How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Iowa City IA

How to Find the Right Esthetics School near Iowa City Iowa

Iowa City 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 Iowa City IA, the process begins to locate and enroll in the right program. It’s essential that the school you select not only provides the necessary instruction for the specialty you have selected, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your preliminary search, you might be somewhat puzzled about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are pretty much interchangeable and both relate to the same type of school. We’ll talk a bit more concerning that in the following section. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Iowa City home. Tuition will additionally be an important factor when evaluating potential schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it’s not necessarily the ideal choice. There are several other qualifications that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask about the cosmetology schools you are considering later within this article. Before we do, let’s talk a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of courses are offered.

Definition of Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Iowa City IA Cosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human anatomy look more attractive with the application of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are referred to as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic may be almost anything that improves 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 kind of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Iowa City IA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gained experience and a customer base, open their own shops or salons. Others will start seeing clients either in their own homes or will go to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by many names and are employed in a wide variety of specializations including:

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

As earlier mentioned, in the majority of states working cosmetologists must be licensed. In a few states there is an exemption. Only those offering 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

Iowa City IA esthetician client with face mask There are basically two avenues 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 normally 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 main areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are offered if you wish to specialize in just one area, such as esthetics. A degree program will also most likely incorporate management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to operate a parlor or other Iowa City IA business. More advanced degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whatever type of course you go with, it’s imperative to make certain that it’s recognized by the Iowa Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only certify schools that are accredited by certain respected agencies, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the benefits of accreditation for the school you choose in the next section.

Online Esthetics Training

woman attending esthetician school online in Iowa City IA Online esthetician classes are convenient for Iowa City IA students who are employed full-time and have family responsibilities that make it difficult to attend a more traditional school. There are many web-based cosmetology school programs offered that can be accessed via a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional cosmetology schools are often fast paced due to the fact that many programs are as short as six or eight months. This means that a considerable portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are covering the same volume of material, but you’re not spending many hours outside of your home or commuting back and forth from classes. However, it’s vital that the school you choose can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors so that you also receive the hands-on training needed for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s impossible to acquire the skills required to work in any area of the cosmetology profession. So don’t forget if you choose to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is available in your area.

Questions to Ask Esthetician Training Courses

Iowa City IA models benefit from esthetic treatments Below is a list of questions that you need to investigate for any esthetician training program you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Iowa City home, in addition to the cost of tuition, will undoubtedly be your primary qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt 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 need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have compiled several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final selection.

Is the School Accredited? It’s important to make certain that the esthetician college you choose is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable in 52240 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 Iowa City IA employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation? Every esthetician school that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly demanded. Check rating companies for reviews together with the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Iowa City IA salon owners or managers, or someone 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 looked into. And last, contact the Iowa school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty? A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, for instance hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s essential that you enroll in a school that specializes in your area of interest. If your goal 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 launch a Iowa City IA beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly regarded 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 refining esthetician techniques and abilities involves plenty of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is included in the beauty classes you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that allow students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a beauty academy provides little or no scheduled live training, but instead relies mainly on the use of mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for acquiring your skills. So 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 academy, it’s imperative that she or he gets support in landing that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer assistance develop relationships with Iowa City IA businesses that are seeking skilled graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and inquire which salons and organizations they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Aid Available? The majority of esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are considering 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 accessible to students too. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not omit it as an alternative until you find out what financial assistance may be provided.

Attending Esthetician School Near Iowa City IA?

Perhaps you live in the Iowa City 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.

Iowa City, Iowa

Iowa City is a city in Johnson County, Iowa, United States. It is the home of The University of Iowa and county seat of Johnson County, at the center of the Iowa City Metropolitan Statistical Area. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population at 75,798 in 2017, making it the state's fifth-largest city.[4] Iowa City is the county seat of Johnson County.[5] The metropolitan area, which encompasses Johnson and Washington counties, has a population of over 171,000.

Iowa City was the second capital of the Iowa Territory and the first capital city of the State of Iowa. The Old Capitol building is a National Historic Landmark in the center of the University of Iowa campus. The University of Iowa Art Museum and Plum Grove, the home of the first Governor of Iowa, are also tourist attractions. In 2008, Forbes magazine named Iowa City the second-best small metropolitan area for doing business in the United States.[6]

Iowa City was created by an act of Legislative Assembly of the Iowa Territory on January 21, 1839, fulfilling the desire of Governor Robert Lucas to move the capital out of Burlington and closer to the center of the territory. This act began:

Find the Right Esthetics School near Iowa City IA

Choosing and enrolling in the right esthetician college is essential to obtain the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel certain about your decision. Be sure to compile all of the information you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that information to compare schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the academy and program you decide on are accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. If you start with that foundation, and answer the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the ideal choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are ready to begin your career as a professional esthetician in Iowa City IA.