How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Mount Prospect IL

How to Choose an Esthetician Program near Mount Prospect Illinois

Mount Prospect IL esthetician client with cucumber facial Now that you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Mount Prospect IL, the task starts to locate and enroll in the right program. It’s imperative that the school you choose not only provides the necessary instruction for the specialty you have selected, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you start 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 type of school. We’ll speak a little bit more about that in the next segment. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Mount Prospect home. Tuition will likewise be an important aspect when evaluating possible schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it’s not always the ideal option. There are many other qualifications that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are considering later in this article. Before we do, let’s talk a bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of courses are offered.

What is Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Mount Prospect IL Cosmetology is a profession that is all about making the human anatomy look more beautiful with the use of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the term 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 require that you go through some form of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work environments include not only Mount Prospect IL beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gotten experience and a client base, open their own shops or salons. Others will start seeing customers either in their own homes or will travel to the client’s home, 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 earlier mentioned, in the majority of states practicing cosmetologists must be licensed. In some states there is an exemption. Only those offering more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others working in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.

Esthetics Degrees and Certificates

Mount Prospect IL esthetician client with face mask There are primarily two pathways available to receive 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 typically require 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. Briefer programs are available if you prefer to focus on just one area, for example esthetics. A degree program will also most likely incorporate management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to manage a parlor or other Mount Prospect IL business. Higher degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whichever type of training program you opt for, it’s essential to make certain that it’s recognized by the Illinois Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only certify schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded agencies, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the advantages of accreditation for the school you decide on in the next segment.

Online Esthetics Programs

woman attending esthetician school online in Mount Prospect IL Online esthetician schools are accommodating for Mount Prospect IL students who are employed full time and have family responsibilities that make it difficult to enroll in a more traditional school. There are numerous web-based cosmetology school programs available that can be attended through a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional beauty programs are often fast paced due to the fact that many programs are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a considerable amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are dealing with the same volume of material, but you are not spending numerous hours away from your home or travelling back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it’s essential that the program you select can provide internship training in local salons and parlors in order that you also get the hands-on training needed for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s impossible to obtain the skills required to work in any area of the cosmetology industry. So don’t forget if you choose to enroll in an online school to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.

What to Ask Esthetics Schools

Mount Prospect IL models benefit from esthetic treatments Following is a series of questions that you will want to research for any esthetician training school you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school relative to your Mount Prospect home, 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 no doubt be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Following we have put together several of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final determination.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s necessary to make certain that the esthetician college you enroll in is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified local or national organization, 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 essential for getting student loans or financial aid, which typically are not offered in 60056 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of Mount Prospect IL 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? Every esthetician school that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating companies for reviews together with the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Mount Prospect IL salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the trade, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to propose others that you had not looked into. Finally, contact the Illinois school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in total compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty? A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s imperative that you decide on 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 respected for that program. If your dream is to open a Mount Prospect IL beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly regarded school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you need.

Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Studying and perfecting esthetician techniques and abilities requires plenty of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the cosmetology lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that make it possible for students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a beauty academy offers limited or no scheduled live training, but rather relies predominantly on using mannequins, it may not be the most effective option for developing your skills. Therefore search for other schools that furnish this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from an esthetician school, it’s important that she or he gets help in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish assistance develop relationships with Mount Prospect IL employers that are seeking trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which salons and businesses they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Assistance Available? Most esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid department. Consult with a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you may get approved for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students also. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications except for cost, do not eliminate it as an option before you find out what financial help may be offered.

Attending Esthetician School Near Mount Prospect IL?

Perhaps you live in the Mount Prospect Illinois 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.

Mount Prospect, Illinois

Mount Prospect is a village in Elk Grove and Wheeling Townships in Cook County, Illinois, about 22 miles (35 km) northwest of downtown Chicago, and approximately 4 miles north of O'Hare International Airport. As of the 2010 census, the village had a total population of 54,167.

According to the 2010 census, Mount Prospect has a total area of 10.374 square miles (26.87 km2), of which 10.34 square miles (26.78 km2) (or 99.67%) is land and 0.034 square miles (0.09 km2) (or 0.33%) is water.[5] At 665 ft (203 m) above sea level, Mount Prospect is 35 ft (11 m) lower than neighboring Arlington Heights 700 ft (213 m).[6][better source needed]

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Mount Prospect lies within the Humid continental climate zone (or Dfa) in the warm summer type. The village experiences warm to hot and humid summers and frigid, snowy winters. The village lies within U.S.D.A Hardiness zone 5b, along the fringe of zone 6a.

Enroll in the Right Esthetics Program near Mount Prospect IL

Picking and enrolling in the ideal esthetician college is important to get the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel positive about your decision. Make sure to organize all of the responses you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to contrast schools. A good beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the school and program you pick are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and address the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the right selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are qualified to launch your career as a professional esthetician in Mount Prospect IL.