher degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whichever type of program you choose, it’s essential to make certain that it’s certified by the Massachusetts Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded organizations, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the benefits of accreditation for the school you select in the following segment.

Online Esthetics Courses

woman attending esthetician school online in West Medford MA Online esthetician classes are convenient for West Medford MA students who are employed full-time and have family obligations that make it hard to attend a more traditional school. There are many online beauty school programs available that can be attended via a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional cosmetology schools are typically fast paced given that many courses are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a significant amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you’re not spending many hours outside of your home or driving to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s imperative that the program you choose can provide internship training in area salons and parlors so that you also obtain the hands-on training necessary for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s difficult to obtain the skills necessary to work in any facet 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.

What to Ask Esthetics Programs

West Medford MA models benefit from esthetic treatments Below is a list of questions that you should investigate for any esthetician training school you are considering. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school in relation to your West Medford home, as well as the cost of tuition, will probably be your initial qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably 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 should research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Following we have collected some of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final selection.

Is the School Accredited? It’s important to make certain that the esthetician school you enroll in is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged 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 guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not available in 02156 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous West Medford MA employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Each esthetician school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly sought after. Check rating services for reviews as well as the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with West Medford MA 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 looked into. Finally, contact the Massachusetts school licensing authority to find out 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, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you choose a school that specializes in your area of interest. If your intention 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 desire is to launch a West Medford MA beauty salon, then you need 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 require.

Is Any Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and mastering esthetician skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is included in the beauty courses you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that make it possible for students to practice their growing talents on volunteers. If a beauty academy offers little or no scheduled live training, but instead relies heavily on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for cultivating your skills. Therefore try to find other schools that furnish this kind of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from an esthetician school, it’s imperative that she or he receives assistance in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide assistance develop relationships with West Medford MA employers that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and find out which salons and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered? Almost all esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Speak with a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you may qualify for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students also. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not eliminate it as an alternative before you learn what financial assistance may be available.

Attending Esthetician School Near West Medford MA?

Perhaps you live in the West Medford Massachusetts 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.

Medford, Massachusetts

Medford is a city 3.2 miles northwest of downtown Boston on the Mystic River in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. In the 2010 U.S. Census, Medford's population was 56,173. It is home to Tufts University, which has its campus along the Medford and Somerville border.

Medford was settled in 1630 as part of Charlestown.[2] The area was originally called "Mistick" by Thomas Dudley (a name which persisted for many decades), which his party renamed "Meadford".[3] The name may have come from a description of the "meadow by the ford" in the Mystic River, or from two locations in England that Cradock may have known: the hamlet of Mayford or Metford in Staffordshire near Caverswall, or from the parish of Maidford or Medford (now Towcester, Northamptonshire).[4] In 1634, the land north of the Mystic River became the private plantation of former Governor Matthew Cradock; across the river was Ten Hills Farm, which belonged to John Winthrop, Governor of the Massachusetts Bay colony.[5]

In 1637, the first bridge (a toll bridge) across the Mystic River was built at the site of the present-day Cradock Bridge, which carries Main Street into Medford Square.[6] It would be the only bridge across the Mystic until 1787, and as such became a major route for traffic coming into Boston from the north (though ferries and fords were also used).[7] The bridge would be rebuilt in 1880 and 1909.[6]

Choose the Right Esthetician Training Program near West Medford MA

Picking and enrolling in the right esthetician program is imperative to get the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel confident 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 employ that data to contrast schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the school and program you select are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. If you begin with that base, and address the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the right selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are ready to start your career as a professional esthetician in West Medford MA.