How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Spring Lake MI

How to Pick an Esthetician College near Spring Lake Michigan

Spring Lake MI esthetician client with cucumber facial Since you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Spring Lake MI, the process starts to find and enroll in the right program. It’s imperative that the program you choose not only provides the necessary instruction for the specialty you have chosen, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your initial search, you may be a little bit unclear about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are pretty much interchangeable and both refer to the same type of school. We’ll speak a little bit more regarding that in the upcoming segment. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Spring Lake home. Tuition will likewise be an important consideration when reviewing potential schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it’s not necessarily the right option. There are several other factors that you should weigh when comparing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are thinking about later in this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of training programs are available.

What is Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Spring Lake MI Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human anatomy look more attractive through the use of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but really a cosmetic may be anything that improves the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, most states mandate that you go through some kind of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work environments include not only Spring Lake MI beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have acquired experience and a customer base, establish their own shops or salons. Others will start seeing clients either in their own residences or will go to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many names and are employed 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 must be licensed. In a few states there is an exception. Only those conducting more skilled services, for example hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others employed in cosmetology and less skilled, such as shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.

Esthetician Certificates and Degrees

Spring Lake MI esthetician client with face mask There are essentially two avenues 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 normally require 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 available if you prefer to focus on just one area, for instance esthetics. A degree program will also probably incorporate management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to operate a salon or other Spring Lake MI business. More advanced degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whatever type of course you go with, it’s important to make certain that it’s certified by the Michigan Board of Cosmetology. Many states only approve schools that are accredited by certain respected agencies, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the benefits of accreditation for the school you decide on in the upcoming segment.

Online Esthetician Courses

woman attending esthetician school online in Spring Lake MI Online esthetician schools are convenient for Spring Lake MI students who are employed full time and have family commitments that make it challenging to enroll in a more traditional school. There are many web-based beauty school programs available that can be attended through a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional beauty schools are often fast paced since many programs are as short as six or eight months. This means that a large amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are covering the same volume of material, but you are not devoting many hours outside of your home or travelling to and from classes. However, it’s essential that the program you choose can provide internship training in area salons and parlors to ensure that you also receive the hands-on training needed for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s difficult to gain the skills necessary to work in any facet of the cosmetology profession. So be sure if you decide to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is available in your area.

Questions to Ask Esthetics Schools

Spring Lake MI models benefit from esthetic treatments Following is a series of questions that you will want to investigate for any esthetician training school you are considering. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Spring Lake residence, together with the expense of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt 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 need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have put together several of those supplemental questions that you should ask every school before making a final selection.

Is the School Accredited? It’s important to make sure that the esthetician school you select is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified 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 may also be necessary for getting student loans or financial aid, which often are not available in 49456 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many Spring Lake MI employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation? Every esthetician college that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the industry. 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. Check rating services for reviews along with the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Spring Lake MI salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. And finally, contact the Michigan 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 Specialty? A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing 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 expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s essential that you choose 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 well regarded for that program. If your aspiration is to open a Spring Lake MI beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly regarded school with a weak program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you need.

Is Enough Live Training Provided? Learning and mastering esthetician skills and techniques requires lots of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the beauty courses you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that enable students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a beauty school provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead depends heavily on the use of mannequins, it might not be the best option for cultivating 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 essential that she or he gets support in securing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide assistance develop relationships with Spring Lake MI businesses that are seeking trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and inquire which salons and organizations they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have broad 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. Find out if the schools you are considering have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students also. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not omit it as an alternative before you find out what financial assistance may be offered.

Attending Esthetician School Near Spring Lake MI?

Perhaps you live in the Spring Lake 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.

Spring Lake, Michigan

In 1837, Captain Benjamin Hopkins purchased land in the area and built a mill. The place became known as "Hopkins Mill". In 1849, Thomas W. White and S.C. Hopkins recorded a plat with the name "Mill Point". A post office was established with that name in May 1851. In May 1867, the post office was renamed "Spring Lake", which was also the name of a station on the Detroit, Grand Haven and Milwaukee Railway (later part of the Grand Trunk Western Railroad). The Village of Spring Lake was incorporated in 1869.[6] The post office continues to operate, with ZIP code 49456.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 1.74 square miles (4.51 km2), of which 1.18 square miles (3.06 km2) is land and 0.56 square miles (1.45 km2) is water.[1]

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 2,323 people, 1,067 households, and 635 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,968.6 inhabitants per square mile (760.1/km2). There were 1,301 housing units at an average density of 1,102.5 per square mile (425.7/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 96.7% White, 0.2% African American, 0.8% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.6% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.8% of the population.

Select the Right Esthetician School near Spring Lake MI

Choosing and enrolling in the right esthetician college is essential to obtain the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel confident about your decision. Make certain to compile all of the responses you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that data to compare schools. A good beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the college and program you decide on are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and address the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the ideal choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are qualified to launch your career as a professional esthetician in Spring Lake MI.