How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Dennysville ME

How to Choose an Esthetician Program near Dennysville Maine

Dennysville ME esthetician client with cucumber facial Now that you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Dennysville ME, the task starts to find and enroll in the right program. It’s essential that the program you select not only provides the appropriate education for the specialty you have selected, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin 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 essentially interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. We’ll talk a little bit more regarding that in the following section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Dennysville home. Tuition will also be an important consideration when assessing prospective schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it’s not automatically the ideal option. There are various other factors that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask concerning the cosmetology schools you are considering later in this article. Before we do, let’s talk a bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of training programs are offered.

Defining Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Dennysville ME Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human anatomy look more attractive 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 term cosmetics, but really a cosmetic can be anything that improves the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, the majority of states require that you go through some kind of specialized training and then become licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only Dennysville ME beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have acquired experience and a customer base, launch their own shops or salons. Others will begin seeing customers either in their own homes or will travel to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go 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 formerly mentioned, in most states practicing cosmetologists have to be licensed. In some states there is an exception. 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 be licensed in those states.

Esthetician Degrees

Dennysville ME esthetician client with face mask There are primarily two avenues offered to get esthetician training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs usually require 12 to 18 months to finish, 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. Briefer programs are offered if you prefer to focus on just one area, such as esthetics. A degree program will also probably incorporate management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to manage a parlor or other Dennysville ME business. More advanced degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whichever type of program you go with, it’s important to make certain that it’s approved by the Maine Board of Cosmetology. Many states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain reputable agencies, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the advantages of accreditation for the school you decide on in the upcoming section.

Online Esthetician Schools

woman attending esthetician school online in Dennysville ME Online esthetician programs are convenient for Dennysville ME students who are working full time and have family commitments that make it hard to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of web-based beauty school programs offered that can be accessed through a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional cosmetology schools are typically fast paced because many programs are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a large amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you’re not spending numerous hours outside of your home or commuting back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it’s important that the program you select can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors so 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 needed to work in any area of the cosmetology field. So don’t forget if you decide to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is provided in your area.

What to Ask Esthetician Training Courses

Dennysville ME models benefit from esthetic treatments Below is a list of questions that you need to investigate for any esthetician training school you are contemplating. As we have already covered, the location of the school in relation to your Dennysville home, in addition to the price of tuition, will most likely be your primary qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you should research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have put together some of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final determination.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s essential to make sure that the esthetician college 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not available in 04628 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of Dennysville ME employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Great Reputation? Any esthetician institute that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating companies for reviews together with the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Dennysville ME salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not looked into. And finally, contact the Maine 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 Focus? Many esthetician schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs commonly expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s imperative that you select 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 respected for that program. If your dream is to launch a Dennysville ME beauty salon, then you want 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 pursuing will not deliver the training you need.

Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Studying and mastering esthetician skills and techniques requires lots of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is included in the beauty courses you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that enable students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a beauty program offers little or no scheduled live training, but rather relies mainly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the best option for developing your skills. So try to find other schools that provide this type of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from an esthetician program, it’s imperative that she or he gets support in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer help maintain relationships with Dennysville ME businesses that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are contemplating 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 wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Aid Available? Many esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are considering have a financial aid department. Talk to a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you may 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 fulfills each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not discard it as an option before you learn what financial aid may be provided.

Attending Esthetician School Near Dennysville ME?

Perhaps you live in the Dennysville Maine 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.

Dennysville, Maine

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 15.28 square miles (39.58 km2), of which, 14.92 square miles (38.64 km2) of it is land and 0.36 square miles (0.93 km2) is water.[1]

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 342 people, 154 households, and 96 families residing in the town. The population density was 22.9 inhabitants per square mile (8.8/km2). There were 189 housing units at an average density of 12.7 per square mile (4.9/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.4% White, 0.6% Native American, and 2.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.8% of the population.

There were 154 households of which 22.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.3% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.7% were non-families. 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.86.

Find the Right Esthetician Program near Dennysville ME

Choosing and enrolling in the right esthetician college is important to obtain the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel positive about your decision. Make sure to organize all of the information you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that data to contrast schools. A good beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the academy and program you pick are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. If you begin with that base, and answer the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are qualified to launch your new career as a professional esthetician in Dennysville ME.