How to Pick the Best Esthetics College near Owings Mills Maryland
Once you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Owings Mills MD, the task begins to search for and enroll in the right program. It’s essential that the program you choose not only furnishes the proper training for the specialty you have decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you might be a little bit puzzled about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both refer to the same type of school. We’ll talk a little bit more concerning that in the upcoming segment. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Owings Mills home. Tuition will likewise be a critical factor when assessing prospective schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it’s not necessarily the best option. There are a number of other factors that you should evaluate when comparing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will review 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 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. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic can be almost 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 undergo some form of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only Owings Mills MD beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have acquired experience and a clientele, launch their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing customers either in their own residences or will go to the client’s house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many names and are employed in a wide range of specialties including:
- Estheticians
- Hairdressers
- Hairstylists
- Beauticians
- Barbers
- Manicurists
- Nail Technicians
- Makeup Artists
- Hair Coloring Specialists
- Electrolysis Technicians
As earlier mentioned, in most states practicing cosmetologists must be licensed. In some states there is an exemption. Only those performing more skilled services, for instance hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people working in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.
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Esthetician Degrees and Certificates
There are basically two options available to get esthetician training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs generally call for 12 to 18 months to finish, while an Associate’s degree commonly 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 available if you prefer to specialize in 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 operate a salon or other Owings Mills MD business. Higher degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such areas as salon or spa management. Whichever type of program you go with, it’s imperative to make certain that it’s approved by the Maryland Board of Cosmetology. Many states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain respected agencies, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the advantages of accreditation for the school you select in the next segment.
Online Esthetics Courses
Online esthetician schools are accommodating for Owings Mills MD students who are employed full time and have family obligations that make it difficult to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of web-based beauty school programs offered that can be accessed via a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional beauty programs are typically fast paced given that many programs are as short as six or eight months. This means that a considerable amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are covering the same amount of material, but you are not devoting many hours away from your home or commuting to and from classes. However, it’s important that the school you select can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors to ensure that you also obtain the hands-on training needed for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s difficult to gain the skills needed to work in any area of the cosmetology profession. So be sure if you decide to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is available in your area.
What to Ask Esthetician Schools
Following is a list of questions that you will want to look into for any esthetician training program you are considering. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Owings Mills residence, together with the price of tuition, will undoubtedly be your initial qualifiers. Whether you wish to earn 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 additional factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have collected some of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final determination.
Is the Program Accredited? It’s important to make sure that the esthetician training program you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not available in 21117 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many Owings Mills MD employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Any esthetician college that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly regarded. Check rating companies for reviews along with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Owings Mills MD salon owners or managers, or any person working in the industry, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to propose others that you had not considered. And last, check with the Maryland 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? Many esthetician schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs commonly expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you pick 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 launch a Owings Mills MD beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly regarded school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you require.
Is Any Live Training Provided? Practicing and mastering esthetician techniques and abilities demands lots of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is provided in the beauty classes you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that enable students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a beauty school provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather relies heavily on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the most effective option for developing your skills. Therefore try to find alternate schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from an esthetician academy, it’s important that he or she gets support in securing that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish aid maintain relationships with Owings Mills MD employers that are searching for skilled graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and inquire which salons and businesses they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Assistance Offered? Many esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid department. Talk to a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you might get approved 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 meets all of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not discard it as an alternative before you learn what financial help may be offered.
Top Aesthetician Schools Owings Mills Maryland
Locating and enrolling in the ideal esthetician program is essential to receive the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel positive about your decision. Make sure to organize all of the information you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that information to compare schools. A good start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the school and program you pick are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Top Aesthetician Schools and wanting more information on the topic Accredited Esthetics Programs Online. However, if you begin with that base, 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 right choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are ready to begin your career as a professional esthetician in Owings Mills MD.
More Beauty Spots in Owings Mills Maryland
Owings Mills, Maryland
Owings Mills is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. It is a suburb of Baltimore. The population was 30,622 at the 2010 census.[1] Owings Mills is home to the northern terminus of the Baltimore Metro Subway, and housed the Owings Mills Mall until its closure in 2015.[2] It is also home to the Baltimore Ravens' headquarters facility. In 2008, CNNMoney.com named Owings Mills number 49 of the "100 Best Places to Live and Launch." [3]
As of the census[5] of 2010, there were 30,622 people and 12,525 households in the CDP. The population density was 3,189.8 people per square mile (1,229.8/km²). There were 13,282 housing units, at an average density of 1,383.5 per square mile (533.4/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 34.3% White, 51.0% African American, 0.3% Native American, 7.8% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, 3.3% some other race, and 3.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.0% of the population.
There were 12,525 households, out of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.5% were headed by married couples living together, 16.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.1% were non-families. 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.1% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34, and the average family size was 3.01.
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