How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Dickson TN

How to Select an Esthetician College near Dickson Tennessee

Dickson TN esthetician client with cucumber facial Once you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Dickson TN, the task begins to search for and enroll in the right program. It’s important that the school you pick not only furnishes the necessary training for the specialty you have selected, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your preliminary search, you may be a little bit confused about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are basically interchangeable and both refer to the same kind of school. We’ll discuss a little bit further concerning that in the next segment. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Dickson home. Tuition will likewise be a critical factor when assessing potential schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it’s not automatically the ideal option. There are many other considerations that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are considering later in this article. Before we do, let’s talk a bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of programs are available.

Definition of Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Dickson TN Cosmetology is a profession that is all about making the human body look more attractive with the application of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the term 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, almost all states mandate that you undergo some form of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only Dickson TN beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have acquired experience and a clientele, open their own shops or salons. Others will start seeing customers either in their own homes or will go to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have 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 most states working cosmetologists must be licensed. In certain states there is an exception. Only those performing more skilled services, for example hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people working in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.

Esthetics Degrees and Certificates

Dickson TN esthetician client with face mask There are basically two options available to get 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 generally take 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 instructed in all of the main areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are available if you want to specialize in just one area, for instance esthetics. A degree program will also likely include management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to manage a salon or other Dickson TN 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 choose, it’s essential to make sure that it’s certified by the Tennessee Board of Cosmetology. Many states only certify schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded agencies, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the advantages of accreditation for the school you select in the following section.

Online Esthetician Schools

woman attending esthetician school online in Dickson TN Online esthetician schools are convenient for Dickson TN students who are working full time and have family obligations that make it difficult to enroll in a more traditional school. There are many online cosmetology school programs offered that can be attended through a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional beauty programs are typically fast paced due to the fact that many courses are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a large amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are covering the same amount of material, but you are not devoting numerous hours away from your home or travelling to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s vital that the school you select can provide internship training in area salons and parlors so that you also receive the hands-on training required for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s difficult to gain the skills needed to work in any area of the cosmetology field. So don’t forget if you decide to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is available in your area.

Questions to Ask Esthetician Schools

Dickson TN models benefit from esthetic treatments Following is a list of questions that you will want to look into for any esthetician training program you are considering. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Dickson residence, together with the cost of tuition, will most likely be your initial qualifiers. Whether you want 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 additional 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 should ask every school before making a final selection.

Is the School Accredited? It’s essential to make sure that the esthetician college you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not offered in 37055 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many Dickson TN businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation? Each esthetician school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating companies for reviews in addition to the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Dickson TN salon owners or managers, or any person working in the trade, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. And finally, check with the Tennessee school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty? A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are broad 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 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 desire is to launch a Dickson TN beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly regarded school with a weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you need.

Is Enough Live Training Provided? Learning and mastering esthetician techniques and abilities requires lots of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is included in the beauty classes you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that allow students to practice their developing talents on volunteers. If a beauty school provides little or no scheduled live training, but rather depends mainly on using mannequins, it might not be the most effective option for acquiring your skills. So search for other schools that furnish this type of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance? As soon as a student graduates from an esthetician program, it’s essential that he or she gets support in finding that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer aid develop relationships with Dickson TN businesses that are looking for qualified graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and inquire which salons and businesses they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Aid Available? Most 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 might get approved for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students as well. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not drop it as an option before you find out what financial aid may be provided.

Attending Esthetician School Near Dickson TN?

Perhaps you live in the Dickson Tennessee 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.

Dickson, Tennessee

Dickson is a city in Dickson County, Tennessee, United States. It is part of the Nashville Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population at the 2010 census was 14,538,[4] with an estimate of 14,993 in 2014.[5]

Dickson is located in south-central Dickson County at 36°4′17″N 87°22′28″W / 36.07139°N 87.37444°W / 36.07139; -87.37444 (36.071485, -87.374539).[7] It is bordered to the east by the town of Burns. U.S. Route 70 passes through the north side of the city as Henslee Drive; it leads east 40 miles (64 km) to Nashville and west 62 miles (100 km) to Huntingdon. Interstate 40 passes through the Dickson city limits 5 miles (8 km) south of the center of town, with access from Exit 172 (Tennessee State Route 46). I-40 leads east 37 miles (60 km) to Nashville from Exit 172 and west 92 miles (148 km) to Jackson.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Dickson has a total area of 20.0 square miles (51.9 km2), of which 20.0 square miles (51.7 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km2), or 0.41%, is water.[4] The city center sits on the Tennessee Valley Divide, with the southwest side of the city draining via the East Piney River to the Piney River, then to the Duck River, and then to the Tennessee River, while the northeast side drains via Turnbull Creek or Jones Creek to the Harpeth River and thence to the Cumberland River.

Find the Right Esthetician Vocational School near Dickson TN

Finding and enrolling in the ideal esthetician program is important to obtain the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel positive about your decision. Be sure to collect all of the responses you get from the beauty 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 procedure is to make sure that the institution and program you choose are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you begin with that foundation, 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 proper choice. 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 Dickson TN.