How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Comstock Park MI

How to Choose an Esthetics Course near Comstock Park Michigan

Comstock Park MI esthetician client with cucumber facial Since you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Comstock Park MI, the task starts to locate and enroll in the ideal program. It’s important that the program you pick not only furnishes the proper education for the specialty you have decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you may be somewhat confused about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are basically interchangeable and both refer to the same kind of school. We’ll speak a little bit more concerning that in the upcoming section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Comstock Park home. Tuition will also be an important consideration when evaluating potential schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it’s not necessarily the right choice. There are a number of other factors that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask about the cosmetology schools you are looking at later within this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of programs are available.

Definition of Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Comstock Park MI Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human body look more attractive through the application of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic may be almost anything that enhances the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, most states mandate that you undergo some type of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Comstock Park MI beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have gained experience and a customer base, open their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing clients either in their own residences or will go to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many titles and are employed 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 working cosmetologists have to be licensed. In a few states there is an exemption. Only those conducting more skilled services, for instance hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others working in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.

Esthetician Certificates and Degrees

Comstock Park MI esthetician client with face mask There are basically two avenues offered to receive 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 typically 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 main areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are offered if you wish to focus on just one area, for instance esthetics. A degree program will also likely feature management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to run a salon or other Comstock Park MI business. More advanced degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such areas as salon or spa management. Whatever type of program you go with, it’s important to make certain that it’s approved by the Michigan Board of Cosmetology. Many states only certify schools that are accredited by certain respected organizations, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the benefits of accreditation for the school you choose in the next section.

Online Esthetics Courses

woman attending esthetician school online in Comstock Park MI Online esthetician classes are advantageous for Comstock Park MI students who are employed full-time and have family responsibilities that make it hard to enroll in a more traditional school. There are a large number of online beauty school programs available that can be attended by means of a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional beauty programs are often fast paced given that many programs are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a substantial amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are covering the same amount of material, but you are not devoting numerous hours outside of your home or travelling back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it’s essential that the school you choose can provide internship training in area salons and parlors in order that you also obtain the hands-on training necessary for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s difficult to acquire the skills required to work in any area of the cosmetology industry. So don’t forget if you choose to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.

What to Ask Esthetics Training Classes

Comstock Park MI models benefit from esthetic treatments Below is a series of questions that you will want to look into for any esthetician training school you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Comstock Park home, in addition to the expense of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have narrowed 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 school. Below we have put together some of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final determination.

Is the School Accredited? It’s important to make sure that the esthetician school you select 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for securing student loans or financial aid, which typically are not offered in 49321 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous Comstock Park MI employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Great Reputation? Every esthetician college that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating services for reviews along with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Comstock Park MI salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. And last, check with the Michigan 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 Focus? A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs commonly 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 goal 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 aspiration is to start a Comstock Park MI beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly rated school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you need.

Is Any Live Training Provided? Studying and refining esthetician skills and techniques involves plenty of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the cosmetology courses you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that make it possible for students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a beauty academy offers limited or no scheduled live training, but rather depends heavily on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for cultivating your skills. So try to find alternate schools that furnish this kind of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from an esthetician program, it’s imperative that she or he receives support in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide assistance develop relationships with Comstock Park MI businesses that are seeking skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and inquire which salons and establishments they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered? The majority of esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are investigating 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 accessible to students too. If a school meets each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not eliminate it as an option until you find out what financial aid may be offered.

Attending Esthetician School Near Comstock Park MI?

Perhaps you live in the Comstock Park Michigan 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.

Comstock Park, Michigan

Comstock Park is a census-designated place and unincorporated community located in Alpine Township and Plainfield Township in Kent County, Michigan in the Grand Rapids metropolitan area in Michigan, United States.[3][4][5]

Plainfield Township, with a population of 30,195 as of the 2000 census, makes up most of Comstock Park. As it is defined, Comstock Park's population is about 10,674. It sits roughly 7 miles (11 km) north of downtown Grand Rapids.

Comstock Park is known for its golf courses, having two courses and 45 total holes of golf in town. The best-known of these is Scott Lake Golf and Practice Center, the winner of the 2011 Michigan Golf Course Owners Association "Golf Course of the Year" and the 2012 National Golf Course Owners Association "Golf Course of the Year.

Pick the Right Esthetics School near Comstock Park MI

Locating and enrolling in the ideal esthetician college is imperative to receive the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel positive about your decision. Be sure to collect all of the responses you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to compare schools. A good beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the academy and program you select are accredited and have impressive reputations within the profession. If you begin with that foundation, and answer the additional questions supplied in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to launch your career as a professional esthetician in Comstock Park MI.