How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Livermore IA

How to Pick an Esthetician Program near Livermore Iowa

Livermore IA esthetician client with cucumber facial Now that you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Livermore IA, the process starts to find and enroll in the right program. It’s essential that the program you select not only provides the necessary instruction for the specialty you have decided on, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your preliminary search, you might be somewhat puzzled about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. We’ll talk a bit further regarding that in the upcoming segment. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Livermore home. Tuition will likewise be a critical consideration when assessing prospective schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it’s not necessarily the best choice. There are a number of other factors that you should evaluate when analyzing 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 training programs are offered.

What is Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Livermore IA Cosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human anatomy look more beautiful with the application of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are referred to as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but really a cosmetic can be almost anything that improves the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states require that you take some form of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work environments include not only Livermore IA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have gotten experience and a client base, open their own shops or salons. Others will begin servicing clients either in their own residences or will go to the client’s house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many 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 already mentioned, in the majority of states working cosmetologists have to be licensed. In a few 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, which include shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.

Esthetician Degrees

Livermore IA esthetician client with face mask There are primarily two pathways available to receive esthetician training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs usually call for 12 to 18 months to complete, while an Associate’s degree ordinarily takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be trained in all of the major areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are available if you prefer to concentrate on just one area, for example esthetics. A degree program will also probably incorporate management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to run a parlor or other Livermore IA business. More advanced degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whichever type of program you go with, it’s essential to make sure that it’s recognized by the Iowa Board of Cosmetology. Many states only approve schools that are accredited by certain reputable organizations, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the benefits of accreditation for the school you decide on in the following section.

Online Esthetician Courses

woman attending esthetician school online in Livermore IA Online esthetician programs are accommodating for Livermore IA students who are working full time and have family commitments that make it challenging to enroll in a more traditional school. There are many online beauty school programs offered that can be accessed through a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional beauty schools are typically fast paced because many programs are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a considerable portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are dealing with the same volume of material, but you are not devoting numerous hours outside of your home or commuting to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s essential that the training program you select can provide internship training in local salons and parlors so that you also receive the hands-on training necessary for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s impossible to gain the skills required to work in any area of the cosmetology field. So don’t forget if you choose to enroll in an online school to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.

Questions to Ask Esthetician Training Programs

Livermore IA models benefit from esthetic treatments Following is a list of questions that you need to investigate for any esthetician training school you are considering. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Livermore home, as well as the cost of tuition, will undoubtedly be your initial 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 reduced your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Following we have compiled some of those additional questions that you need to ask every school before making a final selection.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s essential to make sure that the esthetician school you enroll in 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for securing student loans or financial aid, which often are not obtainable in 50558 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous Livermore IA businesses will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Great Reputation? Every esthetician school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating services for reviews as well as the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Livermore IA salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the field, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not thought of. Finally, consult the Iowa school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus? A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating 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 pick a school that specializes in 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 open a Livermore IA beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly ranked school with a weak program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you require.

Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and mastering esthetician skills and techniques requires lots of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is included in the cosmetology lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that allow students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a beauty program provides little or no scheduled live training, but instead depends predominantly on the use of mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for developing your skills. Therefore search for alternate schools that provide this kind of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from an esthetician school, it’s essential that he or she gets assistance in landing that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish help maintain relationships with Livermore IA businesses that are seeking trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and ask which salons and businesses they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher 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. Check if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid department. Consult with 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 also. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not eliminate it as an option until you determine what financial assistance may be offered.

Attending Esthetician School Near Livermore IA?

Perhaps you live in the Livermore 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.

Livermore, Iowa

Livermore was founded in 1879.[4] The community grew in importance as an agricultural center with grain elevators and feed mills and merchants serving the surrounding rich farmland. The community is located adjacent to the confluence of the East Fork Des Moines River and Lott's Creek. Early industries included a brick and tile factory and agricultural products processing. As north central Iowa's rural population dwindled, so has Livermore's population. Its remaining elementary school closed in 2005.

Livermore is located at 42°52′1″N 94°11′3″W / 42.86694°N 94.18417°W / 42.86694; -94.18417 (42.866849, -94.184051)[5] at the confluence of Lotts Creek with the East Fork Des Moines River.

July is the hottest month of the year, with an average high of 84 °F (29 °C) and an average low of 62 °F (17 °C). Temperatures above 100 °F (38 °C) are uncommon. January is the coldest month with an average high of 25 °F (−4 °C) and an average low of 7 °F (−14 °C). The city's highest temperature was 104 °F (40.0 °C), recorded in 1982. The lowest temperature recorded was −33 °F (−36 °C), in 1985.

Find the Right Esthetician Training Program near Livermore IA

Picking and enrolling in the ideal esthetician school is imperative to receive the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel confident about your decision. Don’t forget to collect all of the responses you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to contrast schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the institution and program you choose are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you begin with that base, and address the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the proper selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to begin your career as a professional esthetician in Livermore IA.