How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Litchfield MI

How to Find the Right Esthetician School near Litchfield Michigan

Litchfield MI esthetician client with cucumber facial Once you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Litchfield MI, the task starts to locate and enroll in the ideal program. It’s essential that the program you choose not only furnishes the necessary instruction for the specialty you have decided on, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your initial search, you may be rather confused about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both refer to the same type of school. We’ll talk a little bit further concerning that in the following segment. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Litchfield home. Tuition will additionally be a critical consideration when assessing possible schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it’s not automatically the best choice. There are various other considerations that you should weigh when comparing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask concerning the cosmetology schools you are looking at later in this article. Before we do, let’s talk a bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of courses are available.

Definition of Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Litchfield MI Cosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human anatomy look more attractive with the application of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic may 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 mandate that you take some type of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only Litchfield MI beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have acquired experience and a client base, open their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing clients either in their own homes or will go to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many titles 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 already stated, in most states working cosmetologists have to be licensed. In a few states there is an exception. Only those offering more skilled services, for example hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others employed in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.

Esthetics Degrees and Certificates

Litchfield MI esthetician client with face mask There are primarily two pathways available to obtain 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 generally 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 each of the major areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are offered if you wish to focus on just one area, for example esthetics. A degree program will also likely include management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to run a parlor or other Litchfield MI business. More advanced degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whichever type of course you opt for, it’s imperative to make certain that it’s approved by the Michigan Board of Cosmetology. Many states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain reputable organizations, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the benefits of accreditation for the school you decide on in the upcoming section.

Online Esthetics Training

woman attending esthetician school online in Litchfield MI Online esthetician schools are convenient for Litchfield MI students who are working full time and have family obligations that make it difficult to attend a more traditional school. There are many online cosmetology school programs offered that can be attended via a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional cosmetology programs are often fast paced because many programs are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a significant amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are covering the same amount of material, but you are not spending numerous hours outside of your home or driving to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s essential that the program you select can provide internship training in local salons and parlors in order that you also receive the hands-on training required for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s impossible to acquire the skills required to work in any area of the cosmetology industry. So make sure if you choose to enroll in an online school to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.

What to Ask Esthetician Training Courses

Litchfield MI models benefit from esthetic treatments Following is a series of questions that you need to look into for any esthetician training program you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Litchfield residence, in addition to the cost of tuition, will most likely be your initial qualifiers. Whether you want to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have put together several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each school before making a final selection.

Is the School Accredited? It’s essential to make certain that the esthetician school you pick 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 assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which typically are not available in 49252 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of Litchfield MI employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation? Every esthetician institute that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating services for reviews in addition to the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Litchfield MI salon owners or managers, or any person working in the field, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not thought of. And last, check with the Michigan school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in total compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty? Some esthetician schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for instance hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs often broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you decide on a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your intention 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 desire is to start a Litchfield MI 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 poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you require.

Is Any Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and refining esthetician techniques and abilities requires plenty of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the cosmetology courses you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that make it possible for students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a beauty program provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather depends predominantly on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for acquiring your skills. Therefore try to find alternate schools that provide this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from an esthetician academy, it’s crucial that he or she gets aid in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish assistance maintain relationships with Litchfield MI businesses that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and inquire which salons and organizations they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have broad 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 looking at have a financial aid department. Talk to a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you may qualify for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students too. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications except for cost, do not discard it as an alternative until you learn what financial assistance may be offered.

Attending Esthetician School Near Litchfield MI?

Perhaps you live in the Litchfield Michigan 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.

Litchfield, Michigan

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.54 square miles (6.58 km2), of which 2.50 square miles (6.47 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) is water.[6] Litchfield also has the St. Joseph River flowing close to the downtown area, within the city limits. Litchfield has a growing industrial base and is centrally located in southern Mid-Michigan. Litchfield is the only City in the County with a public pool.

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 1,369 people, 559 households, and 365 families residing in the city. The population density was 547.6 inhabitants per square mile (211.4/km2). There were 616 housing units at an average density of 246.4 per square mile (95.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.9% White, 0.3% African American, 0.7% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 1.1% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.9% of the population.

There were 559 households of which 32.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.6% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 7.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.7% were non-families. 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.99.

Choose the Right Esthetics Program near Litchfield MI

Locating and enrolling in the right esthetician college is essential to get the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel certain about your decision. Don’t forget to collect all of the responses you get from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to contrast schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the school and program you choose are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you begin with that base, 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 selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are prepared to start your new career as a professional esthetician in Litchfield MI.