How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools New Haven CT

How to Pick an Esthetics Course near New Haven Connecticut

New Haven CT esthetician client with cucumber facial Once you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near New Haven CT, the process begins to search for and enroll in the ideal program. It’s important that the school you choose not only furnishes the appropriate education for the specialty you have chosen, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you may be rather puzzled about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are essentially interchangeable and both refer to the same kind of school. We’ll talk a bit further about that in the next section. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your New Haven residence. Tuition will likewise be an important aspect when reviewing potential schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it’s not necessarily the best option. There are various other factors that you should weigh when comparing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask concerning the cosmetology schools you are looking at 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 New Haven CT Cosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human body look more beautiful through the use of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but really a cosmetic may be almost anything that enhances the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, most states mandate that you take some form of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only New Haven CT beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have gained experience and a customer base, open their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing clients either in their own residences or will travel to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by many professional names and work in a wide variety of specialties including:

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

As earlier mentioned, in most states practicing cosmetologists have to be licensed. In certain states there is an exemption. Only those offering more skilled services, for example hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people employed in cosmetology and less skilled, such as shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.

Esthetics Degrees

New Haven CT esthetician client with face mask There are primarily two options available to receive esthetician training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs generally take 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 all of the major areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are offered if you wish to specialize in just one area, for example esthetics. A degree program will also most likely incorporate management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to operate a salon or other New Haven CT business. More advanced degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such areas as salon or spa management. Whichever type of course you go with, it’s essential to make certain that it’s approved by the Connecticut Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only approve schools that are accredited by certain reputable organizations, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the advantages of accreditation for the school you choose in the next section.

Online Esthetician Training

woman attending esthetician school online in New Haven CT Online esthetician classes are advantageous for New Haven CT students who are working full time and have family obligations that make it hard to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of online beauty school programs offered that can be accessed through a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional beauty schools are often fast paced since many courses are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a significant amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you’re not devoting numerous hours away from your home or commuting to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s essential that the program you pick can provide internship training in local salons and parlors in order that you also get the hands-on training required for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s difficult to obtain the skills required to work in any area 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

New Haven CT models benefit from esthetic treatments Below is a series of questions that you should research for any esthetician training program you are considering. As we have previously covered, the location of the school in relation to your New Haven home, together with the price of tuition, will undoubtedly be your initial qualifiers. Whether you want to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably 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 must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have collected several of those supplemental questions that you should ask every school before making a final decision.

Is the School Accredited? It’s important to make sure that the esthetician college you select 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 superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which often are not obtainable in 06501 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 New Haven CT businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Any esthetician institute that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating services for reviews in addition to the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with New Haven CT salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the trade, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not looked into. And finally, consult the Connecticut 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 Specialty? Many esthetician schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, for instance hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s essential that you choose a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your intention is to be trained as an esthetician, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your dream is to start a New Haven CT beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly ranked school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you require.

Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and perfecting esthetician skills and techniques requires lots of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is provided in the cosmetology classes you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that make it possible for students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a beauty program furnishes limited or no scheduled live training, but rather relies predominantly on the use of mannequins, it may not be the most effective alternative for acquiring your skills. So try to find alternate schools that provide this type of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance? As soon as a student graduates from an esthetician program, it’s crucial that he or she gets support in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish help develop relationships with New Haven CT businesses that are seeking skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and inquire which salons and organizations they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Aid Available? The majority of esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid department. Consult with a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you might 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 fulfills all of your other qualifications except for expense, do not discard it as an option until you determine what financial assistance may be available.

Attending Esthetician School Near New Haven CT?

Perhaps you live in the New Haven Connecticut 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.

New Haven, Connecticut

New Haven is a coastal city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is located on New Haven Harbor on the northern shore of Long Island Sound in New Haven County, Connecticut, and is part of the New York metropolitan area. With a population of 129,779 as determined by the 2010 United States Census,[2] it is the second-largest city in Connecticut after Bridgeport. New Haven is the principal municipality of Greater New Haven, which had a total population of 862,477 in 2010.[3]

New Haven was the first planned city in America.[4][5][6] Founded in 1638 by English Puritans, a year later eight streets were laid out in a four-by-four grid, creating what is commonly known as the "Nine Square Plan".[7] The central common block is the New Haven Green, a 16-acre (6 ha) square, and the center of Downtown New Haven. The Green is now a National Historic Landmark and the "Nine Square Plan" is recognized by the American Planning Association as a National Planning Landmark.[8] The Green also serves as a free public WiFi hotspot.[9]

New Haven is the home of Yale University. As New Haven's biggest taxpayer and employer,[10] Yale serves as an integral part of the city's economy. Health care (hospitals and biotechnology), professional services (legal, architectural, marketing, and engineering), financial services, and retail trade also contribute to the city's economic activity.

Pick the Right Esthetics College near New Haven CT

Choosing and enrolling in the ideal esthetician school is essential to obtain the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel positive about your decision. Don’t forget to collect all of the responses you get from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to contrast schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the college and program you choose are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the field. If you begin with that foundation, and address the additional questions provided 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 examination, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to launch your new career as a professional esthetician in New Haven CT.