How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Prescott WA

How to Enroll In an Esthetics College near Prescott Washington

Prescott WA esthetician client with cucumber facial Once you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Prescott WA, the task begins to search for and enroll in the best program. It’s essential that the program you select not only provides the appropriate instruction for the specialty you have chosen, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your initial search, you might be rather unclear about the contrast 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 about that in the next section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Prescott home. Tuition will additionally be a critical factor when evaluating possible schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it’s not necessarily the best option. There are a number of other factors that you should weigh when comparing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask concerning the cosmetology schools you are thinking about later in this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of training programs are available.

What is Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Prescott WA Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human body look more beautiful through the use of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic may be almost anything that enhances the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, the majority of states mandate that you undergo some kind of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work environments include not only Prescott WA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gotten experience and a client base, launch their own shops or salons. Others will begin seeing customers either in their own homes or will go to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many titles 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 formerly stated, in the majority of states practicing cosmetologists must be licensed. In some states there is an exemption. Only those conducting more skilled services, for instance hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others employed in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.

Esthetician Degrees and Certificates

Prescott WA esthetician client with face mask There are basically two options offered to obtain 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 typically call for 12 to 18 months to finish, while an Associate’s degree ordinarily takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be instructed in each of the major areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are available if you wish to specialize in just one area, for example esthetics. A degree program will also most likely feature management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to manage a salon or other Prescott WA business. More advanced degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such areas as salon or spa management. Whatever type of training program you decide on, it’s essential to make sure that it’s certified by the Washington Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain respected agencies, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the benefits of accreditation for the school you select in the next section.

Online Esthetics Programs

woman attending esthetician school online in Prescott WA Online esthetician programs are accommodating for Prescott WA students who are working full time and have family commitments that make it hard to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of web-based cosmetology school programs available that can be accessed via a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional cosmetology schools are typically fast paced given that many programs 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 dealing with the same amount of material, but you are not devoting numerous hours away from your home or travelling to and from classes. However, it’s essential that the program you choose can provide internship training in area salons and parlors so that you also receive the hands-on training required for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s difficult to gain the skills required to work in any area of the cosmetology field. So be sure if you decide to enroll in an online school to confirm that internship training is available in your area.

Questions to Ask Esthetics Schools

Prescott WA models benefit from esthetic treatments Following 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 Prescott home, together with the cost of tuition, will undoubtedly be your initial qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you should 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 every school before making a final selection.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s necessary to make certain that the esthetician college you choose 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for securing student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not available in 99348 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 Prescott WA businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation? Every esthetician school that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly sought after. Check rating services for reviews in addition to the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Prescott WA salon owners or managers, or any person working in the field, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. And last, check with 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 Focus? Some esthetician schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s imperative that you select a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your ambition is to be trained as an esthetician, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and well regarded for that program. If your vision is to open a Prescott WA beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly rated school with a weak program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you need.

Is Any Live Training Provided? Practicing and mastering esthetician skills and techniques involves plenty of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the cosmetology courses you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that make it possible for students to practice their developing talents on volunteers. If a beauty school provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather depends heavily on the use of mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for developing your skills. So look for alternate schools that offer this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from an esthetician program, it’s imperative that she or he gets assistance in finding that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish aid maintain relationships with Prescott WA businesses that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and find out which salons and establishments they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Assistance Available? Almost all esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are considering have a financial aid office. Consult with a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students also. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not omit it as an alternative until you find out what financial assistance may be provided.

Attending Esthetician School Near Prescott WA?

Perhaps you live in the Prescott 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.

Prescott, Washington

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 318 people, 136 households, and 84 families residing in the city. The population density was 795.0 inhabitants per square mile (307.0/km2). There were 156 housing units at an average density of 390.0 per square mile (150.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 89.9% White, 0.6% African American, 0.9% Native American, 6.0% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.4% of the population.

There were 136 households of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.9% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.2% were non-families. 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.90.

The median age in the city was 44.8 years. 23.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 18.6% were from 25 to 44; 35.5% were from 45 to 64; and 14.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.3% male and 49.7% female.

Choose the Right Esthetician School near Prescott WA

Locating and enrolling in the right esthetician college is essential to get the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel confident about your decision. Don’t forget to collect all of the responses you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that data to contrast schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the college and program you select are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. If you begin with that foundation, and answer the additional questions supplied in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are ready to begin your new career as a professional esthetician in Prescott WA.