How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Lebanon WI

How to Select an Esthetician Program near Lebanon Wisconsin

Lebanon WI esthetician client with cucumber facial Now that you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Lebanon WI, the process begins to find and enroll in the best program. It’s important that the program you pick not only furnishes the appropriate education for the specialty you have selected, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your initial search, you might be somewhat puzzled about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both refer to the same kind of school. We’ll discuss a bit more regarding that in the next section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Lebanon residence. Tuition will additionally be a critical aspect when assessing prospective schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it’s not automatically the right option. There are many other qualifications that you should evaluate when comparing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask concerning the cosmetology schools you are thinking about later within this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of programs are offered.

Definition of Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Lebanon WI Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human anatomy look more beautiful with the application of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic can be almost anything that improves the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states mandate that you undergo some kind of specialized training and then become licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only Lebanon WI beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gotten experience and a clientele, launch their own shops or salons. Others will start seeing customers either in their own residences or will travel to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many names and work in a wide variety of specializations including:

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

As earlier stated, in the majority of states working cosmetologists must be licensed. In some states there is an exception. Only those conducting more skilled services, for example hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people employed in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.

Esthetician Certificates and Degrees

Lebanon WI esthetician client with face mask There are primarily two avenues available to obtain esthetician training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs normally require 12 to 18 months to complete, while an Associate’s degree commonly takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be instructed in all of the major areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you wish to concentrate on just one area, such as esthetics. A degree program will also probably incorporate management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to operate a salon or other Lebanon WI business. More advanced degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such areas as salon or spa management. Whatever type of course you opt for, it’s imperative to make sure that it’s recognized by the Wisconsin Board of Cosmetology. Many states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain respected agencies, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the advantages of accreditation for the school you decide on in the next section.

Online Esthetics Programs

woman attending esthetician school online in Lebanon WI Online esthetician classes are accommodating for Lebanon WI 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 via a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional beauty schools are frequently fast paced given that many courses are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a large portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are covering the same amount of material, but you are not devoting many hours away from your home or driving back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it’s imperative that the program you pick can provide internship training in area salons and parlors in order that you also obtain the hands-on training required 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 field. So make sure if you decide to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.

Questions to Ask Esthetician Degree Programs

Lebanon WI models benefit from esthetic treatments Following is a list of questions that you should research for any esthetician training program you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Lebanon home, in addition to the expense of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first qualifiers. Whether you want 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 program. Below we have put together several of those additional questions that you need to ask every school before making a final decision.

Is the School Accredited? It’s necessary to make sure that the esthetician training program you select 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 comply with their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for securing student loans or financial aid, which often are not offered in 53047 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous Lebanon WI businesses will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation? Every esthetician school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly regarded. Check rating companies for reviews as well as the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Lebanon WI salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the business, 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. Finally, contact the Wisconsin school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus? A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating 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 broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s essential that you choose a school that specializes in 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 Lebanon WI beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach 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 need.

Is Any Live Training Provided? Learning and perfecting esthetician techniques and abilities involves plenty of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is provided in the cosmetology courses you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that enable students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a beauty academy furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but rather depends mainly on the use of mannequins, it might not be the best option for acquiring your skills. So 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 essential that he or she gets help in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide help maintain relationships with Lebanon WI businesses that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and ask which salons and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, 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 Assistance Offered? Almost all esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid office. Consult with a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you may get approved for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students as well. If a school meets each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not omit it as an option before you determine what financial assistance may be offered.

Attending Esthetician School Near Lebanon WI?

Perhaps you live in the Lebanon Wisconsin 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.

Lebanon, Wisconsin

Choose the Right Esthetician Vocational School near Lebanon WI

Finding and enrolling in the right esthetician school is essential to get 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. Make certain to compile all of the responses you get from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that information to contrast schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the institution and program you choose are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. If you start with that base, and address the additional questions supplied in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the ideal choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to start your new career as a professional esthetician in Lebanon WI.