How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Rockvale TN

How to Select an Esthetics College near Rockvale Tennessee

Rockvale TN esthetician client with cucumber facial Once you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Rockvale TN, the process starts to search for and enroll in the right program. It’s essential that the program you select not only provides the appropriate instruction for the specialty you have selected, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your preliminary 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 kind of school. We’ll speak a bit more regarding that in the next section. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Rockvale residence. Tuition will additionally be an important consideration when evaluating potential schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it’s not always the ideal option. There are a number of other qualifications that you should evaluate when comparing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask concerning the cosmetology schools you are considering later in this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of courses are available.

Defining Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Rockvale TN Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human anatomy look more attractive through 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 term cosmetics, but really a cosmetic can be anything that enhances the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, most states require that you go through some kind of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only Rockvale TN beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gained 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 house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many names and are employed in a wide variety of specializations including:

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

As already mentioned, in most states practicing cosmetologists must be licensed. In certain states there is an exemption. Only those conducting more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people employed in cosmetology and less skilled, such as shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.

Esthetician Degrees and Certificates

Rockvale TN esthetician client with face mask There are basically two options offered to obtain 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 take 12 to 18 months to finish, 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 offered if you want to concentrate on just one area, for example esthetics. A degree program will also likely incorporate management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to operate a salon or other Rockvale TN business. Higher degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whichever type of program you opt for, it’s important to make sure that it’s certified by the Tennessee Board of Cosmetology. Many states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain reputable organizations, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the benefits of accreditation for the school you choose in the next segment.

Online Esthetician Classes

woman attending esthetician school online in Rockvale TN Online esthetician programs are advantageous for Rockvale TN students who are working full time and have family responsibilities that make it difficult to attend a more traditional school. There are numerous online beauty school programs available that can be attended by means of a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional cosmetology schools are frequently fast paced due to the fact that many courses are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a significant portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are covering the same volume of material, but you are not devoting numerous hours away from your home or driving back and forth from classes. However, it’s important that the program you pick can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors so that you also get the hands-on training needed for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s difficult to obtain the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology industry. So don’t forget if you decide to enroll in an online school to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.

What to Ask Esthetician Training Classes

Rockvale TN models benefit from esthetic treatments Below is a series of questions that you should investigate for any esthetician training program you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Rockvale home, together with the cost 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 reduced 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 program. Following we have put together several of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final decision.

Is the School Accredited? It’s important to make certain that the esthetician training program you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified 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 ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for getting student loans or financial aid, which often are not obtainable in 37153 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many Rockvale TN employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Great Reputation? Any esthetician college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly sought after. Check rating services for reviews together with the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Rockvale TN salon owners or managers, or someone working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not thought of. And finally, contact the Tennessee school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus? Some esthetician schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s essential that you choose 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 aspiration is to launch a Rockvale TN beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly ranked school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you need.

Is Enough Live Training Provided? Studying and refining esthetician skills and techniques requires lots of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is included in the cosmetology lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that allow students to practice their growing talents on volunteers. If a beauty academy offers limited or no scheduled live training, but instead depends heavily on using mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for developing your skills. So search for other schools that provide this kind of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from an esthetician academy, it’s crucial that she or he gets assistance in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish assistance develop relationships with Rockvale TN employers that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and find out which salons and businesses 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? Many esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid department. Talk to a counselor and identify 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 as well. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not omit it as an option until you determine what financial aid may be available.

Attending Esthetician School Near Rockvale TN?

Perhaps you live in the Rockvale 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.

Rockvale, Tennessee

Snail Shell Cave in Rockvale is a large and biologically important cave that is owned and managed by the Southeastern Cave Conservancy. The cave system drains over 100 square miles (260 km2) of land and the water re-emerges at a major spring on the Stones River.

Rockvale is home to two schools, Rockvale Middle School for grades 6-8, and Rockvale Elementary school for grades PreK-5. In February 2017, the Rutherford County Commission approved construction of Rockvale High School. After 45 years since the high school studies were moved to Riverdale High School, construction will begin on a two-story structure behind the Rockvale Middle School at the cost of approximately $59 million. The new Rockvale High School is expected to be open for classes in August 2019.[3]

Enroll in the Right Esthetician College near Rockvale TN

Locating and enrolling in the ideal esthetician program is essential to receive the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel confident about your decision. Don’t forget to consolidate all of the responses you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to compare schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the college and program you pick are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the field. If you start with that foundation, and address the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are ready to start your career as a professional esthetician in Rockvale TN.