How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Graniteville SC

How to Find the Right Esthetics College near Graniteville South Carolina

Graniteville SC esthetician client with cucumber facial Once you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Graniteville SC, the process begins to locate and enroll in the right program. It’s important that the school you choose not only provides the appropriate instruction for the specialty you have decided on, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your initial search, you may be rather puzzled about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both refer to the same type of school. We’ll discuss a bit further about 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 Graniteville home. Tuition will also be an important factor when evaluating possible schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it’s not automatically the best choice. There are a number of other qualifications that you should evaluate when comparing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask concerning the cosmetology schools you are thinking about later within this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of programs are available.

Definition of Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Graniteville SC Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human body look more beautiful with the application of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but basically 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, the majority of states mandate that you undergo some type of specialized training and then become licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only Graniteville SC beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have gained experience and a client base, establish their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing customers either in their own homes or will go to the client’s house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many 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 earlier mentioned, in most states working cosmetologists have to be licensed. In certain states there is an exception. Only those performing more skilled services, for instance hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others working in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.

Esthetician Certificates and Degrees

Graniteville SC esthetician client with face mask There are essentially two avenues offered to get esthetician training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs usually call for 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 each of the major areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you prefer to concentrate on just one area, for instance esthetics. A degree program will also most likely feature management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to run a parlor or other Graniteville SC business. Higher degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such areas as salon or spa management. Whichever type of training program you choose, it’s important to make certain that it’s recognized by the South Carolina Board of Cosmetology. Many states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded organizations, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the advantages of accreditation for the school you select in the next segment.

Online Esthetician Classes

woman attending esthetician school online in Graniteville SC Online esthetician classes are advantageous for Graniteville SC students who are employed full time and have family responsibilities that make it hard to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of online cosmetology school programs available that can be attended through a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional cosmetology schools are frequently fast paced since many courses are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a substantial portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are covering the same volume of material, but you’re not spending many hours away from your home or travelling back and forth from classes. However, it’s essential that the training program you pick can provide internship training in area salons and parlors so that you also get the hands-on training required for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s difficult to obtain the skills required to work in any facet of the cosmetology field. So be sure if you decide to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is provided in your area.

What to Ask Esthetics Trade Schools

Graniteville SC models benefit from esthetic treatments Below is a series of questions that you need to research for any esthetician training school you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Graniteville home, in addition to the cost of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue 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 preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have put together several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final selection.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s necessary to make sure that the esthetician training program 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 ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for getting student loans or financial aid, which typically are not available in 29829 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 Graniteville SC employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation? Any esthetician college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. 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, attesting that their students are highly regarded. Check rating services for reviews in addition to the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Graniteville SC salon owners or managers, or someone working in the industry, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. And finally, consult the South Carolina school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in full compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty? Some esthetician schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating 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 broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s imperative that you select 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 Graniteville SC beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly ranked school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you require.

Is Any Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and perfecting esthetician skills and techniques demands lots of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the cosmetology lessons you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that make it possible for students to practice their developing skills on volunteers. If a beauty program furnishes minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather relies mainly on the use of mannequins, it may not be the most effective alternative for developing your skills. So try to find alternate schools that offer this kind of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance? As soon as a student graduates from an esthetician school, it’s crucial that he or she gets assistance in finding that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer aid maintain relationships with Graniteville SC businesses that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and ask which salons and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, find out 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 Offered? The majority of esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid office. Consult with a counselor and learn 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 available to students also. If a school meets each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not omit it as an option until you learn what financial help may be offered.

Attending Esthetician School Near Graniteville SC?

Perhaps you live in the Graniteville South 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.

Graniteville, South Carolina

Graniteville is a census-designated place (CDP) in Aiken County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 2,614 at the 2010 census.[1] It lies along U.S. Route 1, five miles (8 km) west of Aiken in Horse Creek Valley, which originates in the nearby town of Vaucluse.

Graniteville dates back to 1845 when William Gregg built the South's first large-scale cotton mill in what became known as Graniteville. His paternalistic mill town included 90 homes, several boarding houses, six stores, two churches, and a school for the mill workers and their families. The community got its name because most of those original buildings were constructed of blue granite. Gregg required the children of mill workers to attend the public school he instituted, and violators were fined. As such, Graniteville holds the distinction of having the first compulsory education system in the Southern United States.

On January 6, 2005, a Norfolk Southern Railway freight train struck a parked train on the spur leading to Avondale's Stevens Steam Plant. One of two train cars that were carrying liquid chlorine ruptured, releasing a poisonous chlorine cloud. Nine people were killed, more than 550 injured, and more than 5,400 were displaced from their homes for more than a week. The town built a memorial in a small park at the intersection of Canal Street and Aiken Road, and on May 20, 2006, the memorial was dedicated to the people who died in the crash.

Select the Right Esthetics Vocational School near Graniteville SC

Choosing and enrolling in the right esthetician college is important to receive the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel confident about your decision. Don’t forget to collect all of the responses you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to compare schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the institution and program you choose are accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and answer the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to filter 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 Graniteville SC.