How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Cape Girardeau MO

How to Choose an Esthetician Program near Cape Girardeau Missouri

Cape Girardeau MO esthetician client with cucumber facial Once you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Cape Girardeau MO, the process starts to locate and enroll in the ideal program. It’s important that the school you pick not only provides the appropriate education for the specialty you have chosen, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your preliminary search, you may be somewhat puzzled about the contrast 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 discuss a bit further about that in the next segment. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Cape Girardeau home. Tuition will also be an important consideration when evaluating potential schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it’s not always the best choice. There are several other considerations that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask about the cosmetology schools you are thinking about later within this article. Before we do, let’s talk a bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of training programs are offered.

Defining Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Cape Girardeau MO Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human body look more attractive with the use of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but really 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 take some type of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only Cape Girardeau MO beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gained experience and a client base, establish their own shops or salons. Others will begin seeing clients either in their own residences or will travel to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many professional names and work in a wide range 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 some states there is an exemption. Only those offering more skilled services, for example hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others working in cosmetology and less skilled, such as shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.

Esthetician Degrees

Cape Girardeau MO esthetician client with face mask There are primarily two pathways available to obtain esthetician training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs usually require 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 all of the main areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are available if you prefer to focus on just one area, for example esthetics. A degree program will also probably feature management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to run a parlor or other Cape Girardeau MO business. More advanced degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whichever type of training program you decide on, it’s important to make certain that it’s certified by the Missouri Board of Cosmetology. Many states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain reputable agencies, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the advantages of accreditation for the school you choose in the following segment.

Online Esthetician Training

woman attending esthetician school online in Cape Girardeau MO Online esthetician schools are accommodating for Cape Girardeau MO 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 beauty school programs available that can be accessed through a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional cosmetology programs are often fast paced due to the fact that many courses are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a substantial portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are dealing with the same volume of material, but you are not spending many hours away from your home or commuting to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s essential that the training program you choose can provide internship training in area salons and parlors so that you also get the hands-on training required for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s impossible to acquire the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology industry. So don’t forget if you decide to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.

What to Ask Esthetician Trade Schools

Cape Girardeau MO models benefit from esthetic treatments Below is a list of questions that you need to look into for any esthetician training school you are considering. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Cape Girardeau residence, as well as 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 narrowed your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have collected some of those supplemental questions that you should ask each school before making a final selection.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s important to make sure that the esthetician college you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not offered in 63701 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of Cape Girardeau MO businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Great Reputation? Each esthetician college that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating services for reviews as well as the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Cape Girardeau MO salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not thought of. And finally, check with the Missouri school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty? Some esthetician schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs often expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s imperative that you select a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your goal 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 open a Cape Girardeau MO beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly regarded school with a weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you need.

Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and mastering esthetician skills and techniques involves plenty of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is included in the beauty courses you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that make it possible for students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a beauty program offers little or no scheduled live training, but rather depends predominantly on the use of mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for cultivating your skills. So try to find alternate schools that provide this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from an esthetician school, it’s imperative that she or he receives aid in securing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish help maintain relationships with Cape Girardeau MO employers that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and inquire which salons and businesses they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Assistance 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. Consult with a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you might get approved for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students as well. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not eliminate it as an alternative until you learn what financial aid may be offered.

Attending Esthetician School Near Cape Girardeau MO?

Perhaps you live in the Cape Girardeau Missouri 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.

Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Cape Girardeau (/ˈkeɪp dʒɪˈrɑːrdoʊ/, French: Cap-Girardeau [kap ʒiʁaʁdo] (listen); colloquially referred to as "Cape") is a city in Cape Girardeau county in the U.S. state of Missouri. It is located approximately 115 miles (185 km) southeast of St. Louis and 175 miles (282 km) north of Memphis. As of the 2017 United States Census Bureau estimates, the city's population was 39,151, making it the 17th-largest city in Missouri,[3] and the largest city in Southeast Missouri. An emerging college town, it is the home of Southeast Missouri State University.

The city is named after Jean Baptiste de Girardot, who established a temporary trading post in the area around 1733. He was a French soldier stationed at Kaskaskia between 1704–1720 in the French colony of La Louisiane. The "Cape" in the city name referred to a rock promontory overlooking the Mississippi River; it was later destroyed by railroad construction.[6] As early as 1765, a bend in the Mississippi River, about 60 miles (97 km) south of the French village of Ste. Genevieve, had been referred to as Cape Girardot or Girardeau.

The settlement of Girardeau is said to date from 1793 when the Spanish government, which had acquired Louisiana in 1764 following the French defeat in the Seven Years' War, granted Louis Lorimier, a French-Canadian, the right to establish a trading post. This gave him trading privileges and a large tract of land surrounding his post. Lorimier was made commandant of the district and prospered from the returns on his land sales and trade with indigenous peoples, such as the Ozark Bluff Dwellers and the Mississippian people.

Find the Right Esthetician Vocational School near Cape Girardeau MO

Locating and enrolling in the ideal esthetician school is essential to obtain the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel positive about your decision. Make sure to compile all of the information you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to compare schools. A good start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the academy and program you choose are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and answer the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are ready to begin your new career as a professional esthetician in Cape Girardeau MO.