How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools West Union OH

How to Choose an Esthetician School near West Union Ohio

West Union OH esthetician client with cucumber facial Once you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near West Union OH, the task starts to locate and enroll in the best program. It’s essential that the program you pick not only furnishes the necessary instruction for the specialty you have chosen, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your preliminary search, you may be rather puzzled about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are basically interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. We’ll discuss a bit more regarding that in the next section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your West Union home. Tuition will also be an important factor when reviewing possible schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it’s not always the best choice. There are various other qualifications that you should weigh when analyzing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask about 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.

Definition of Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners West Union OH Cosmetology is a profession that is everything 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. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic can be almost anything that enhances 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 form of specialized training and then become licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only West Union OH beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have gained experience and a clientele, open 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 go by 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 previously mentioned, in the majority of states working cosmetologists have to be licensed. In a few states there is an exemption. Only those performing more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people employed in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.

Esthetician Degrees and Certificates

West Union OH esthetician client with face mask There are primarily two pathways available to receive esthetician training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs generally 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 offered if you want to focus on just one area, for instance esthetics. A degree program will also likely include management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to operate a parlor or other West Union OH business. Higher degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such areas as salon or spa management. Whichever type of course you go with, it’s important to make sure that it’s approved by the Ohio Board of Cosmetology. Many states only certify schools that are accredited by certain reputable organizations, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the advantages of accreditation for the school you choose in the upcoming section.

Online Esthetics Courses

woman attending esthetician school online in West Union OH Online esthetician classes are accommodating for West Union OH students who are working full-time and have family responsibilities that make it challenging to attend a more traditional school. There are many web-based beauty school programs offered that can be accessed via a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional beauty programs are frequently fast paced since many programs are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a large portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you are not spending numerous hours away from your home or commuting to and from classes. However, it’s essential that the training program you select can provide internship training in area salons and parlors so that you also receive the hands-on training needed for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s difficult to acquire the skills required to work in any facet of the cosmetology industry. So don’t forget if you choose to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is provided in your area.

What to Ask Esthetics Training Classes

West Union OH models benefit from esthetic treatments Below is a list of questions that you need to look into for any esthetician training school you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school relative to your West Union residence, in addition to the price of tuition, will undoubtedly be your initial qualifiers. Whether you wish to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Following we have collected several 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 select is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for securing student loans or financial aid, which typically are not offered in 45693 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous West Union OH businesses will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation? Each esthetician college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating companies for reviews in addition to the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with West Union OH salon owners or managers, or any person working in the trade, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to suggest others that you had not looked into. And last, contact the Ohio school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus? Some esthetician schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs often broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s imperative 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 vision is to launch a West Union OH beauty salon, then you need 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 seeking will not provide the training you need.

Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Studying and mastering esthetician techniques and abilities involves plenty of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is included in the beauty classes you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that enable students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a beauty academy furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but rather depends mainly on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for developing your skills. So search for alternate schools that furnish this kind of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from an esthetician program, it’s important that he or she gets assistance in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide assistance maintain relationships with West Union OH employers that are searching for skilled graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and ask which salons and establishments they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Assistance Offered? Many esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid department. Speak with 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 accessible to students too. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not drop it as an option until you determine what financial assistance may be available.

Attending Esthetician School Near West Union OH?

Perhaps you live in the West Union Ohio 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.

West Union, Ohio

Ironically, West Union lies east of Union, Ohio, a city in Montgomery County approximately 10 miles north of Dayton. West Union and Union are not adjacent to each other, actually being approximately 120 miles from each other.

As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 3,241 people, 1,322 households, and 805 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,145.2 inhabitants per square mile (442.2/km2). There were 1,493 housing units at an average density of 527.6 per square mile (203.7/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 97.4% White, 0.4% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.8% of the population.

There were 1,322 households of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.5% were married couples living together, 17.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.1% were non-families. 35.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.5% 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 2.91.

Pick the Right Esthetician College near West Union OH

Selecting and enrolling in the right esthetician college is important to get the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel certain about your decision. Be sure to collect all of the information you get from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to contrast schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the college and program you select are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and address the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are ready to begin your career as a professional esthetician in West Union OH.