How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools North Charleston SC

How to Enroll In an Esthetician College near North Charleston South Carolina

North Charleston SC esthetician client with cucumber facial Since you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near North Charleston SC, the process starts to find and enroll in the ideal program. It’s imperative that the program you pick not only provides the appropriate training for the specialty you have chosen, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your initial search, you might be somewhat confused about the difference 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 more about that in the following section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your North Charleston residence. Tuition will additionally be an important aspect when reviewing potential schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it’s not necessarily the ideal choice. There are a number of other considerations that you should evaluate when comparing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask concerning the cosmetology schools you are thinking about later in this article. Before we do, let’s talk a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of training programs are available.

Defining Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners North Charleston SC Cosmetology is a profession that is all about making the human body look more attractive through the application of cosmetics. So naturally 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 basically a cosmetic may be anything that improves the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, most states require that you take some form of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only North Charleston SC beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gotten experience and a clientele, establish their own shops or salons. Others will begin seeing customers either in their own homes or will go to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have 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 previously stated, in most states practicing cosmetologists must be licensed. In certain states there is an exception. Only those conducting more skilled services, for instance hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people employed in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.

Esthetics Degrees and Certificates

North Charleston SC esthetician client with face mask There are primarily two pathways offered to get esthetician training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs usually call for 12 to 18 months to finish, 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 available if you prefer to specialize in just one area, for example esthetics. A degree program will also probably include management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to run a parlor or other North Charleston SC business. More advanced degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such areas as salon or spa management. Whatever type of program you opt for, it’s imperative to make certain that it’s recognized by the South Carolina Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only certify schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded organizations, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the benefits of accreditation for the school you choose in the next segment.

Online Esthetician Programs

woman attending esthetician school online in North Charleston SC Online esthetician programs are advantageous for North Charleston SC students who are working full-time and have family obligations that make it hard to enroll in a more traditional school. There are a large number of web-based beauty school programs offered that can be attended via a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional cosmetology programs are often fast paced due to the fact that many courses are as short as six or eight months. This means that a substantial amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you are not spending many hours outside of your home or travelling back and forth from classes. However, it’s important that the program you pick can provide internship training in area salons and parlors to ensure that you also get the hands-on training needed for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s difficult to gain the skills necessary to work in any facet of the cosmetology industry. So don’t forget if you choose to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is provided in your area.

What to Ask Esthetics Training Classes

North Charleston SC models benefit from esthetic treatments Following is a series of questions that you need to look into for any esthetician training school you are contemplating. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your North Charleston residence, in addition to the price of tuition, will most likely be your primary qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you should research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have put together several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final selection.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s necessary to make sure that the esthetician college you choose 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 assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for securing student loans or financial aid, which typically are not offered in 29405 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of North Charleston SC employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Great Reputation? Any esthetician school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating services for reviews along with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with North Charleston SC salon owners or managers, or any person working in the industry, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to suggest others that you had not thought of. And finally, consult the South Carolina school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty? A number of 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, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs commonly expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you pick a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your intention 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 start a North Charleston SC 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 pursuing will not provide the training you require.

Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and refining esthetician techniques and abilities requires lots of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is provided in the beauty lessons you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that allow students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a beauty school furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but rather relies mainly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the best option for developing your skills. Therefore search for other schools that provide this kind of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from an esthetician school, it’s essential that he or she receives support in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide aid develop relationships with North Charleston SC employers 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 businesses they refer students to. Additionally, 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 regarded as well.

Is Financial Aid Available? 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 department. Talk to a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you may get approved for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students too. If a school meets each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not omit it as an alternative until you find out what financial help may be available.

Attending Esthetician School Near North Charleston SC?

Perhaps you live in the North Charleston 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.

North Charleston, South Carolina

North Charleston is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina[citation needed], with incorporated areas in Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties.[1] On June 12, 1972, the city of North Charleston was incorporated and was rated as the ninth-largest city in South Carolina. As of the 2010 Census, North Charleston had a population of 97,471,[4] growing to an estimated population of 108,304 in 2015, and with a current area of more than 76.6 square miles (198.5 km2).[5][6] As defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, for use by the U.S. Census Bureau and other U.S. Government agencies for statistical purposes only, North Charleston is included within the Charleston–North Charleston–Summerville metropolitan area and the Charleston-North Charleston urban area.[7] North Charleston is one of the state's major industrial centers and is the state's top city in gross retail sales.[8][9]

The large plantations were subdivided into smaller farms in the late 19th century as the urban population began moving northward. Due to the large labor forces of enslaved African Americans who worked these properties for over two centuries, the population of Charleston County in 1870 was 73 percent black; however, they were freedmen by this time. After the Civil War, phosphate fertilizer plants were developed, with extensive strip mining occurring between the Ashley River and Broad Path (Meeting Street Road). The main route for transportation of these phosphates eventually became known as Ashley Phosphate Road.

Since the early 20th century, the section of unincorporated Charleston County that later became the city of North Charleston had been designated by Charleston business and community leaders as a place for development of industry, military and other business sites. The first industry started in this area was the E.P. Burton Lumber Company. In 1901, the Charleston Naval Shipyard was established with agreements between the federal government and local Charleston city leaders. Shortly thereafter, the General Asbestos and Rubber Company (GARCO) built the world's largest asbestos mill under one roof.

Pick the Right Esthetician Vocational School near North Charleston SC

Picking and enrolling in the right esthetician college is important to obtain the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel confident about your decision. Don’t forget to compile all of the information you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to compare schools. A sensible start in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the school and program you pick are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and address the additional questions supplied in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the ideal choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to launch your new career as a professional esthetician in North Charleston SC.