How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Okemos MI

How to Select an Esthetics Training Program near Okemos Michigan

Okemos MI esthetician client with cucumber facial Once you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Okemos MI, the process begins to search for and enroll in the right program. It’s important that the program you choose not only provides the necessary instruction for the specialty you have selected, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you may be rather puzzled about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both refer to the same kind of school. We’ll talk a little bit more concerning that in the next segment. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Okemos home. Tuition will likewise be a critical factor when reviewing possible schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it’s not automatically the right choice. There are various other qualifications that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask concerning 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 available.

What is Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Okemos MI Cosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human body look more beautiful with the use of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic may be anything that improves the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, the majority of states mandate that you go through some form of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Okemos MI beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have gained experience and a clientele, open their own shops or salons. Others will start seeing clients either in their own homes or will travel to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many names and work in a wide variety of specializations including:

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

As earlier stated, in the majority of states working cosmetologists have to be licensed. In certain states there is an exception. Only those conducting more skilled services, for example hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people employed in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.

Esthetician Degrees and Certificates

Okemos MI esthetician client with face mask There are primarily two avenues offered to obtain 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 typically call for 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 trained in all of the major areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you want to focus on just one area, for instance esthetics. A degree program will also likely include management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to operate a salon or other Okemos MI business. Higher 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 essential to make sure that it’s approved by the Michigan Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain respected agencies, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the benefits of accreditation for the school you decide on in the next section.

Online Esthetics Training

woman attending esthetician school online in Okemos MI Online esthetician programs are convenient for Okemos MI students who are employed full-time and have family responsibilities that make it challenging to enroll in a more traditional school. There are many web-based cosmetology school programs offered that can be attended via a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional cosmetology schools are frequently fast paced given that many courses are as brief 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 are not devoting numerous hours outside of your home or commuting back and forth from classes. However, it’s vital that the school you choose can provide internship training in area salons and parlors in order that you also get the hands-on training needed for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s difficult to acquire the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology profession. So don’t forget if you decide to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is available in your area.

What to Ask Esthetics Training Courses

Okemos MI models benefit from esthetic treatments Below is a list of questions that you will want to investigate for any esthetician training program you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Okemos home, as well as the cost of tuition, will undoubtedly be your initial qualifiers. Whether you want to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt 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 must research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have collected some of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each school before making a final decision.

Is the School Accredited? It’s necessary to make certain that the esthetician school you choose 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 quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for securing student loans or financial aid, which typically are not available in 48805 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many Okemos MI employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation? Each esthetician college 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 placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating companies for reviews along with the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Okemos MI salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the trade, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They might 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 submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty? Many esthetician schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you pick a school that specializes in 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 vision is to open a Okemos MI beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly rated school with a weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you need.

Is Any Live Training Provided? Practicing and refining esthetician skills and techniques demands plenty of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is provided in the beauty classes you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that allow students to practice their developing talents on volunteers. If a beauty program offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead relies predominantly on using mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for acquiring your skills. So look for alternate schools that furnish this kind of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from an esthetician academy, it’s crucial that she or he receives help in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide help maintain relationships with Okemos MI employers that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and inquire which salons and organizations they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered? Most esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid office. Consult with a counselor and identify 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 available to students too. If a school meets each of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not eliminate it as an alternative before you determine what financial help may be available.

Attending Esthetician School Near Okemos MI?

Perhaps you live in the Okemos 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.

Okemos, Michigan

Okemos /ˈoʊkɪməs/ is an unincorporated community in Meridian Charter Township, Ingham County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a census-designated place (CDP) for statistical purposes and does not have any separate legal existence as a municipality. Local government is provided by the township. The population was 21,369 at the 2010 census.[3]

The settlement of Hamilton was founded in 1839 by Freeman Bray as a trading point with the surrounding Ojibwe people and as a farming community. In 1859, one year following the death of Chief John Okemos (on whose treaty lands the community was built), the area was renamed to honor the Native American chief. "Okemos" is from the Ojibwa ogimaa "chief" plus -s, the diminutive, thus "little chief".

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 16.9 square miles (43.8 km2), of which 16.8 square miles (43.4 km2) are land and 0.2 square miles (0.4 km2), or 0.87%, are water.[3]

Pick the Right Esthetics College near Okemos MI

Picking and enrolling in the right esthetician school is important to get the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel positive about your decision. Be 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 utilize that data to compare schools. A good start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the academy and program you select are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. If you start with that base, and answer the additional questions supplied in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the ideal choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are ready to launch your new career as a professional esthetician in Okemos MI.