How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Tolland CT

How to Find the Right Esthetics Training Program near Tolland Connecticut

Tolland CT esthetician client with cucumber facial Now that you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Tolland CT, the task starts to search for and enroll in the best program. It’s essential that the program you select 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 might be a little bit unclear about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both refer to the same type of school. We’ll talk a little bit more regarding that in the upcoming section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Tolland home. Tuition will additionally be an important factor when assessing prospective schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it’s not automatically the ideal option. There are several other factors that you should evaluate when comparing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding 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 kinds of programs are offered.

Definition of Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Tolland CT Cosmetology is a profession that is all about making the human body look more beautiful through 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 term 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 take some kind of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only Tolland CT beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have acquired experience and a client base, open their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing customers either in their own homes or will travel to the client’s house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have 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 formerly mentioned, in most states working cosmetologists must be licensed. In a few states there is an exemption. Only those conducting more skilled services, for example hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people working in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.

Esthetician Degrees

Tolland CT esthetician client with face mask There are primarily two avenues available to obtain esthetician training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs typically take 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 each of the major areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you prefer to focus on just one area, such as esthetics. A degree program will also likely include management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to run a salon or other Tolland CT business. Higher degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whichever type of course you go with, it’s important to make sure that it’s certified by the Connecticut Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain respected organizations, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the benefits of accreditation for the school you choose in the next section.

Online Esthetician Schools

woman attending esthetician school online in Tolland CT Online esthetician programs are advantageous for Tolland CT students who are working full time and have family responsibilities that make it hard to attend a more traditional school. There are numerous web-based cosmetology school programs offered that can be attended via a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional beauty programs are often fast paced because many programs are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a large portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are dealing with the same volume of material, but you are not devoting many hours away from your home or driving to and from classes. However, it’s vital that the training program you select can provide internship training in nearby 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 impossible to gain the skills needed 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.

What to Ask Esthetician Training Programs

Tolland CT 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 previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Tolland residence, together with the cost of tuition, will most likely be your first 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 take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have compiled some of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final selection.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s essential to make certain that the esthetician training program you select 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which typically are not available in 06084 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous Tolland CT businesses will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation? Any esthetician school 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 testimonials from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly regarded. Check rating services for reviews as well as the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Tolland CT salon owners or managers, or any person working in the field, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to propose others that you had not considered. Finally, check with the Connecticut 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? A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating 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 typically broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s imperative that you pick a school that specializes in 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 well regarded for that program. If your dream is to open a Tolland 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 weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you require.

Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and refining esthetician skills and techniques involves plenty of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the cosmetology classes you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that allow students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a beauty school provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather depends mainly on using mannequins, it may not be the most effective option for cultivating your skills. Therefore search for alternate schools that furnish this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from an esthetician school, it’s important that he or she gets aid in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer help maintain relationships with Tolland CT businesses that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and find out which salons and organizations they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only affirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Aid 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. Speak with a counselor and find out 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 available to students also. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not eliminate it as an alternative before you determine what financial aid may be provided.

Attending Esthetician School Near Tolland CT?

Perhaps you live in the Tolland 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.

Tolland County, Connecticut

Tolland County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Connecticut. As of the 2010 census, the population was 152,691.[1] Tolland County is incorporated into thirteen towns and was originally formed on 13 October 1785 from portions of eastern Hartford County, Connecticut and western Windham County, Connecticut.

Counties in Connecticut have no governmental function: all legal power is vested in the state, city, and town governments. The office of High Sheriff in Connecticut counties was officially abolished by ballot in 2000, and corrections and court service were transferred to the state marshals. Tolland County has the same boundaries as the Tolland Judicial District.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 417 square miles (1,080 km2), of which 410 square miles (1,100 km2) is land and 6.8 square miles (18 km2) (1.6%) is water.[2] It is the second-smallest county in Connecticut by land area and smallest by total area.

Find the Right Esthetics Vocational School near Tolland CT

Selecting and enrolling in the right esthetician program is important to obtain the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel positive about your decision. Make certain to collect all of the information you get from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that data to compare schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the institution and program you decide on are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you start with that foundation, and address the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the ideal choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are ready to start your career as a professional esthetician in Tolland CT.