How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Stanwood IA

How to Choose an Esthetician School near Stanwood Iowa

Stanwood IA esthetician client with cucumber facial Now that you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Stanwood IA, the task starts to find and enroll in the best program. It’s essential that the program you select not only provides the necessary instruction for the specialty you have decided on, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your preliminary search, you might be a little bit unclear about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. We’ll talk a little bit further regarding that in the upcoming segment. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Stanwood home. Tuition will also be an important factor when reviewing prospective schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it’s not automatically the right choice. There are various other qualifications that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are thinking about later within this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of training programs are available.

Defining Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Stanwood IA Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human body look more beautiful with the use of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are referred to as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic may be anything that enhances the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, the majority of states mandate that you undergo some kind of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Stanwood IA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have acquired experience and a clientele, launch their own shops or salons. Others will begin servicing customers either in their own residences or will go to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many titles and work in a wide range of specializations including:

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

As formerly mentioned, in the majority of states practicing cosmetologists must be licensed. In certain states there is an exception. Only those performing more skilled services, for instance hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people employed in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.

Esthetics Certificates and Degrees

Stanwood IA esthetician client with face mask There are primarily two options offered to get 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 usually takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be instructed in all of the major areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you want to focus on just one area, for example esthetics. A degree program will also most likely include management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to run a salon or other Stanwood IA business. More advanced degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whatever type of training program you opt for, it’s important to make sure that it’s certified by the Iowa Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain reputable agencies, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the advantages of accreditation for the school you choose in the upcoming section.

Online Esthetician Training

woman attending esthetician school online in Stanwood IA Online esthetician classes are advantageous for Stanwood IA students who are working full-time and have family responsibilities that make it challenging to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of online beauty school programs offered that can be accessed by means of a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional cosmetology schools are frequently fast paced since many courses are as short as six or eight months. This means that a substantial portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are covering the same volume of material, but you are not devoting numerous hours outside of your home or driving back and forth from classes. However, it’s imperative that the school you choose can provide internship training in local salons and parlors so that you also receive the hands-on training required for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s difficult to obtain the skills required to work in any facet of the cosmetology industry. So make sure if you decide to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is provided in your area.

Questions to Ask Esthetician Schools

Stanwood IA models benefit from esthetic treatments Following is a series of questions that you will want to research for any esthetician training school you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Stanwood residence, together with the expense of tuition, will probably be your primary qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably 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 need to research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have compiled some of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final determination.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s necessary to make sure that the esthetician training program you select is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized 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 ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for getting student loans or financial aid, which typically are not available in 52337 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many Stanwood IA businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation? Any esthetician college that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating services for reviews as well as the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Stanwood IA salon owners or managers, or any person working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to suggest others that you had not looked into. And finally, contact the Iowa school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in total compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty? Many 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 choose a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your objective 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 start a Stanwood IA beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly ranked school with a weak program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you require.

Is Any Live Training Provided? Practicing and perfecting esthetician skills and techniques requires lots of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the cosmetology classes you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that enable students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a beauty academy furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but rather depends predominantly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the best option for developing your skills. So search for alternate schools that provide this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from an esthetician academy, it’s imperative that he or she receives support in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide assistance maintain relationships with Stanwood IA businesses that are searching for skilled graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and ask 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 broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Assistance Available? The majority of esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid department. Talk to a counselor and identify 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 available to students as well. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not eliminate it as an option before you learn what financial assistance may be offered.

Attending Esthetician School Near Stanwood IA?

Perhaps you live in the Stanwood 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.

Stanwood, Iowa

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 684 people, 275 households, and 192 families residing in the city. The population density was 950.0 inhabitants per square mile (366.8/km2). There were 295 housing units at an average density of 409.7 per square mile (158.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 97.1% White, 0.3% African American, 0.6% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.2% of the population.

There were 275 households of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 30.2% were non-families. 26.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.97.

The median age in the city was 40.3 years. 26.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.6% were from 25 to 44; 27.8% were from 45 to 64; and 16.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.3% male and 50.7% female.

Pick the Right Esthetics Training Program near Stanwood IA

Picking and enrolling in the ideal esthetician program is essential to obtain the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel certain about your decision. Make certain to consolidate all of the information you get from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to compare schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the institution and program you decide on are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. If you start with that foundation, and address the additional questions supplied in this post, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are qualified to begin your new career as a professional esthetician in Stanwood IA.