How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Keyport WA

How to Find the Right Esthetician College near Keyport Washington

Keyport WA esthetician client with cucumber facial Now that you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Keyport WA, the task starts to locate and enroll in the right program. It’s important that the program you select not only furnishes the proper education for the specialty you have decided on, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your initial search, you may be rather confused about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are essentially interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind of school. We’ll talk a bit further concerning that in the upcoming section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Keyport home. Tuition will likewise be an important factor when reviewing possible schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it’s not necessarily the best choice. There are a number of other considerations that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask about the cosmetology schools you are looking at later within this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of training programs are available.

Definition of Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Keyport WA Cosmetology is a profession 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 described as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but really a cosmetic can be almost anything that enhances the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states require that you take some kind of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work environments include not only Keyport WA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gained experience and a customer base, establish their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing customers either in their own homes or will go to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by many 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 stated, in most states working cosmetologists must be licensed. In certain states there is an exception. Only those performing more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people working in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.

Esthetics Certificates and Degrees

Keyport WA esthetician client with face mask There are primarily two options offered to get esthetician training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs typically 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 offered if you want to focus on just one area, for instance esthetics. A degree program will also likely incorporate management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to manage a parlor or other Keyport WA business. More advanced degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such areas as salon or spa management. Whichever type of course you decide on, it’s important to make certain that it’s recognized by the Washington Board of Cosmetology. Many states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded organizations, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the advantages of accreditation for the school you decide on in the following segment.

Online Esthetics Courses

woman attending esthetician school online in Keyport WA Online esthetician programs are advantageous for Keyport WA students who are working full time and have family commitments that make it hard to attend a more traditional school. There are many web-based beauty school programs available that can be accessed by means of a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional beauty schools are frequently fast paced due to the fact that many courses are as short as six or eight months. This means that a substantial amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are covering the same volume of material, but you are not devoting many hours away from your home or travelling to and from classes. However, it’s vital that the training program you select can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors in order that you also get the hands-on training needed for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s difficult to gain the skills required to work in any facet of the cosmetology field. So make sure if you decide to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is provided in your area.

What to Ask Esthetics Degree Programs

Keyport WA models benefit from esthetic treatments Following is a series of questions that you need to look into for any esthetician training program you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Keyport 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 no doubt be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have put together some of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final decision.

Is the School Accredited? It’s necessary to make sure that the esthetician school you enroll in 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which typically are not offered in 98345 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many Keyport WA employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation? Any esthetician school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating companies for reviews along with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Keyport WA salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the field, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not considered. Finally, contact the Washington school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in total compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty? A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific 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 specializes in 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 vision is to open a Keyport WA beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly ranked school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you require.

Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and refining esthetician skills and techniques involves plenty of practice on people. Ask 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 growing skills on volunteers. If a beauty school provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather depends predominantly on using mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for acquiring your skills. Therefore look for alternate schools that furnish this kind of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from an esthetician school, it’s important that she or he gets help in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide help develop relationships with Keyport WA employers that are seeking skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and find out which salons and businesses they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered? The majority of esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are considering have a financial aid department. Consult with a counselor and identify 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 too. If a school meets all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not omit it as an alternative before you find out what financial aid may be available.

Attending Esthetician School Near Keyport WA?

Perhaps you live in the Keyport Washington 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.

Keyport, Washington

Keyport is a census-designated place (CDP) in Kitsap County, Washington, United States. The community is located at the eastern terminus of State Route 308 on the Kitsap Peninsula, 3.42 miles (5.50 km) east of Naval Base Kitsap. Keyport's ZIP Code, 98345, had a ZCTA population of 554 at the 2010 census, in addition to a small contingent of Navy personnel.

Keyport was named for Keyport, New Jersey in 1896.[2] Its nickname is "Torpedo Town USA". Situated on a small peninsula jutting into Liberty Bay near Poulsbo, it is the home of a small United States Navy depot tasked with ranging and repairing torpedoes for the US Navy and allies.

Keyport's only church, Keyport Bible Church, was established in the early 1900s and incorporated in 1926. The church's building was dedicated May 2, 1937 and has since added a number of additional classrooms and a multipurpose building.[3]

Pick the Right Esthetics Vocational School near Keyport WA

Selecting and enrolling in the ideal esthetician college is important to obtain the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel certain about your decision. Don’t forget to compile all of the information you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that information to compare schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the school and program you select are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. If you start with that base, and address the additional questions provided in this post, 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 exam, you will be confident that you are qualified to launch your career as a professional esthetician in Keyport WA.