How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Winterville NC

How to Select an Esthetics College near Winterville North Carolina

Winterville NC esthetician client with cucumber facial Now that you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Winterville NC, the task begins to locate and enroll in the best program. It’s important that the school you pick not only provides the proper education for the specialty you have decided on, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you may be rather confused about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. We’ll speak a little bit more regarding that in the following segment. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Winterville home. Tuition will also be a critical consideration when assessing prospective schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it’s not automatically the ideal choice. There are various other qualifications that you should weigh when comparing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are looking at later within this article. Before we do, let’s talk a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of courses are available.

Defining Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Winterville NC Cosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human body look more attractive through the use of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but really a cosmetic can be almost anything that enhances the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, most states mandate that you undergo some kind of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work environments include not only Winterville NC 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, launch 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 professional names and are employed in a wide variety of specialties 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 certain states there is an exemption. Only those conducting more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others employed in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.

Esthetician Degrees

Winterville NC esthetician client with face mask There are primarily two avenues offered to get 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 normally require 12 to 18 months to finish, while an Associate’s degree ordinarily 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 prefer to specialize in just one area, for example esthetics. A degree program will also probably feature management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to operate a salon or other Winterville NC business. Higher degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whichever type of training program you decide on, it’s essential to make sure that it’s certified by the North Carolina Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only certify schools that are accredited by certain respected agencies, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the benefits of accreditation for the school you decide on in the next segment.

Online Esthetics Classes

woman attending esthetician school online in Winterville NC Online esthetician schools are accommodating for Winterville NC students who are employed full time and have family responsibilities that make it challenging to attend a more traditional school. There are numerous web-based beauty school programs available that can be accessed by means of a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional cosmetology programs are frequently fast paced since many courses are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a substantial portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are covering the same amount of material, but you’re not spending numerous hours away from your home or commuting back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it’s imperative that the program you choose can provide internship training in local salons and parlors to ensure that you also obtain the hands-on training needed for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s impossible to gain the skills required to work in any facet of the cosmetology industry. So be sure if you choose to enroll in an online school to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.

What to Ask Esthetics Programs

Winterville NC models benefit from esthetic treatments Following is a list of questions that you should look into for any esthetician training program you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Winterville home, as well as the expense of tuition, will most likely be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have collected several of those additional questions that you need to ask every school before making a final decision.

Is the School Accredited? It’s essential to make certain that the esthetician college 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for securing student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not obtainable in 28590 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many Winterville NC employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Each esthetician college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly sought after. Check rating services for reviews as well as the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Winterville NC salon owners or managers, or someone working in the business, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to suggest others that you had not thought of. And last, check with the North Carolina school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances submitted 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 facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs often expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you pick a school that specializes in 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 well regarded for that program. If your vision is to open a Winterville NC beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking 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? Learning and refining esthetician skills and techniques demands lots of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the cosmetology classes you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that make it possible for students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a beauty program provides limited or no scheduled live training, but rather depends heavily on the use of mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for acquiring your skills. Therefore search for alternate schools that furnish this type of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from an esthetician program, it’s crucial that he or she receives aid in finding that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish help maintain relationships with Winterville NC businesses that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which salons and organizations they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Assistance Available? Many esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and identify 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 available to students as well. If a school meets each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not drop it as an alternative before you learn what financial help may be offered.

Attending Esthetician School Near Winterville NC?

Perhaps you live in the Winterville 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.

Winterville, North Carolina

As of 2010, there were 10,791 people, 1,848 households, and 1,371 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,954.1 people per square mile (755.0/km²). There were 1,937 housing units at an average density of 790.0 per square mile (305.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 59.24% White, 38.36% African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.81% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races, and 0.73% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.02% of the population.

There were 1,848 households out of which 38.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.6% were married couples living together, 17.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.8% were non-families. 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the town, the population was spread out with 28.0% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 34.3% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.6 males.

Pick the Right Esthetician School near Winterville NC

Picking and enrolling in the right esthetician school is imperative to get the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel confident about your decision. Don’t forget to compile all of the information you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to compare schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the college and program you choose are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you begin with that foundation, 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 ideal selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to start your new career as a professional esthetician in Winterville NC.