How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Mandeville LA

How to Choose an Esthetician Training Program near Mandeville Louisiana

Mandeville LA esthetician client with cucumber facial Since you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Mandeville LA, the process begins to locate and enroll in the best program. It’s essential that the program you select not only furnishes the necessary education for the specialty you have decided on, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your preliminary search, you might be somewhat unclear about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are basically interchangeable and both refer to the same type of school. We’ll discuss a little bit further regarding that in the upcoming segment. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Mandeville home. Tuition will additionally be a critical consideration when evaluating possible schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it’s not necessarily the best choice. There are several other considerations that you should weigh when analyzing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask concerning the cosmetology schools you are looking at later in this article. Before we do, let’s talk a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of courses are available.

Defining Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Mandeville LA Cosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human anatomy look more attractive with the use of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic can be almost anything that enhances the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, most states require that you undergo some type of specialized training and then become licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only Mandeville LA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gotten experience and a client base, launch their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing clients either in their own homes or will go to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by many professional names 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 earlier stated, in the majority of states working cosmetologists must be licensed. In a few states there is an exception. Only those performing more skilled services, for example hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others employed in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.

Esthetics Certificates and Degrees

Mandeville LA esthetician client with face mask There are basically two pathways 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 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 trained in each of the major areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are offered if you prefer to concentrate on just one area, for instance esthetics. A degree program will also likely include management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to operate a parlor or other Mandeville LA business. Higher degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whichever type of course you choose, it’s important to make certain that it’s approved by the Louisiana Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only certify schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded agencies, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the advantages of accreditation for the school you decide on in the next section.

Online Esthetician Schools

woman attending esthetician school online in Mandeville LA Online esthetician programs are accommodating for Mandeville LA 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 cosmetology school programs available that can be attended via a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional beauty schools are often fast paced because many courses are as short as six or eight months. This means that a large portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are dealing with the same volume of material, but you are not devoting many hours outside of your home or driving back and forth from classes. However, it’s essential that the training program you choose can provide internship training in local salons and parlors so that you also receive the hands-on training required for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s difficult to gain the skills required to work in any facet of the cosmetology field. So be sure if you decide to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is available in your area.

Questions to Ask Esthetician Programs

Mandeville LA models benefit from esthetic treatments Following is a list of questions that you should research for any esthetician training school you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school in relation to your Mandeville home, as well as the expense of tuition, will most likely be your first qualifiers. Whether you want 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 preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have collected some of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final selection.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s important to make sure that the esthetician training program you choose 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not offered in 70448 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of Mandeville LA employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon individuals 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 field. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating companies for reviews as well as the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Mandeville LA salon owners or managers, or any person working in the trade, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not thought of. Finally, check with the Louisiana school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances 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, 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 typically expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s imperative that you enroll in a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your intention 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 dream is to open a Mandeville LA beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly ranked school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you need.

Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and refining esthetician techniques and abilities involves lots of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is included in the beauty lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that allow students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a beauty academy offers little or no scheduled live training, but instead depends mainly on using mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for developing your skills. Therefore 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 important that he or she gets assistance in finding that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer help develop relationships with Mandeville LA businesses that are searching for qualified graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and inquire which salons and establishments they refer students to. Additionally, 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 respected as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered? Most esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are considering have a financial aid department. Consult with a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you may get approved for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students too. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not eliminate it as an alternative before you determine what financial assistance may be provided.

Attending Esthetician School Near Mandeville LA?

Perhaps you live in the Mandeville Louisiana 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.

Mandeville, Louisiana

Mandeville is a small city in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 11,560 at the 2010 census.[3] Mandeville is located on the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain, south of Interstate 12. It is across the lake from the city of New Orleans and its southshore suburbs. It is part of the New Orleans–Metairie–Kenner metropolitan area.

The area had long been agricultural land when the town of Mandeville was laid out in 1834 by developer Bernard Xavier de Marigny de Mandeville, more often known as Bernard de Marigny. In 1840 Mandeville was incorporated as a town. It became a popular summer destination for well-to-do New Orleanians wishing to escape the city's heat.

In the mid-19th century, regular daily steamboat traffic between New Orleans and Mandeville began, and by the end of the Victorian era, it had become a popular weekend destination of the New Orleans middle class as well. Bands would play music on the ships going across the lake and at pavilions and dance halls in Mandeville, and the town became one of the first places where the new "jazz" music was heard outside of New Orleans. Bunk Johnson, Buddy Petit, Papa Celestin, George Lewis, Kid Ory, Edmond Hall, Chester Zardis, and many other early jazz artists regularly played in Mandeville.

Enroll in the Right Esthetics College near Mandeville LA

Choosing and enrolling in the right esthetician college is essential to obtain the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel certain about your decision. Be sure to organize all of the responses you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to compare schools. A sensible start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the school and program you pick are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and answer the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are ready to start your new career as a professional esthetician in Mandeville LA.