How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Alexandria SD

How to Find the Right Esthetician Program near Alexandria South Dakota

Alexandria SD esthetician client with cucumber facial Once you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Alexandria SD, the process starts to locate and enroll in the best program. It’s imperative that the school you choose not only provides the necessary training for the specialty you have chosen, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your initial search, you might be somewhat unclear about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are essentially interchangeable and both refer to the same type of school. We’ll discuss a bit further regarding that in the next segment. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Alexandria residence. Tuition will likewise be an important aspect when assessing prospective schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it’s not always the right choice. There are a number of other qualifications that you should weigh when analyzing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask regarding 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 training programs are available.

What is Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Alexandria SD 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. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic can be almost anything that improves the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, the majority of states require that you take some form of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Alexandria SD beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have acquired experience and a customer base, open their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing clients either in their own homes or will travel to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many professional names and are employed in a wide variety of specialties including:

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

As previously mentioned, in the majority of states practicing cosmetologists must be licensed. In a few states there is an exception. Only those offering more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others working in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.

Esthetician Certificates and Degrees

Alexandria SD esthetician client with face mask There are primarily two avenues 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 trained in all of the major areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are available if you wish to concentrate on just one area, for example esthetics. A degree program will also most likely include management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to operate a parlor or other Alexandria SD business. Higher degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such areas as salon or spa management. Whichever type of course you decide on, it’s important to make certain that it’s approved by the South Dakota Board of Cosmetology. Many states only certify schools that are accredited by certain reputable agencies, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the advantages of accreditation for the school you select in the following segment.

Online Esthetician Schools

woman attending esthetician school online in Alexandria SD Online esthetician programs are convenient for Alexandria SD students who are working full-time and have family responsibilities that make it hard to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of web-based beauty school programs offered that can be accessed by means of a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional beauty schools are typically fast paced because many courses are as short as six or eight months. This means that a substantial portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are covering the same volume of material, but you are not devoting numerous hours away from your home or driving to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s essential that the school you select can provide internship training in area salons and parlors so that you also get the hands-on training necessary for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s difficult to gain the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology profession. So be sure if you decide to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is available in your area.

What to Ask Esthetician Training Programs

Alexandria SD 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 previously discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Alexandria home, together with the expense of tuition, will most likely be your primary qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly 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. Below we have compiled some of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each school before making a final determination.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s essential to make certain that the esthetician training program you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which often are not obtainable in 57311 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 Alexandria SD employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Great Reputation? Every esthetician school that you are seriously considering 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, indicating that their students are highly demanded. Check rating services for reviews as well as the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Alexandria SD salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the field, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not considered. And last, consult the South Dakota 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? Many esthetician schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs often expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you choose a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your goal is to be trained as an esthetician, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your dream is to launch a Alexandria SD beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly rated school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you require.

Is Any Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and mastering esthetician techniques and abilities involves plenty of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is included in the beauty classes you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that enable students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a beauty school provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather depends heavily on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the best option for cultivating your skills. So try to find other schools that offer this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from an esthetician academy, it’s important that she or he receives aid in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish help develop relationships with Alexandria SD businesses that are seeking trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and ask which salons and businesses they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered? Most esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are considering have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you may qualify for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students as well. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not omit it as an option until you find out what financial aid may be available.

Attending Esthetician School Near Alexandria SD?

Perhaps you live in the Alexandria South Dakota 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.

Alexandria, South Dakota

In 1879, the community was founded with the name Clarksville.[8] Its post office was established in 1880, and the city later incorporated in 1885 as Alexandria.[1] The city was named after Alexander Mitchell.[9]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.62 square miles (1.61 km2), all of it land.[2] Alexandria has been assigned the ZIP code 57311, and the FIPS place code 00820.

As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 615 people, 231 households, and 171 families residing in the city. The population density was 991.9 inhabitants per square mile (383.0/km2). There were 249 housing units at an average density of 401.6 per square mile (155.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 98.5% White, 0.5% Asian, 0.7% from other races, and 0.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.6% of the population.

Select the Right Esthetics School near Alexandria SD

Locating and enrolling in the right esthetician program is imperative to get the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel positive about your decision. Make certain to compile all of the responses you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to contrast schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the college and program you decide on are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the profession. If you start with that foundation, and answer the additional questions supplied in this post, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the right selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are prepared to start your career as a professional esthetician in Alexandria SD.