How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Stafford TX

How to Pick an Esthetician Program near Stafford Texas

Stafford TX 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 Stafford TX, the task begins to find and enroll in the best program. It’s essential that the school you select not only provides the appropriate instruction for the specialty you have selected, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your initial search, you may be a little bit unclear about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. We’ll talk a bit more about that in the next section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Stafford residence. Tuition will likewise be a critical aspect when assessing prospective schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it’s not always the ideal choice. There are a number of other qualifications that you should weigh when analyzing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are considering later within this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of programs are offered.

What is Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Stafford TX Cosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human anatomy look more attractive with 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 basically 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, almost all states require that you undergo some kind of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only Stafford TX beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gotten experience and a clientele, establish their own shops or salons. Others will start seeing customers either in their own homes or will go to the client’s house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many professional names and are employed in a wide range of specialties including:

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

As formerly stated, in the majority of states working cosmetologists must be licensed. In a few states there is an exemption. Only those performing more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others employed in cosmetology and less skilled, such as shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.

Esthetics Certificates and Degrees

Stafford TX esthetician client with face mask There are essentially two avenues offered to get esthetician training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs normally require 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 trained in each of the main areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are offered if you prefer to specialize in just one area, for instance esthetics. A degree program will also probably feature management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to manage a parlor or other Stafford TX business. Higher degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whichever type of training program you choose, it’s imperative to make sure that it’s recognized by the Texas Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain reputable organizations, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the benefits of accreditation for the school you decide on in the next segment.

Online Esthetician Classes

woman attending esthetician school online in Stafford TX Online esthetician classes are convenient for Stafford TX students who are employed full time and have family commitments that make it challenging to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of online cosmetology school programs offered that can be attended by means of a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional cosmetology schools are typically fast paced since many courses are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a substantial amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are covering the same volume of material, but you are not devoting numerous hours outside of your home or travelling back and forth from classes. However, it’s essential that the program you choose can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors to ensure that you also receive 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 field. So don’t forget if you decide to enroll in an online school to confirm that internship training is available in your area.

What to Ask Esthetician Training Courses

Stafford TX models benefit from esthetic treatments Following is a list of questions that you will want to research for any esthetician training program you are contemplating. As we have already covered, the location of the school in relation to your Stafford residence, as well as the cost of tuition, will most likely be your initial qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue 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 additional factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Following we have collected several of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final determination.

Is the School Accredited? It’s necessary to make sure that the esthetician school you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized 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 ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for securing student loans or financial aid, which typically are not offered in 77477 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous Stafford TX businesses will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Great Reputation? Every esthetician college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating services for reviews along with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Stafford TX salon owners or managers, or someone working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to propose others that you had not looked into. Finally, check with the Texas 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 Focus? Some esthetician schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular 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 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 respected for that program. If your vision is to open a Stafford TX beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly rated school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you need.

Is Any Live Training Provided? Studying and refining esthetician skills and techniques requires lots of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is provided in the cosmetology classes you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that make it possible for students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a beauty academy furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but rather depends mainly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the best option for developing your skills. Therefore look for other schools that furnish this kind of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from an esthetician program, it’s crucial that she or he gets aid in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer aid maintain relationships with Stafford TX employers that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which salons and organizations they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Assistance Available? Almost all esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you may qualify for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students also. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not discard it as an option until you find out what financial help may be offered.

Attending Esthetician School Near Stafford TX?

Perhaps you live in the Stafford Texas 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.

Stafford, Texas

Stafford is a city in the U.S. state of Texas, within the Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land metropolitan area. The city is mostly in Fort Bend County, with a small portion in Harris County. As of the 2010 census, Stafford's population was 17,693,[3] up from 15,681 at the 2000 census. As of 2018 the population had risen to an estimated 21,265.[4]

William Stafford established a plantation with a cane mill and a horse-powered cotton gin in 1830. On April 15, 1836, during the Texas Revolution, the forces of Antonio López de Santa Anna stopped at Stafford's plantation and ordered it to be burned. Stafford rebuilt his plantation and resided there until his 1840 death. A settlement called "Stafford's Point" established itself around the plantation; it became a townsite in August 1853 when the Buffalo Bayou, Brazos and Colorado Railway began stopping there. Stafford's Point had a post office from 1854 to 1869. "Staffordville" had a post office from January 5, 1869 to February 26, 1869. The settlement, now known as "Stafford", operated a post office from 1869 to 1918; the post office reopened in 1929.[5]

In 1884, Stafford had 50 residents, two general stores, and a grocer. By 1896, the settlement had a population of 300. By 1914, the population fell to 100. In 1931, 320 people lived in Stafford. This increased to 400 residents in 1946. Stafford incorporated as a city in 1956.[5]

Choose the Right Esthetician School near Stafford TX

Selecting and enrolling in the right esthetician program is important to obtain the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel confident about your decision. Be sure to consolidate all of the information you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that information to compare schools. A good start in your due diligence procedure is to make certain 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 provided in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are ready to launch your new career as a professional esthetician in Stafford TX.