How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Spindale NC

How to Pick an Esthetician Course near Spindale North Carolina

Spindale NC esthetician client with cucumber facial Since you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Spindale NC, the process begins to search for and enroll in the ideal program. It’s important that the program you choose not only furnishes the appropriate training for the specialty you have decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your preliminary search, you might be rather puzzled about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are pretty much interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind of school. We’ll speak a bit more about that in the upcoming section. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Spindale home. Tuition will additionally be an important factor when reviewing potential schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it’s not automatically the best choice. There are many other factors that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask about the cosmetology schools you are thinking about later within this article. Before we do, let’s talk a bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of courses are offered.

Definition of Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Spindale NC Cosmetology is a profession that is all about making the human anatomy look more attractive with the application of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but really a cosmetic may be almost anything that improves the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, the majority of states mandate that you take some type of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Spindale NC beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have acquired experience and a client base, launch their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing customers either in their own homes or will travel to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many professional names and work in a wide variety of specializations including:

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

As formerly mentioned, in the majority of states working cosmetologists must be licensed. In certain states there is an exemption. Only those conducting more skilled services, for instance hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people employed in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.

Esthetician Certificates and Degrees

Spindale NC esthetician client with face mask There are primarily two pathways offered 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 normally call for 12 to 18 months to complete, while an Associate’s degree usually takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be instructed in all of the major areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you wish to focus on just one area, for instance esthetics. A degree program will also probably include management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to run a salon or other Spindale NC business. More advanced degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whichever type of course you go with, it’s essential to make sure that it’s certified by the North Carolina Board of Cosmetology. Many states only certify schools that are accredited by certain reputable agencies, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the advantages of accreditation for the school you choose in the next segment.

Online Esthetics Courses

woman attending esthetician school online in Spindale NC Online esthetician schools are convenient for Spindale NC students who are working full time and have family commitments that make it challenging to enroll in a more traditional school. There are a large number of web-based cosmetology school programs available that can be accessed via a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional cosmetology programs are often fast paced given that many programs are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a substantial amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you’re not spending numerous hours away from your home or travelling back and forth from classes. However, it’s essential that the program you select can provide internship training in area salons and parlors to ensure that you also get the hands-on training needed for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s difficult to obtain the skills necessary to work in any facet of the cosmetology industry. So be sure if you choose to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is provided in your area.

What to Ask Esthetics Schools

Spindale NC models benefit from esthetic treatments Below is a series of questions that you will want to look into for any esthetician training school you are considering. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Spindale residence, together with the cost of tuition, will probably be your primary qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably 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 program. Below we have collected several of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final selection.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s important to make certain that the esthetician school 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 ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for getting student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not offered in 28160 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous Spindale NC employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation? Any esthetician institute that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly sought after. Check rating companies for reviews in addition to the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Spindale NC salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the trade, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not considered. Finally, consult the North Carolina school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty? Some esthetician schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s imperative that you decide on a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your objective is to be trained as an esthetician, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your dream is to open a Spindale NC beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly regarded school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you need.

Is Any Live Training Provided? Studying and mastering esthetician techniques and abilities requires plenty of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the beauty classes you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that make it possible for students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a beauty academy provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather relies heavily on the use of mannequins, it may not be the most effective option for cultivating your skills. So search for other schools that provide this kind of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from an esthetician program, it’s important that he or she gets help in securing that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide assistance maintain relationships with Spindale NC businesses that are looking for qualified graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which salons and businesses they refer students to. Also, 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 Assistance Available? Most esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are considering have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you may qualify for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students too. If a school meets each of your other qualifications except for cost, do not eliminate it as an alternative before you learn what financial assistance may be offered.

Attending Esthetician School Near Spindale NC?

Perhaps you live in the Spindale 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.

Spindale, North Carolina

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 5.5 square miles (14 km2), all of it land. Spindale was a classic mill town from its first textile mill, Spencer Mills in 1916 until its last textile mill, Stonecutter Mills, organized by J. B. Tanner in 1920, which closed in 1999. ("A Short History of Stonecutter Mills and Spindale, North Carolina", by Tim Barth and Duncan Murrell, 2004, pp. 2–11)

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 4,022 people, 1,662 households, and 1,065 families residing in the town. The population density was 726.8 people per square mile (280.8/km2). There were 1,887 housing units at an average density of 341.0 per square mile (131.7/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 72.80% White, 24.86% African American, 0.50% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.50% from other races, and 0.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.44% of the population.

There were 1,662 households out of which 25.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.9% were married couples living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 33.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.87.

Select the Right Esthetician College near Spindale NC

Picking and enrolling in the ideal esthetician program is essential to receive the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel confident about your decision. Make certain to consolidate all of the responses 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 sensible start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the college and program you pick are accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and address the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are qualified to start your new career as a professional esthetician in Spindale NC.