How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools South Paris ME

How to Select an Esthetics Training Program near South Paris Maine

South Paris ME esthetician client with cucumber facial Now that you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near South Paris ME, the process begins to locate and enroll in the right program. It’s important that the school you choose not only provides the appropriate training for the specialty you have selected, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your preliminary search, you may be a little bit puzzled about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are pretty much 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 intend on commuting to classes you will need to choose a school that is within driving distance of your South Paris home. Tuition will also be a critical aspect when reviewing potential schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it’s not automatically the right choice. There are many other considerations that you should weigh when analyzing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are looking at later in this article. Before we do, let’s talk a bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of training programs are available.

What is Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners South Paris ME Cosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human body look more attractive with the use 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 actually a cosmetic may be almost anything that improves the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, most states require that you go through some form of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only South Paris ME beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have gained experience and a customer base, establish their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing customers either in their own residences or will go to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many professional names and work in a wide range of specialties including:

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

As previously mentioned, in the majority of states working cosmetologists have to be licensed. In certain states there is an exception. Only those conducting more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others working in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.

Esthetician Degrees and Certificates

South Paris ME esthetician client with face mask There are basically two avenues offered to receive esthetician training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs typically 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 instructed in all of the major areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are offered if you want to concentrate on just one area, for example esthetics. A degree program will also most likely feature management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to run a salon or other South Paris ME business. Higher degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whichever type of course you go with, it’s essential to make certain that it’s certified by the Maine 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 advantages of accreditation for the school you choose in the following segment.

Online Esthetics Training

woman attending esthetician school online in South Paris ME Online esthetician classes are convenient for South Paris ME students who are working full-time and have family obligations that make it difficult to enroll in a more traditional school. There are numerous online cosmetology school programs offered that can be attended via a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional beauty programs are typically fast paced since many programs are as short as six or eight months. This means that a considerable portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are covering the same amount of material, but you’re not devoting many hours outside of your home or travelling to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s important that the program you pick can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors in order that you also get the hands-on training required for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s impossible to obtain the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology profession. So be sure if you choose to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is available in your area.

Questions to Ask Esthetics Trade Schools

South Paris ME models benefit from esthetic treatments Following is a list of questions that you need to research for any esthetician training program you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your South Paris residence, together with the price of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have compiled several of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final selection.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s necessary to make sure that the esthetician school you select 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 superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not obtainable in 04281 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 South Paris ME employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Any esthetician school that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating companies for reviews along with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with South Paris ME salon owners or managers, or someone working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to suggest others that you had not considered. Finally, consult the Maine school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus? A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, for example 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 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 vision is to launch a South Paris ME beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly rated school with a weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you require.

Is Any Live Training Provided? Studying and perfecting esthetician skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is provided in the beauty classes you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that allow students to practice their developing talents on volunteers. If a beauty school furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but instead depends mainly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the most effective option for developing your skills. So search for other schools that offer this kind of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance? As soon as a student graduates from an esthetician school, it’s crucial that he or she gets support in landing that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer assistance develop relationships with South Paris ME businesses that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and inquire which salons and establishments they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Aid Available? Almost all esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students as well. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not omit it as an option until you determine what financial aid may be offered.

Attending Esthetician School Near South Paris ME?

Perhaps you live in the South Paris 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.

South Paris, Maine

South Paris is a census-designated place (CDP) located within the town of Paris in Oxford County, Maine, in the United States. The population was 2,237 at the 2000 census. While the CDP refers only to the densely settled area in the southern part of the town of Paris, the entire town is located within the South Paris ZIP code, resulting in many residents referring to the entire town as South Paris.

During the 19th-century, the Little Androscoggin River provided water power to operate mills in South Paris, and the village grew up around them.[1] The opening of the Atlantic and St. Lawrence Railroad on June 8, 1850 further spurred development of the small mill town.[2] In the 1890s, the Oxford County Courthouse moved from Paris Hill to be near the Grand Trunk Railway station.[3] Much of the manufacturing and industry faded with the Great Depression, but South Paris remains the commercial section of Paris, and retains much of its Victorian era architecture. Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School, the regional high school, was founded in South Paris in 1961.[4] Actress Reta Shaw was born in South Paris in 1912.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 4.0 square miles (10.2 km²), of which, 3.9 square miles (10.0 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (2.03%) is water. South Paris is drained by the Little Androscoggin River.

Pick the Right Esthetician Vocational School near South Paris ME

Finding and enrolling in the ideal esthetician school is essential to obtain the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel positive 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 data to compare schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the institution and program you choose are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and answer the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the ideal choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are ready to begin your career as a professional esthetician in South Paris ME.