How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Meriden NH

How to Select an Esthetician School near Meriden New Hampshire

Meriden NH esthetician client with cucumber facial Since you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Meriden NH, the process begins to locate and enroll in the ideal program. It’s essential that the school you select not only provides the necessary instruction for the specialty you have chosen, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your preliminary search, you may be somewhat confused about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are basically interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind of school. We’ll speak a little bit further about that in the upcoming section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Meriden home. Tuition will also be an important aspect when assessing prospective schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it’s not automatically the ideal option. There are many other considerations that you should weigh when reviewing schools, such as 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 talk a bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of training programs are offered.

What is Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Meriden NH Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human anatomy look more attractive through the application of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are referred to as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic may be anything that improves the appearance 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 become licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only Meriden NH beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have acquired experience and a clientele, launch their own shops or salons. Others will begin servicing clients either in their own residences or will travel to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by many professional names and are employed in a wide variety of specialties including:

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

As earlier mentioned, in the majority of states practicing cosmetologists must be licensed. In certain states there is an exception. Only those conducting more skilled services, for example hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others employed in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.

Esthetics Certificates and Degrees

Meriden NH esthetician client with face mask There are primarily two options offered to get esthetician training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs usually require 12 to 18 months to complete, 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 major areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are available if you want to focus on just one area, for example esthetics. A degree program will also most likely feature management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to operate a parlor or other Meriden NH business. More advanced degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whichever type of training program you opt for, it’s important to make certain that it’s certified by the New Hampshire Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only certify schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded organizations, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the advantages of accreditation for the school you decide on in the next segment.

Online Esthetician Programs

woman attending esthetician school online in Meriden NH Online esthetician classes are advantageous for Meriden NH students who are working full time and have family obligations that make it difficult to enroll in a more traditional school. There are a large number of web-based cosmetology school programs available that can be attended through a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional beauty schools are typically fast paced given that many courses are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a large portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are covering the same amount of material, but you’re not devoting many hours away from your home or travelling back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it’s imperative that the school you select can provide internship training in area salons and parlors so that you also get the hands-on training needed for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s difficult to gain 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 verify that internship training is provided in your area.

What to Ask Esthetician Trade Schools

Meriden NH models benefit from esthetic treatments Below is a list of questions that you will want to research for any esthetician training program you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Meriden residence, in addition to the expense of tuition, will undoubtedly 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 initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Following we have collected 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 acknowledged 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 guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for getting student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not offered in 03770 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 Meriden NH 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 Great Reputation? Any esthetician institute that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating companies for reviews together with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Meriden NH salon owners or managers, or someone working in the trade, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. And finally, consult the New Hampshire school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus? Some 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 instance hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s essential that you select a school that specializes in 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 vision is to open a Meriden NH beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly ranked school with a weak program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you need.

Is Any Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and mastering esthetician techniques and abilities requires plenty of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the cosmetology classes you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that allow students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a beauty school furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but rather relies heavily on the use of mannequins, it may not be the most effective alternative for developing your skills. Therefore search for alternate schools that offer this kind of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from an esthetician school, it’s crucial that he or she gets help in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide help develop relationships with Meriden NH employers that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and inquire which salons and establishments they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered? Almost all esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid office. Talk to 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 also. If a school meets all of your other qualifications except for expense, do not discard it as an alternative before you find out what financial assistance may be provided.

Attending Esthetician School Near Meriden NH?

Perhaps you live in the Meriden New Hampshire 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.

Meriden, New Hampshire

Meriden is an unincorporated community in the eastern part of the town of Plainfield in Sullivan County, New Hampshire, United States. Meriden is home to Kimball Union Academy, a private boarding school. New Hampshire Route 120 passes through the village, leading north to Lebanon and south to Claremont.

Enroll in the Right Esthetics School near Meriden NH

Picking and enrolling in the ideal esthetician college is imperative to get the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel positive about your decision. Don’t forget to collect all of the information you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to contrast schools. A good start in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the institution and program you select are accredited and have excellent 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 proper choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are ready to begin your career as a professional esthetician in Meriden NH.