How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Kent City MI

How to Select an Esthetician Course near Kent City Michigan

Kent City MI esthetician client with cucumber facial Once you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Kent City MI, the task starts to find and enroll in the ideal program. It’s important that the program you choose not only provides the proper education for the specialty you have decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your preliminary search, you might be somewhat confused about the contrast 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 speak a bit more regarding that in the following section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Kent City home. Tuition will also be a critical aspect when evaluating possible schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it’s not automatically the right choice. There are various other qualifications that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask about the cosmetology schools you are thinking about later within this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of training programs are offered.

Definition of Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Kent City MI Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human body look more attractive with the application of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic can be almost anything that improves the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states mandate that you take some form of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work environments include not only Kent City MI beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have gained experience and a customer base, open 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 have many 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 already mentioned, in most states practicing cosmetologists have to be licensed. In certain states there is an exception. Only those conducting more skilled services, for instance hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people working in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.

Esthetics Degrees

Kent City MI esthetician client with face mask There are primarily two pathways available to obtain esthetician training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs normally call for 12 to 18 months to finish, 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. Shorter programs are offered if you wish to concentrate on just one area, such as esthetics. A degree program will also likely feature management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to manage a salon or other Kent City MI business. More advanced degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whatever type of training program you decide on, it’s important to make sure that it’s certified by the Michigan Board of Cosmetology. Many states only approve schools that are accredited by certain reputable organizations, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the benefits of accreditation for the school you decide on in the upcoming section.

Online Esthetics Classes

woman attending esthetician school online in Kent City MI Online esthetician schools are convenient for Kent City MI students who are employed full-time and have family commitments that make it difficult to enroll in a more traditional school. There are many online cosmetology school programs offered that can be attended through a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional cosmetology programs are often fast paced since many programs are as short as six or eight months. This means that a significant amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are dealing with the same volume of material, but you are not devoting numerous hours outside of your home or travelling back and forth from classes. However, it’s essential that the program you select can provide internship training in area salons and parlors in order that you also get the hands-on training needed for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s difficult to acquire the skills necessary to work in any facet of the cosmetology field. So be sure if you decide to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is available in your area.

What to Ask Esthetics Degree Programs

Kent City MI models benefit from esthetic treatments Below is a list of questions that you should investigate for any esthetician training program you are considering. As we have previously covered, the location of the school in relation to your Kent City home, in addition to the cost of tuition, will most likely be your initial qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options 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 collected some of those additional questions that you need to ask every school before making a final selection.

Is the School Accredited? It’s necessary to make certain that the esthetician training program you choose 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for securing student loans or financial aid, which often are not obtainable in 49330 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous Kent City MI businesses will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Any esthetician college that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating services for reviews in addition to the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Kent City MI salon owners or managers, or someone working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to suggest others that you had not looked into. Finally, check with the Michigan school licensing authority to find out 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 comprehensive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you enroll in a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your ambition is to be trained as an esthetician, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your aspiration is to open a Kent City MI beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly regarded school with a weak program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you need.

Is Enough Live Training Provided? Studying and mastering esthetician skills and techniques involves plenty of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is included in the beauty classes you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that enable students to practice their growing talents on volunteers. If a beauty academy furnishes minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather relies heavily on using mannequins, it may not be the most effective option for developing your skills. Therefore try to find alternate schools that provide this type of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from an esthetician academy, it’s crucial that he or she receives assistance in securing that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer assistance develop relationships with Kent City MI businesses that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and ask which salons and organizations they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only affirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Aid Available? Almost all esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are considering have a financial aid department. Consult 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 also. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications except for cost, do not drop it as an option before you determine what financial help may be offered.

Attending Esthetician School Near Kent City MI?

Perhaps you live in the Kent City 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.

Kent City, Michigan

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 1,057 people, 373 households, and 268 families residing in the village. The population density was 800.8 inhabitants per square mile (309.2/km2). There were 407 housing units at an average density of 308.3 per square mile (119.0/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 88.8% White, 0.9% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 7.7% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.8% of the population.

There were 373 households of which 43.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.9% were married couples living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 7.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 28.2% were non-families. 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.83 and the average family size was 3.33.

The median age in the village was 30.6 years. 30.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 28.9% were from 25 to 44; 22.8% were from 45 to 64; and 7.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 48.2% male and 51.8% female.

Select the Right Esthetician Training Program near Kent City MI

Locating 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 require in order to feel certain about your decision. Don’t forget to compile all of the responses you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that data to compare schools. A good beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the academy and program you pick are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. If you start with that base, and answer the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to launch your new career as a professional esthetician in Kent City MI.