How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Shepherd MI

How to Pick an Esthetics School near Shepherd Michigan

Shepherd MI esthetician client with cucumber facial Once you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Shepherd MI, the task begins to find and enroll in the best program. It’s essential that the school you choose not only provides the proper education for the specialty you have chosen, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your preliminary search, you might be somewhat confused about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. We’ll speak a bit further regarding that in the upcoming section. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Shepherd residence. Tuition will likewise be an important consideration when reviewing possible schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it’s not automatically the ideal choice. There are many other qualifications that you should evaluate 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 within this article. Before we do, let’s talk a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of training programs are offered.

Definition of Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Shepherd MI Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human anatomy look more attractive with the use 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 word cosmetics, but really a cosmetic can be anything that improves the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states require that you take some kind of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only Shepherd MI beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have gotten experience and a customer base, establish their own shops or salons. Others will start seeing customers either in their own residences or will go to the client’s house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many names and are employed in a wide variety of specializations including:

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

As previously mentioned, in most states practicing cosmetologists have to be licensed. In a few 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, including shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.

Esthetician Certificates and Degrees

Shepherd MI esthetician client with face mask There are essentially 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 usually take 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 each of the main areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are offered if you want to concentrate on just one area, for example esthetics. A degree program will also probably incorporate management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to manage a salon or other Shepherd MI business. Higher degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whichever type of program you decide on, it’s imperative to make certain that it’s recognized by the Michigan Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only approve schools that are accredited by certain respected organizations, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the advantages of accreditation for the school you select in the following segment.

Online Esthetics Schools

woman attending esthetician school online in Shepherd MI Online esthetician programs are convenient for Shepherd MI students who are employed full-time and have family responsibilities that make it difficult to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of web-based cosmetology school programs available that can be attended by means of a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional beauty schools are often fast paced because many programs are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a significant portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you’re not spending many hours away from your home or commuting back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it’s imperative that the program you choose can provide internship training in local salons and parlors so that you also obtain the hands-on training required for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s difficult to gain the skills required to work in any facet of the cosmetology field. So be sure if you choose to enroll in an online school to confirm that internship training is available in your area.

What to Ask Esthetics Programs

Shepherd MI models benefit from esthetic treatments Following is a list of questions that you will want to research for any esthetician training program you are contemplating. As we have already covered, the location of the school in relation to your Shepherd home, together with the price of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you wish 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 initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have collected some of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final selection.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s essential to make certain that the esthetician college 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable in 48883 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many Shepherd MI businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation? Every esthetician institute that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating companies for reviews as well as the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Shepherd MI salon owners or managers, or any person working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to propose others that you had not looked into. And last, check with the Michigan school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty? Many esthetician schools offer programs that are broad 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 broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you choose a school that focuses on 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 well regarded for that program. If your vision is to open a Shepherd MI beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly regarded school with a weak program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you need.

Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Studying and mastering esthetician skills and techniques demands plenty of practice on volunteers. 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 make it possible for students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a beauty academy provides little or no scheduled live training, but instead depends predominantly on using mannequins, it might not be the most effective option for cultivating your skills. So search for other schools that offer this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from an esthetician program, it’s important that she or he receives aid in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer assistance maintain relationships with Shepherd MI businesses that are searching for qualified graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and ask which salons and businesses they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Assistance Available? Most esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Speak 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 fulfills all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not drop it as an option before you find out what financial assistance may be available.

Attending Esthetician School Near Shepherd MI?

Perhaps you live in the Shepherd 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.

Shepherd, Michigan

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 1,515 people, 640 households, and 412 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,561.9 inhabitants per square mile (603.1/km2). There were 699 housing units at an average density of 720.6 per square mile (278.2/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 94.2% White, 0.5% African American, 1.3% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.9% from other races, and 2.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.2% of the population.

There were 640 households of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.3% were married couples living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.6% were non-families. 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.92.

The median age in the village was 37.5 years. 24.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.7% were from 25 to 44; 27.8% were from 45 to 64; and 13% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 46.7% male and 53.3% female.

Select the Right Esthetician College near Shepherd MI

Picking and enrolling in the ideal esthetician college is important to receive the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel confident about your decision. Make sure to collect all of the responses you get from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that data to compare schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the school and program you decide on are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. If you start with that foundation, and address the additional questions supplied in this post, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the proper selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are ready to start your new career as a professional esthetician in Shepherd MI.