How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Williamsfield IL

How to Enroll In an Esthetician Program near Williamsfield Illinois

Williamsfield IL esthetician client with cucumber facial Since you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Williamsfield IL, the process begins to find and enroll in the best program. It’s imperative that the school you select not only furnishes the necessary education for the specialty you have selected, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you may be somewhat unclear about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are pretty much interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. We’ll speak a little bit more regarding that in the next segment. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Williamsfield home. Tuition will also be a critical aspect when reviewing prospective schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it’s not necessarily the right option. There are many other factors that you should evaluate when comparing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask about the cosmetology schools you are thinking about later in this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of programs are offered.

Defining Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Williamsfield IL 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 many cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic can be almost anything that improves the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states require that you take some type of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work environments include not only Williamsfield IL 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, establish their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing clients either in their own homes or will travel to the client’s house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many titles and work in a wide range of specialties including:

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

As previously stated, in the majority of states practicing cosmetologists must be licensed. In certain states there is an exception. Only those performing more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people employed in cosmetology and less skilled, such as shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.

Esthetician Degrees

Williamsfield IL esthetician client with face mask There are basically two options available to obtain 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 complete, while an Associate’s degree commonly 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 available if you wish to concentrate on just one area, for example esthetics. A degree program will also most likely include management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to operate a parlor or other Williamsfield IL business. Higher degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whichever type of training program you choose, it’s essential to make certain that it’s recognized by the Illinois Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only approve schools that are accredited by certain reputable organizations, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the benefits of accreditation for the school you select in the upcoming section.

Online Esthetician Courses

woman attending esthetician school online in Williamsfield IL Online esthetician programs are advantageous for Williamsfield IL students who are employed full-time and have family responsibilities that make it hard to attend a more traditional school. There are numerous web-based beauty school programs offered that can be attended through a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional cosmetology schools are often fast paced because many programs are as short as six or eight months. This means that a large portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are covering the same amount of material, but you are not spending many hours away from your home or commuting back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it’s imperative that the school you pick can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors to ensure that you also obtain the hands-on training required for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s impossible to obtain the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology profession. So don’t forget if you decide to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is available in your area.

Questions to Ask Esthetician Trade Schools

Williamsfield IL models benefit from esthetic treatments Following is a list of questions that you will want to research for any esthetician training school you are contemplating. As we have already discussed, the location of the school relative to your Williamsfield home, together with the cost of tuition, will most likely be your initial qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably 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 need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have compiled several of those additional questions that you need to ask every school before making a final decision.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s necessary to make sure that the esthetician school you select 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for securing student loans or financial aid, which often are not obtainable in 61489 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous Williamsfield IL businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Each esthetician institute that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating services for reviews in addition to the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Williamsfield IL 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 finally, contact the Illinois school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus? Some esthetician schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, for instance 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 focuses on your area of interest. If your ambition 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 desire is to launch a Williamsfield IL 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 deliver the training you require.

Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and perfecting esthetician techniques and abilities requires lots of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is included in the cosmetology classes 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 school furnishes minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather relies predominantly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for acquiring your skills. Therefore search for other schools that furnish this kind of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from an esthetician program, it’s imperative that she or he receives assistance in securing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer help develop relationships with Williamsfield IL employers that are seeking qualified graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and inquire which salons and establishments they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered? Many esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students as well. If a school meets all of your other qualifications except for expense, do not omit it as an option before you find out what financial aid may be available.

Attending Esthetician School Near Williamsfield IL?

Perhaps you live in the Williamsfield 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.

Williamsfield, Illinois

As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 620 people, 238 households, and 162 families residing in the village. The population density was 487.9 people per square mile (188.5/km²). There were 255 housing units at an average density of 200.7 per square mile (77.5/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 99.68% White, and 0.32% from two or more races.

There were 238 households out of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.1% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.9% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.20.

In the village, the population was spread out with 26.3% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 18.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.1 males.

Choose the Right Esthetics Training Program near Williamsfield IL

Finding and enrolling in the right esthetician college is important to receive the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel certain about your decision. Don’t forget to consolidate all of the information you get from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to compare schools. A sensible start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the school and program you select are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. If you start with that base, and answer the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the right 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 Williamsfield IL.