How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Laurinburg NC

How to Select an Esthetics College near Laurinburg North Carolina

Laurinburg NC esthetician client with cucumber facial Once you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Laurinburg NC, the process starts to find and enroll in the right program. It’s essential that the school you select not only provides the appropriate training for the specialty you have selected, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you might be rather confused about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are pretty much interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. We’ll speak a bit more concerning that in the following segment. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Laurinburg home. Tuition will also be a critical aspect when assessing prospective schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it’s not always the best choice. There are various other factors that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask about the cosmetology schools you are thinking about later in this article. Before we do, let’s talk a bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of training programs are offered.

Defining Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Laurinburg NC Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human body look more attractive with the use of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic can be anything that improves the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states mandate that you take some form of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only Laurinburg NC beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have gained experience and a customer base, establish their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing clients either in their own residences or will go to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by many professional names and are employed in a wide range of specialties including:

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

As already stated, in most states working cosmetologists have to be licensed. In certain states there is an exemption. Only those conducting more skilled services, for instance hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others employed in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.

Esthetics Degrees

Laurinburg NC esthetician client with face mask There are essentially two avenues available to receive esthetician training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs typically 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 trained in all of the major areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are offered if you wish to specialize in just one area, for instance esthetics. A degree program will also probably feature management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to operate a parlor or other Laurinburg NC business. More advanced degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whichever type of training program you choose, it’s essential to make sure that it’s approved by the North Carolina Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only certify schools that are accredited by certain respected agencies, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the advantages of accreditation for the school you decide on in the next segment.

Online Esthetician Programs

woman attending esthetician school online in Laurinburg NC Online esthetician schools are convenient for Laurinburg NC students who are employed full-time and have family responsibilities that make it hard to enroll in a more traditional school. There are many web-based cosmetology school programs offered that can be accessed via a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional cosmetology programs are frequently fast paced due to the fact that many programs are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a considerable portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you’re not spending numerous hours away from your home or driving back and forth from classes. However, it’s important that the school you pick can provide internship training in area salons and parlors in order that you also get the hands-on training necessary for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s impossible to obtain the skills required to work in any facet of the cosmetology profession. So don’t forget if you choose to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is available in your area.

What to Ask Esthetician Training Courses

Laurinburg NC models benefit from esthetic treatments Following is a list of questions that you will want to investigate for any esthetician training school you are contemplating. As we have already covered, the location of the school in relation to your Laurinburg home, as well as the price of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first qualifiers. Whether you wish to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have compiled some of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each school before making a final decision.

Is the School Accredited? It’s important to make sure that the esthetician school you enroll in 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 ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable in 28352 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of Laurinburg NC employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Any esthetician school that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating companies for reviews together with the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Laurinburg NC salon owners or managers, or any person 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 thought of. And last, consult the North Carolina school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in total compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus? A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s essential that you choose a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your intention is to be trained as an esthetician, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your vision is to launch a Laurinburg NC beauty salon, then you need 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 seeking will not deliver the training you need.

Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Practicing and mastering esthetician techniques and abilities requires lots of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is included in the cosmetology courses you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that allow students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a beauty academy furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but rather depends heavily on the use of mannequins, it might not be the most effective option for acquiring your skills. Therefore look for alternate schools that offer this kind of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from an esthetician academy, it’s imperative that she or he receives assistance in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer assistance maintain relationships with Laurinburg NC businesses that are seeking qualified graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and ask which salons and organizations they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Assistance Available? The majority of esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check 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 get approved for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students as well. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not omit it as an option before you learn what financial aid may be offered.

Attending Esthetician School Near Laurinburg NC?

Perhaps you live in the Laurinburg 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.

Laurinburg, North Carolina

Laurinburg is a city in and the county seat of Scotland County, North Carolina, United States.[6] Located in southern North Carolina near the South Carolina border, Laurinburg is southwest of Fayetteville and is home to St. Andrews University. The Laurinburg Institute, a historically African-American school, is also located in Laurinburg. The population at the 2010 Census was 15,962 people.

A line of the Wilmington, Charlotte and Rutherford Railroad was built through Laurinburg in the 1850s, with the first train reaching Laurinburg in 1861.[1] The railroad's shops were moved to Laurinburg in 1865 in the hope they would be safer from Union Army attack, however, in March of that year Union forces reached Laurinburg and burned the railroad depot and temporary shops.[7]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.6 square miles (33 km2), of which 12.4 square miles (32.1 km²) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) (1.27%) is water.

Pick the Right Esthetics Training Program near Laurinburg NC

Locating and enrolling in the ideal esthetician school is important to get the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel positive about your decision. Don’t forget to compile all of the information you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that information to compare schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the college and program you pick are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. If you start with that foundation, and answer the additional questions supplied in this post, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the right selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are ready to launch your career as a professional esthetician in Laurinburg NC.