How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Abingdon MD

How to Pick an Esthetics College near Abingdon Maryland

Abingdon MD esthetician client with cucumber facial Once you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Abingdon MD, the process starts to locate and enroll in the ideal program. It’s imperative that the school you pick not only provides the proper instruction for the specialty you have selected, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your initial search, you may be somewhat unclear about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind of school. We’ll talk a little bit more concerning that in the upcoming segment. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Abingdon residence. Tuition will likewise be a critical aspect when reviewing possible schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it’s not automatically the best choice. There are several other considerations that you should evaluate when comparing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask regarding 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 kinds of courses are available.

Definition of Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Abingdon MD Cosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human anatomy look more beautiful with the use of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but really a cosmetic can be anything that enhances the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states require that you go through some kind of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work environments include not only Abingdon MD beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have acquired experience and a clientele, establish their own shops or salons. Others will begin seeing customers either in their own residences or will travel 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 already stated, in most states working cosmetologists must be licensed. In a few states there is an exception. Only those performing more skilled services, for instance hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people working in cosmetology and less skilled, such as shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.

Esthetics Certificates and Degrees

Abingdon MD esthetician client with face mask There are essentially two options available to get esthetician training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs normally take 12 to 18 months to complete, while an Associate’s degree commonly takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be trained in all of the main areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you want to concentrate on just one area, such as esthetics. A degree program will also likely include management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to run a parlor or other Abingdon MD business. More advanced degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whichever type of program you choose, it’s imperative to make certain that it’s certified by the Maryland Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only approve schools that are accredited by certain respected agencies, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the benefits of accreditation for the school you select in the upcoming segment.

Online Esthetician Programs

woman attending esthetician school online in Abingdon MD Online esthetician programs are convenient for Abingdon MD students who are employed full time and have family commitments that make it difficult to enroll in a more traditional school. There are many web-based cosmetology school programs available that can be attended via a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional beauty programs are frequently fast paced since many courses are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a large amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are dealing with the same volume of material, but you’re not spending many hours away from your home or commuting to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s important that the school you pick can provide internship training in local salons and parlors to ensure that you also obtain the hands-on training needed for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s difficult to obtain the skills needed to work in any facet of the cosmetology field. So don’t forget if you choose to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.

Questions to Ask Esthetics Trade Schools

Abingdon MD models benefit from esthetic treatments Following is a series of questions that you will want to investigate for any esthetician training school you are considering. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Abingdon residence, together with the price of tuition, will undoubtedly be your initial qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have put together several of those supplemental questions that you should ask every school before making a final determination.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s important to make sure that the esthetician school you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which often are not obtainable in 21009 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of Abingdon MD businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation? Every esthetician college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for references 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 sought after. Check rating companies for reviews as well as the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Abingdon MD 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 recommend others that you had not thought of. Finally, check with the Maryland school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty? Some esthetician schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all facets 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 important that you choose a school that specializes in 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 respected for that program. If your aspiration is to launch a Abingdon MD beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly rated school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you require.

Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and refining esthetician skills and techniques requires lots of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the beauty lessons you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that enable students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a beauty school offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather relies heavily on the use of mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for acquiring your skills. So try to find other schools that furnish this kind of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from an esthetician school, it’s essential that she or he receives assistance in securing that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide aid maintain relationships with Abingdon MD businesses that are seeking qualified graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are considering 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 affirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered? Many esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid office. Speak with a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you might get approved for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students too. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications except for expense, do not discard it as an alternative before you learn what financial help may be provided.

Attending Esthetician School Near Abingdon MD?

Perhaps you live in the Abingdon Maryland 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.

Abingdon, Maryland

Abingdon is an unincorporated community in Harford County, Maryland, United States.[1] It lies 25 miles northeast of Baltimore on Maryland Route 7, near the Bush River, between Exits 77 (MD 24) and 80 (MD 543) of Interstate 95.

Abingdon was named after Abingdon, England.[2] The town was founded by and is the birthplace of William Paca, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and the third Governor of Maryland. Abingdon was the site of Cokesbury College, the first Methodist college in the United States.[3]

Woodside was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.[4] The Nelson-Reardon-Kennard House was listed in 1991.[4] Abingdon is also home to Jaxon Dane, who is a former professional wrestler who helped redefine the wrestling industry in NC.

Choose the Right Esthetician Program near Abingdon MD

Picking and enrolling in the right esthetician school is essential to receive the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel certain about your decision. Make sure to consolidate all of the responses you get from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to contrast schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the academy and program you decide on are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you begin with that foundation, and answer the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to filter 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 qualified to launch your new career as a professional esthetician in Abingdon MD.