How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Hartsville SC

How to Find the Right Esthetician Program near Hartsville South Carolina

Hartsville SC esthetician client with cucumber facial Since you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Hartsville SC, the process begins to find and enroll in the ideal program. It’s important that the program you choose not only furnishes the appropriate education for the specialty you have selected, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your preliminary search, you might be a little bit confused about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are pretty much interchangeable and both refer to the same kind of school. We’ll talk a little bit further regarding that in the upcoming segment. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Hartsville home. Tuition will likewise be an important consideration when evaluating prospective schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it’s not necessarily the right choice. There are a number of other qualifications that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask about the cosmetology schools you are looking at later within this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of training programs are offered.

What is Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Hartsville SC Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human anatomy look more beautiful with the application of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic can be anything that improves 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 go through some kind of specialized training and then become licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only Hartsville SC beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have gotten experience and a clientele, launch their own shops or salons. Others will start seeing customers either in their own homes or will go to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many professional names and are employed in a wide range of specializations including:

Estheticians
Hairdressers
Hairstylists
Beauticians
Barbers
Manicurists
Nail Technicians
Makeup Artists
Hair Coloring Specialists
Electrolysis Technicians

As already mentioned, in most states working cosmetologists have to be licensed. In some states there is an exemption. Only those conducting more skilled services, for instance hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others working in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.

Esthetics Certificates and Degrees

Hartsville SC esthetician client with face mask There are basically two options offered to obtain esthetician training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs usually take 12 to 18 months to complete, while an Associate’s degree usually takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be instructed in all of the main areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are offered if you prefer to concentrate on just one area, for example esthetics. A degree program will also probably incorporate management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to operate a salon or other Hartsville SC 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 course you opt for, it’s essential to make certain that it’s recognized by the South Carolina Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only certify schools that are accredited by certain reputable organizations, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the benefits of accreditation for the school you choose in the upcoming section.

Online Esthetics Training

woman attending esthetician school online in Hartsville SC Online esthetician classes are advantageous for Hartsville SC students who are working full-time and have family responsibilities that make it challenging to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of online cosmetology school programs offered that can be accessed through a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional beauty programs are typically fast paced due to the fact that many programs are as short as six or eight months. This means that a large portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are covering the same volume of material, but you’re not spending many hours outside of your home or driving to and from classes. However, it’s vital that the training program you pick can provide internship training in local salons and parlors in order that you also receive the hands-on training needed for a complete 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 be sure if you choose to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is available in your area.

What to Ask Esthetician Training Classes

Hartsville SC models benefit from esthetic treatments Following is a series of questions that you will want to research for any esthetician training program you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school in relation to your Hartsville home, together with the cost of tuition, will probably be your primary qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have compiled some of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each 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 agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which typically are not available in 29550 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous Hartsville SC businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably 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 excellent reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly regarded. Check rating services for reviews along with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Hartsville SC salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the business, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not thought of. Finally, consult the South Carolina school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in total compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus? Some esthetician schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, for instance hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you enroll in a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your ambition 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 open a Hartsville SC beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly ranked school with a weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you need.

Is Any Live Training Provided? Studying and mastering esthetician skills and techniques involves lots of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is provided in the beauty courses you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that allow students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a beauty school furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but instead relies heavily on using mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for cultivating your skills. Therefore look for other schools that offer this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from an esthetician academy, it’s crucial that she or he gets assistance in securing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide assistance maintain relationships with Hartsville SC employers that are seeking trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and ask which salons and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. High 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. Ask if the schools you are considering have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and find out 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 accessible to students also. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not eliminate it as an option before you determine what financial assistance may be provided.

Attending Esthetician School Near Hartsville SC?

Perhaps you live in the Hartsville South 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.

Hartsville, South Carolina

Hartsville is the largest city in Darlington County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 7,768 at the 2016 census.[4] Hartsville was chosen as an All-America City in 1996 and again in 2016. Hartsville has also been a National Arbor Day Foundation Tree City since 1986.

Hartsville is home of Coker College and a branch of Florence–Darlington Technical College. It is also the home of the South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics, a public boarding high school.

The area surrounding Hartsville was once home to several Native American tribes, including the Pee Dee, Catawba, Chicora, Edisto, Sane, and Chicora-Waccamaw, who inhabited the region until European settlers arrived. The tribes were ultimately wiped out due to diseases brought in by settlers.

Pick the Right Esthetics Vocational School near Hartsville SC

Locating and enrolling in the ideal esthetician college is essential to get the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel positive about your decision. Make sure to consolidate all of the responses you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that information to contrast schools. A sensible start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the college and program you select are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the field. If you start with that foundation, and answer the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to filter 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 prepared to begin your new career as a professional esthetician in Hartsville SC.