How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Westerville OH

How to Select an Esthetics Training Program near Westerville Ohio

Westerville OH esthetician client with cucumber facial Since you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Westerville OH, the task begins to search for and enroll in the right program. It’s essential that the school you pick not only provides the appropriate education for the specialty you have selected, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your initial search, you might be a little bit unclear about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. We’ll discuss a little bit more concerning that in the next section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Westerville home. Tuition will also be a critical consideration when reviewing prospective schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it’s not always the ideal choice. There are several other considerations that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, for instance 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 types of courses are offered.

Definition of Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Westerville OH Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human body look more attractive with the use of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are referred to as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic may be anything that improves the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, most states mandate that you take some type of specialized training and then become licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only Westerville OH 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, open their own shops or salons. Others will begin servicing customers either in their own homes or will go to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many professional names and work in a wide range of specialties including:

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

As previously mentioned, in most states practicing cosmetologists have to be licensed. In certain states there is an exception. Only those performing more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others employed in cosmetology and less skilled, such as shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.

Esthetician Degrees and Certificates

Westerville OH esthetician client with face mask There are basically two pathways available to receive 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 normally require 12 to 18 months to complete, 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 prefer to focus on just one area, such as esthetics. A degree program will also most likely feature management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to run a salon or other Westerville OH business. More advanced degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whatever type of program you opt for, it’s imperative to make certain that it’s certified by the Ohio Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only approve schools that are accredited by certain respected agencies, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the benefits of accreditation for the school you decide on in the following segment.

Online Esthetician Courses

woman attending esthetician school online in Westerville OH Online esthetician classes are accommodating for Westerville OH students who are working full-time and have family responsibilities that make it challenging to attend a more traditional school. There are many online beauty school programs offered that can be accessed through a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional beauty schools are typically fast paced due to the fact that 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 covering the same amount of material, but you are not spending numerous hours outside of your home or travelling back and forth from classes. However, it’s important that the training program you select can provide internship training in local salons and parlors so that you also obtain the hands-on training required for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s impossible to obtain the skills required to work in any area of the cosmetology industry. So be sure if you decide to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is available in your area.

Questions to Ask Esthetics Training Courses

Westerville OH models benefit from esthetic treatments Below is a series of questions that you will want to research for any esthetician training school you are considering. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Westerville home, as well as the expense of tuition, will undoubtedly be your primary qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue 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 program. Following we have put together some of those additional questions that you need to ask every school before making a final determination.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s essential to make certain that the esthetician school you select 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 assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for securing student loans or financial aid, which typically are not available in 43081 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many Westerville OH employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation? Every esthetician school 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 endorsements from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Verify 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 organizations. If you have any connections with Westerville OH salon owners or managers, or someone working in the trade, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to suggest others that you had not looked into. And last, consult the Ohio school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus? Some esthetician schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing 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 specializes in your area of interest. If your intention is to be trained as an esthetician, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your aspiration is to launch a Westerville OH beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly regarded school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you need.

Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and mastering esthetician techniques and abilities requires plenty of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is provided in the cosmetology lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that enable students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a beauty program furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but instead relies mainly on using mannequins, it may not be the most effective alternative for developing your skills. So try to find other schools that furnish this type of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from an esthetician program, it’s important that she or he gets assistance in securing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer help maintain relationships with Westerville OH businesses that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and inquire which salons and organizations they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have broad 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. Find out if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid department. Talk to a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you may get approved for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students too. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not eliminate it as an option until you learn what financial help may be provided.

Attending Esthetician School Near Westerville OH?

Perhaps you live in the Westerville 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.

Westerville, Ohio

Westerville is a city in Delaware and Franklin counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. It is a northeastern suburb of Columbus. The population was 36,120 at the 2010 census. Westerville is the home of Otterbein University.

The land that is today Westerville was first settled by Europeans around 1810. In 1818, Matthew, Peter, and William Westervelt, settlers of Dutch extraction, migrated to the area from New York. Matthew Westervelt donated land for the construction of a Methodist church in 1836, and the settlement was subsequently named in the family’s honor.[6] In 1839, the Blendon Young Men’s Seminary was chartered in Westerville;[7] Matthew Westervelt was one of its first trustees.[8] The Church of the United Brethren in Christ bought the seminary in 1846,[9] and the next year the seminary was reformed, and renamed Otterbein College after the church’s founder Philip William Otterbein. It continues today in Westerville as the private Otterbein University.[10]

Throughout the Antebellum era, several homes in Westerville were stations on the Underground Railroad. Among these is the Hanby House, located one block from the college. Benjamin Russell Hanby had moved to Westerville in 1849, at the age of sixteen, to enroll at Otterbein University.[12] Hanby went on to write many familiar hymns and songs, among them "Darling Nelly Gray" (inspired by his sympathy for Southern slaves[13]), "Who is He in Yonder Stall?", and the Christmas favorite "Up On The Housetop". His home in Westerville, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was dedicated as a museum in 1937[14] and is now owned by the Ohio Historical Society and managed locally by the Westerville Historical Society. It is the only state memorial to a composer in the state of Ohio.

Select the Right Esthetician College near Westerville OH

Picking and enrolling in the ideal esthetician college is essential to receive the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel confident about your decision. Make certain to collect all of the responses you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that data to contrast schools. A good start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the institution and program you select are accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and address the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are ready to start your career as a professional esthetician in Westerville OH.