How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Clear Lake MN

How to Pick an Esthetician College near Clear Lake Minnesota

Clear Lake MN esthetician client with cucumber facial Since you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Clear Lake MN, the task starts to find and enroll in the right program. It’s important that the program you choose not only provides the appropriate education for the specialty you have chosen, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your initial search, you may be rather puzzled about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind of school. We’ll speak a bit further about that in the next section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Clear Lake residence. Tuition will additionally be an important aspect when assessing possible schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it’s not necessarily the ideal option. There are various other qualifications that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask concerning the cosmetology schools you are looking at later in this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of courses are available.

What is Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Clear Lake MN Cosmetology is a profession that is all about making the human body look more attractive with the application of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic can be anything that enhances the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, the majority of states require that you go through some type of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Clear Lake MN beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have gotten experience and a customer base, launch their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing clients either in their own homes or will go to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by 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 earlier stated, in the majority of states working cosmetologists have to be licensed. In some states there is an exemption. Only those performing more skilled services, for example hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others working in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.

Esthetics Certificates and Degrees

Clear Lake MN esthetician client with face mask There are primarily two pathways offered to obtain 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 usually takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be trained in each of the main areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are offered if you wish 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 operate a salon or other Clear Lake MN business. More advanced degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whichever type of course you choose, it’s important to make certain that it’s recognized by the Minnesota Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain respected organizations, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the advantages of accreditation for the school you select in the following section.

Online Esthetician Schools

woman attending esthetician school online in Clear Lake MN Online esthetician programs are convenient for Clear Lake MN students who are employed full-time and have family responsibilities that make it challenging to attend a more traditional school. There are numerous web-based beauty school programs available that can be accessed via a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional cosmetology schools are often fast paced because many courses are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a substantial portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are dealing with the same volume of material, but you are not devoting many hours away from your home or driving to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s imperative that the program you select can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors in order that you also obtain the hands-on training required for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s impossible to acquire the skills needed to work in any facet of the cosmetology industry. So don’t forget if you decide to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is available in your area.

What to Ask Esthetician Schools

Clear Lake MN models benefit from esthetic treatments Below is a series of questions that you need to look into for any esthetician training program you are contemplating. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Clear Lake home, as well as the cost of tuition, will undoubtedly be your initial qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue 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 consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have compiled some of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final selection.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s necessary to make sure that the esthetician training program 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 superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for securing student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable in 55319 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of Clear Lake MN businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Each esthetician school that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly regarded. Check rating services for reviews together with the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Clear Lake MN salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the field, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not thought of. And finally, consult the Minnesota school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus? A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs often expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you pick a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your objective is to be trained as an esthetician, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your desire is to open a Clear Lake MN beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly regarded school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you require.

Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and perfecting esthetician skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is provided in the beauty classes you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that allow students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a beauty academy offers little or no scheduled live training, but instead relies heavily on the use of mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for cultivating your skills. Therefore try to find other schools that offer this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from an esthetician school, it’s essential that he or she receives help in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer help develop relationships with Clear Lake MN businesses that are looking for qualified graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and inquire which salons and businesses they refer students to. Additionally, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered? The majority of esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid department. Talk to a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you might qualify 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 each of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not discard it as an alternative before you find out what financial assistance may be available.

Attending Esthetician School Near Clear Lake MN?

Perhaps you live in the Clear Lake Minnesota 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.

Clear Lake, Minnesota

As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 545 people, 205 households, and 151 families residing in the city. The population density was 529.1 inhabitants per square mile (204.3/km2). There were 222 housing units at an average density of215.5 per square mile (83.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 98.3% White, 0.4% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.2% of the population.

There were 205 households, of which 43.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.5% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 26.3% were non-families. 21.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.05.

The median age in the city was 31.1 years. 30.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 35.7% were from 25 to 44; 18.5% were from 45 to 64; and 8.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.0% male and 51.0% female.

Pick the Right Esthetician Program near Clear Lake MN

Finding and enrolling in the right esthetician program is imperative to obtain the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel confident about your decision. Make sure to compile all of the responses you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that data to compare schools. A good start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the academy and program you choose are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. If you begin with that base, and answer the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the proper selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to begin your new career as a professional esthetician in Clear Lake MN.