How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Lillington NC

How to Enroll In an Esthetician Program near Lillington North Carolina

Lillington NC esthetician client with cucumber facial Now that you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Lillington NC, the task starts to locate and enroll in the best program. It’s important that the school you choose not only provides the proper instruction for the specialty you have selected, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your initial search, you might be rather puzzled about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are essentially interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind of school. We’ll talk a little bit further regarding that in the upcoming segment. If you intend on commuting to classes you will need to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Lillington home. Tuition will likewise be a critical aspect when evaluating possible schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it’s not automatically the ideal option. There are a number of other factors that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask about 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 Lillington NC Cosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human anatomy look more attractive with the application 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 word cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic can be almost anything that enhances the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, most states mandate that you take some form of specialized training and then become licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only Lillington NC beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gotten experience and a client base, launch their own shops or salons. Others will begin seeing customers either in their own homes or will travel to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by many titles 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 practicing cosmetologists have to be licensed. In some states there is an exception. Only those conducting more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people employed in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.

Esthetician Degrees

Lillington NC esthetician client with face mask There are basically two avenues offered to get 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 usually 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 main areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you wish to concentrate on just one area, such as esthetics. A degree program will also probably incorporate management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to run a salon or other Lillington NC business. Higher degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such areas as salon or spa management. Whichever type of course you go with, it’s important to make certain that it’s recognized by the North Carolina Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded agencies, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the advantages of accreditation for the school you choose in the next segment.

Online Esthetics Programs

woman attending esthetician school online in Lillington NC Online esthetician schools are advantageous for Lillington NC students who are working full time and have family responsibilities that make it challenging to enroll in a more traditional school. There are numerous online cosmetology school programs offered that can be attended via a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional beauty programs are often fast paced since many courses are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a considerable portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are covering the same volume of material, but you’re not devoting numerous hours outside of your home or driving to and from classes. However, it’s important that the program you select can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors so that you also obtain the hands-on training necessary for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s impossible to gain the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology field. So make sure if you choose to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is available in your area.

Questions to Ask Esthetician Training Courses

Lillington NC models benefit from esthetic treatments Below is a list of questions that you should investigate for any esthetician training program you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Lillington home, as well as the price of tuition, will most likely be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have collected several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each school before making a final determination.

Is the School Accredited? It’s essential to make certain 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which often are not offered in 27546 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 Lillington NC businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation? Every esthetician school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly demanded. Check rating companies for reviews along with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Lillington NC salon owners or managers, or any person working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not considered. And finally, contact the North Carolina 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? A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for instance hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s essential that you select a school that specializes in your area of interest. If your goal 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 start a Lillington NC 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 poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you require.

Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Practicing and perfecting esthetician techniques and abilities demands lots of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is provided in the beauty courses you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that enable students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a beauty school furnishes minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead depends predominantly on using 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? As soon as a student graduates from an esthetician academy, it’s essential that she or he receives assistance in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide assistance develop relationships with Lillington NC businesses that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which salons and businesses they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only affirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Assistance Offered? Almost all esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are considering have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students too. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not omit it as an option until you learn what financial aid may be provided.

Attending Esthetician School Near Lillington NC?

Perhaps you live in the Lillington North Carolina 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.

Lillington, North Carolina

Lillington is a town in Harnett County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,194 at the 2010 census,[1] and was estimated in 2016 to be 3,581.[2] It is the county seat of Harnett County.[5] Lillington is a part of the Dunn Micropolitan Area, which is also a part of the greater Raleigh–Durham–Cary Combined Statistical Area (CSA) as defined by the United States Census Bureau.

Lillington is located near the geographic center of Harnett County.[6]U.S. Route 401 (Main Street) passes through the center of town, leading north 31 miles (50 km) to Raleigh, the state capital, and south 27 miles (43 km) to Fayetteville. U.S. Route 421 follows US-401 along North Main Street through the town, but turns west out of town via West Front Street, leading 22 miles (35 km) to Sanford. US-421 turns east from US-401 near the northern end of town and leads southeast 14 miles (23 km) to Dunn.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town of Lillington has a total area of 4.6 square miles (11.9 km2), of which 0.04 square miles (0.1 km2), or 0.68%, are water.[1] The Cape Fear River crosses the northern part of the town.

Enroll in the Right Esthetics Program near Lillington NC

Locating and enrolling in the right esthetician college is imperative to receive the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel certain about your decision. Make certain to organize all of the responses you get from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to contrast schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the college and program you select are accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and answer the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to narrow down 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 prepared to begin your new career as a professional esthetician in Lillington NC.