How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Knightdale NC

How to Pick an Esthetics Program near Knightdale North Carolina

Knightdale NC esthetician client with cucumber facial Since you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Knightdale NC, the task starts to search for and enroll in the right program. It’s imperative that the school you select not only provides the appropriate training for the specialty you have chosen, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your preliminary search, you might be a little bit confused about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are basically interchangeable and both relate to the same type of school. We’ll discuss a bit more concerning that in the following segment. If you intend on commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Knightdale home. Tuition will likewise be a critical factor when reviewing prospective schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it’s not necessarily the right choice. There are many other factors that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask concerning the cosmetology schools you are looking at later within this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of programs are available.

What is Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Knightdale NC Cosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human body look more attractive through the application of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic may be almost anything that enhances the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, most states mandate that you go through some type of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only Knightdale NC beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have acquired experience and a clientele, launch their own shops or salons. Others will begin seeing clients either in their own homes or will go to the client’s house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many names and are employed in a wide range of specializations including:

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

As formerly stated, in most states practicing cosmetologists must be licensed. In some 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 be licensed in those states.

Esthetician Degrees and Certificates

Knightdale NC esthetician client with face mask There are essentially two avenues offered to get esthetician training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs generally call for 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 instructed in each of the major areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are offered if you want to concentrate on just one area, such as esthetics. A degree program will also probably include management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to manage a parlor or other Knightdale NC business. More advanced degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such areas as salon or spa management. Whatever type of program you decide on, it’s imperative to make sure that it’s approved by the North Carolina Board of Cosmetology. Many states only certify schools that are accredited by certain reputable organizations, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the benefits of accreditation for the school you choose in the next section.

Online Esthetics Training

woman attending esthetician school online in Knightdale NC Online esthetician classes are accommodating for Knightdale NC students who are employed full time and have family responsibilities that make it difficult to attend a more traditional school. There are many online beauty school programs available that can be accessed by means of a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional cosmetology schools are typically fast paced due to the fact that many programs are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a large portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are covering the same volume of material, but you’re not devoting numerous hours away from your home or driving back and forth from classes. However, it’s imperative that the training program you pick can provide internship training in local salons and parlors so that you also receive the hands-on training needed for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s difficult to obtain the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology industry. So be sure if you decide to enroll in an online school to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.

Questions to Ask Esthetician Trade Schools

Knightdale NC models benefit from esthetic treatments Following is a series of questions that you need to research for any esthetician training program you are contemplating. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Knightdale home, together with the expense of tuition, will probably be your initial qualifiers. Whether you wish to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have compiled some of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final decision.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s necessary to make certain that the esthetician training program you enroll in is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which typically are not offered in 27545 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous Knightdale NC employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation? Every esthetician school that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly demanded. Check rating services for reviews together with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Knightdale NC salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. And finally, consult the North Carolina school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty? A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs commonly broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you select 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 Knightdale NC beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly ranked school with a weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you require.

Is Any Live Training Provided? Learning and mastering esthetician techniques and abilities involves lots of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is included in the beauty courses you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that allow students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a beauty school provides limited or no scheduled live training, but instead relies heavily on the use of mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for developing your skills. Therefore try to find alternate schools that offer this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from an esthetician school, it’s important that she or he receives aid in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide aid develop relationships with Knightdale NC employers that are seeking trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and ask which salons and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Aid Available? The majority of esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid office. Consult with a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you might get approved for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students as well. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not eliminate it as an alternative before you find out what financial assistance may be provided.

Attending Esthetician School Near Knightdale NC?

Perhaps you live in the Knightdale North Carolina 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.

Knightdale, North Carolina

Knightdale is a town in Wake County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 11,401.[4] The U.S. Census Bureau estimates the town's population to be 13,291 as of July 1, 2013.[5] Knightdale's population grew 10.4% from 2010-2012, making it the second fastest-growing community in the Research Triangle region for that time period.[6]

Named for Henry Haywood Knight, a local Wake County landowner who donated land to found a railroad depot, the town was incorporated in 1927. By the 1960s, the economic center of town migrated from the area around the rail depot to U.S. Highway 64, which ran north of downtown Knightdale. Since 1990, the community has experienced a significant population boom, getting its own high school in 2004, and a new freeway bypass in 2006. Since 2010, several new shopping centers have sprung up along Business U.S. 64 (Knightdale Boulevard), the main thoroughfare through town. A large destination park, Knightdale Station Park, opened in 2013 just to the east of the old downtown area as part of a revitalization effort, the park was expanded in 2018 to add an amphitheater.

In 1700, the Lords Proprietor of the Carolina Colony hired John Lawson to explore the area. He began his 1,000-mile (1,600 km) trek near present-day Charleston, South Carolina, and according to his diary, passed through the area sometime in February 1701. He wrote about a meeting with the Tuscarora Native American tribe on the banks of the Neuse River, and with the help of an interpreter, Lawson made peace with the Tuscarora.

Pick the Right Esthetics Vocational School near Knightdale NC

Finding and enrolling in the ideal esthetician school is essential to receive the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel certain about your decision. Make certain to compile 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 contrast schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the institution and program you select are accredited and have impressive reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and address the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are ready to begin your career as a professional esthetician in Knightdale NC.