How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Maple Falls WA

How to Find the Right Esthetician College near Maple Falls Washington

Maple Falls WA esthetician client with cucumber facial Now that you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Maple Falls WA, the process begins to find and enroll in the ideal program. It’s essential that the school you choose not only furnishes the appropriate education for the specialty you have decided on, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your initial search, you might be a little bit puzzled about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both refer to the same kind of school. We’ll talk a bit more about that in the upcoming segment. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Maple Falls residence. Tuition will additionally be an important aspect when assessing prospective schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it’s not always the ideal choice. There are various other factors that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are looking at later in this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of programs are offered.

Defining Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Maple Falls WA Cosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human anatomy look more beautiful through the use of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but really a cosmetic may be anything that improves the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, most states require that you undergo some type of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Maple Falls WA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have gained experience and a clientele, open their own shops or salons. Others will begin servicing clients either in their own homes or will go to the client’s house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by 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 already stated, in the majority of states practicing cosmetologists have to be licensed. In some states there is an exemption. Only those conducting more skilled services, for example 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.

Esthetician Certificates and Degrees

Maple Falls WA esthetician client with face mask There are basically two pathways 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 typically 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 all of the major areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you prefer to specialize in just one area, for instance esthetics. A degree program will also likely include management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to operate a salon or other Maple Falls WA business. Higher degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whatever type of training program you go with, it’s essential to make sure that it’s approved by the Washington Board of Cosmetology. Many states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded organizations, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the advantages of accreditation for the school you decide on in the following section.

Online Esthetics Courses

woman attending esthetician school online in Maple Falls WA Online esthetician classes are advantageous for Maple Falls WA students who are employed full time and have family responsibilities that make it hard to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of web-based beauty school programs available that can be accessed through a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional beauty schools are often fast paced because many programs are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a significant portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are covering the same volume of material, but you’re not devoting numerous hours away from your home or driving back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it’s vital that the training program you pick can provide internship training in local salons and parlors so that you also get the hands-on training necessary for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s difficult to obtain the skills required to work in any facet of the cosmetology industry. So be sure if you decide to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.

Questions to Ask Esthetics Training Classes

Maple Falls WA models benefit from esthetic treatments Below is a list of questions that you need to research for any esthetician training program you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Maple Falls residence, together with the price of tuition, will most likely be your initial qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn 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 additional factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have put together some of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final decision.

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 recognized local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for getting student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable in 98266 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of Maple Falls WA businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Great Reputation? Each esthetician institute that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly demanded. Check rating companies for reviews along with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Maple Falls WA salon owners or managers, or someone working in the field, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. And last, check with the Washington school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in full compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty? Some esthetician schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs often broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you pick a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your objective 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 aspiration is to open a Maple Falls WA beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly rated school with a weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you require.

Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Studying and refining esthetician techniques and abilities requires plenty of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the beauty courses you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that make it possible for students to practice their developing skills on volunteers. If a beauty program furnishes limited or no scheduled live training, but instead depends mainly on the use of mannequins, it may not be the most effective option for acquiring your skills. Therefore search for other schools that provide this kind of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from an esthetician academy, it’s important that she or he receives support in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer assistance develop relationships with Maple Falls WA employers that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and inquire which salons and organizations they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Assistance Offered? The majority of esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid department. Talk to a counselor and find out 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 accessible to students too. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not drop it as an option before you learn what financial assistance may be provided.

Attending Esthetician School Near Maple Falls WA?

Perhaps you live in the Maple Falls Washington 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.

Maple Falls, Washington

Maple Falls is located on the Mount Baker Highway, east of Bellingham, three miles east of a junction at Kendall, with State Route 547, which connects over a low pass on the northeast flank of Sumas Mountain to Sumas and the border crossing with Abbotsford, British Columbia.

The climate in this area has mild differences between highs and lows, and there is adequate rainfall year-round. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Maple Falls has a marine west coast climate, abbreviated "Cfb" on climate maps.[4]

Among the first settlers of Maple Falls was Herbert Everant Leavitt, a native of Melbourne, Quebec, Canada.[5] After leaving Canada, Leavitt spent time in Truckee, California, where he worked as a carpenter before setting out for Columbia Township in Washington state. In 1888 Leavitt took up a homestead in Whatcom County where present-day Maple Falls is located. Leavitt packed his supplies in from Bellingham, Washington some 30 miles to his new farm. In subsequent years, besides farming, Leavitt operated a blacksmith shop at Maple Falls, was the proprietor of a Bellingham restaurant, and ran two hotels, in addition to serving as county constable for some 24 years.[6]

Enroll in the Right Esthetician Training Program near Maple Falls WA

Selecting and enrolling in the right esthetician school is important to get the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel positive about your decision. Be sure to compile all of the information you get from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that information to compare schools. A sensible start in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the academy and program you pick are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. If you start with that base, and answer the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are ready to begin your career as a professional esthetician in Maple Falls WA.