How to Select the Right Esthetician College near Lakewood Illinois
Since you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Lakewood IL, the task starts to search for and enroll in the best program. It’s essential that the school you select not only provides the proper education for the specialty you have selected, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your preliminary search, you may be somewhat puzzled about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind of school. We’ll discuss a bit more about that in the following section. If you intend on commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Lakewood residence. Tuition will additionally be an important aspect when assessing possible schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it’s not automatically the right choice. There are various other qualifications that you should evaluate when comparing schools, for example 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 talk a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of programs are available.
Defining Cosmetology
Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human body look more beautiful with the use of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are referred to as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic can be anything that enhances the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, the majority of states require that you take some form of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only Lakewood IL beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have acquired experience and a clientele, establish their own shops or salons. Others will begin seeing clients either in their own residences or will travel to the client’s house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many names and work in a wide range of specializations including:
- Estheticians
- Hairdressers
- Hairstylists
- Beauticians
- Barbers
- Manicurists
- Nail Technicians
- Makeup Artists
- Hair Coloring Specialists
- Electrolysis Technicians
As earlier stated, in most states working cosmetologists have to be licensed. In some states there is an exemption. Only those performing more skilled services, for example hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others employed in cosmetology and less skilled, such as shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.
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Esthetics Degrees and Certificates
There are basically two avenues offered to receive esthetician training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs generally take 12 to 18 months to complete, 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 wish to focus on just one area, for instance esthetics. A degree program will also likely incorporate management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to run a parlor or other Lakewood IL business. More advanced degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such areas as salon or spa management. Whichever type of training program you opt for, it’s imperative to make certain that it’s certified by the Illinois Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only approve schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded agencies, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the advantages of accreditation for the school you choose in the upcoming segment.
Online Esthetics Programs
Online esthetician classes are advantageous for Lakewood IL students who are employed full time and have family responsibilities that make it hard to enroll in a more traditional school. There are numerous online cosmetology school programs available that can be accessed via a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional cosmetology schools are often fast paced because many courses are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a considerable 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 outside of your home or commuting back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it’s vital that the program you pick can provide internship training in area salons and parlors in order that you also receive the hands-on training necessary for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s impossible 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 available in your area.
Questions to Ask Esthetics Trade Schools
Following is a series of questions that you need to look into for any esthetician training program you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school in relation to your Lakewood home, together with the expense of tuition, will most likely be your primary qualifiers. Whether you wish to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have compiled some of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final decision.
Is the School Accredited? It’s essential to make certain that the esthetician school you choose is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for securing student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not offered in 62438 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of Lakewood IL employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Any esthetician school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly regarded. Check rating companies for reviews together with the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Lakewood IL salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. Finally, check with the Illinois school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Many 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 instance hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s essential that you decide on 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 well regarded for that program. If your desire is to launch a Lakewood IL beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct 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 Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and refining esthetician skills and techniques demands plenty of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is provided in the cosmetology classes you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that enable students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a beauty program provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead depends heavily on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for developing your skills. Therefore look for other schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from an esthetician academy, it’s essential that he or she gets aid in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish aid maintain relationships with Lakewood IL businesses that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and inquire which salons and establishments they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only affirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Aid Available? Almost all esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid department. 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 accessible to students as well. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not discard it as an option until you learn what financial aid may be provided.
Accredited Esthetics Programs Lakewood Illinois
Selecting and enrolling in the right esthetician program is important to receive the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel certain about your decision. Make certain to collect all of the responses you get from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that information to contrast schools. A sensible start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the college and program you pick are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Accredited Esthetics Programs and wanting more information on the topic Evening Esthetician Training Near Me. However, if you begin with that foundation, and answer 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. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to begin your new career as a professional esthetician in Lakewood IL.
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Lakewood, Illinois
The Village of Lakewood is located in McHenry County in the state of Illinois. The Village shares its boundaries with the City of Crystal Lake, Village of Lake in the Hills, Village of Huntley, and City of Woodstock.
The Village covers just under 4 square miles (10 km2). There are about 650 acres (2.6 km2) of open space, which equals about 3/4 acre per household. There are 6 lakes, including Crystal Lake which is situated partially in the Village and partially in the City of Crystal Lake, Illinois. The Village is home to two golf courses and several natural areas or wetlands, including the Kishwaukee Fen Nature Preserve. There are also a number of public and private parks and beaches within the Village, as well as walking and bicycle paths and permanent open spaces in the newer subdivisions. Lakewood's recreational areas are West Beach, Crystal Lake, and a number of parks that dot the area.
Small parks, beaches, and boat docks along Crystal Lake's South Shore are private and maintained for use by members of the Country Club Additions Property Owners Association (CCAPOA). This is a homeowners association-like entity for Lakewood houses from approximately Country Club Road (named for Crystal Lake Country Club just to the south) and extending to the south lakeshore. Roads in this lakeside area have decorative posts on the corner of streets intersecting Lake Shore Drive and are called "Gates", such as "Gate 7". The CCAPOA parks take their names from these gates, so a lakeside park would be called "Gate 7 Beach" locally.
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