How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools De Soto IA

How to Find the Right Esthetician Training Program near De Soto Iowa

De Soto IA esthetician client with cucumber facial Once you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near De Soto IA, the task begins to search for and enroll in the right program. It’s important that the school you select not only provides the proper training for the specialty you have decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your preliminary search, you might be rather unclear about the distinction 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 regarding that in the next section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your De Soto home. Tuition will likewise be an important factor when reviewing potential schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it’s not always the ideal option. There are several other considerations 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 considering later in this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of programs are available.

What is Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners De Soto IA Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human body look more attractive through the application of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic can be almost anything that improves the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states require that you go through some form of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only De Soto IA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have acquired experience and a customer base, open their own shops or salons. Others will begin seeing clients either in their own homes or will travel to the client’s house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by many names and are employed in a wide variety of specialties including:

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

As already mentioned, in most states working cosmetologists have to be licensed. In some states there is an exemption. Only those offering 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 become licensed in those states.

Esthetics Certificates and Degrees

De Soto IA esthetician client with face mask There are essentially two pathways offered to obtain esthetician training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs usually call for 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 instructed in each of the major areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you wish to focus on just one area, for example esthetics. A degree program will also most likely include management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to manage a salon or other De Soto IA business. More advanced degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such areas as salon or spa management. Whatever type of training program you opt for, it’s imperative to make certain that it’s recognized by the Iowa Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only approve schools that are accredited by certain respected agencies, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the advantages of accreditation for the school you select in the upcoming section.

Online Esthetics Programs

woman attending esthetician school online in De Soto IA Online esthetician classes are accommodating for De Soto IA students who are employed full time and have family obligations that make it difficult to enroll in a more traditional school. There are numerous web-based beauty school programs offered that can be accessed by means of a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional beauty schools are typically 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 amount of material, but you’re not spending numerous hours outside of your home or travelling to and from classes. However, it’s vital that the program you select can provide internship training in local salons and parlors in order that you also obtain the hands-on training required for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s difficult to acquire the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology field. So make sure if you decide to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is available in your area.

What to Ask Esthetics Training Courses

De Soto IA models benefit from esthetic treatments Below is a list of questions that you will want to research for any esthetician training program you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school in relation to your De Soto home, in addition to the cost of tuition, will undoubtedly be your initial qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue 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 additional factors that you need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have collected several of those additional questions that you need to ask every school before making a final decision.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s important to make certain that the esthetician school you enroll in 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which typically are not available in 50069 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of De Soto IA employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Each esthetician school that you are seriously evaluating 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 referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly demanded. Check rating companies for reviews in addition to the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with De Soto IA salon owners or managers, or someone working in the field, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. And last, contact the Iowa school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty? Some 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 often broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s essential that you enroll in a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your intention is to be trained as an esthetician, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and well regarded for that program. If your desire is to open a De Soto IA beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly ranked school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you need.

Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and mastering esthetician skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is included in the cosmetology courses you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that enable students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a beauty academy furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but instead relies mainly on using mannequins, it may not be the most effective alternative for cultivating your skills. Therefore search for alternate schools that provide this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from an esthetician school, it’s important that she or he receives assistance in securing that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer aid develop relationships with De Soto IA employers that are searching for qualified graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and inquire which salons and organizations they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Assistance Available? The majority of esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are considering have a financial aid office. Talk to 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 available to students as well. If a school meets all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not drop it as an option before you find out what financial assistance may be provided.

Attending Esthetician School Near De Soto IA?

Perhaps you live in the De Soto Iowa 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.

De Soto, Iowa

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 1,050 people, 388 households, and 291 families residing in the city. The population density was 690.8 inhabitants per square mile (266.7/km2). There were 417 housing units at an average density of 274.3 per square mile (105.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.6% White, 0.7% African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.8% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.8% of the population.

There were 388 households of which 40.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.3% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 25.0% were non-families. 18.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.10.

The median age in the city was 34.6 years. 28.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 30.2% were from 25 to 44; 24.9% were from 45 to 64; and 9.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 51.0% male and 49.0% female.

Enroll in the Right Esthetician College near De Soto IA

Choosing and enrolling in the right esthetician college is imperative to receive the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel positive about your decision. Make sure to consolidate all of the responses you get from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to contrast schools. A good beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the school and program you select are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. If you begin with that foundation, and address the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are ready to start your new career as a professional esthetician in De Soto IA.