How to Enroll In the Best Esthetician Training Program near Cambridge Massachusetts
Once you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Cambridge MA, the task begins to locate and enroll in the ideal program. It’s imperative that the program you choose not only provides the proper instruction for the specialty you have chosen, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your preliminary search, you may be a little bit 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 type of school. We’ll discuss a bit more about that in the following section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Cambridge home. Tuition will also be a critical consideration when reviewing prospective schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it’s not necessarily the right option. There are various other qualifications that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are looking at later within this article. Before we do, let’s talk a bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of training programs are offered.
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Defining Cosmetology
Cosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human body look more attractive with the use 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 actually a cosmetic may be almost anything that improves the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states mandate that you take some form of specialized training and then become licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only Cambridge MA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have acquired experience and a customer base, launch their own shops or salons. Others will begin servicing clients either in their own homes or will go to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by many titles and work in a wide variety of specialties including:
- Estheticians
- Hairdressers
- Hairstylists
- Beauticians
- Barbers
- Manicurists
- Nail Technicians
- Makeup Artists
- Hair Coloring Specialists
- Electrolysis Technicians
As previously mentioned, in the majority of states practicing cosmetologists must be licensed. In certain states there is an exemption. Only those performing more skilled services, for example hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people working in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.
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Esthetics Degrees
There are primarily two avenues available to receive esthetician training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs generally call for 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 main areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are offered if you wish to specialize in just one area, for instance esthetics. A degree program will also likely include management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to operate a salon or other Cambridge MA business. Higher degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such areas as salon or spa management. Whichever type of program you choose, it’s imperative to make sure that it’s recognized by the Massachusetts Board of Cosmetology. Many states only approve schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded agencies, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the benefits of accreditation for the school you decide on in the upcoming segment.
Online Esthetics Training
Online esthetician schools are accommodating for Cambridge MA students who are employed full-time and have family responsibilities that make it difficult to enroll in a more traditional school. There are numerous web-based beauty school programs available that can be attended via a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional beauty schools are typically fast paced since many programs are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a substantial amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are dealing with the same volume of material, but you’re not spending numerous hours away from your home or travelling to and from classes. However, it’s important that the school you select can provide internship training in local salons and parlors in order that you also obtain the hands-on training required for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s impossible to gain the skills needed to work in any area of the cosmetology profession. So don’t forget if you choose to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.
Questions to Ask Esthetics Training Classes
Below is a list of questions that you should look into for any esthetician training program you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Cambridge home, together with the cost of tuition, will most likely be your initial qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have narrowed 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 program. Following we have compiled several of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final decision.
Is the Program 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 agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for getting student loans or financial aid, which typically are not offered in 02138 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many Cambridge MA employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Every esthetician school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating services for reviews along with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Cambridge MA salon owners or managers, or any person working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to propose others that you had not looked into. And finally, contact the Massachusetts 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 Focus? A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs commonly broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s imperative that you decide on a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your intention 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 open a Cambridge MA beauty salon, then you want 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 Plenty of Live Training Provided? Studying and refining esthetician techniques and abilities demands plenty of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is included in the beauty lessons you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that make it possible for students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a beauty program provides little or no scheduled live training, but instead depends predominantly on the use of mannequins, it might not be the most effective option for developing your skills. Therefore look for other schools that provide this kind of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from an esthetician school, it’s important that he or she gets aid in securing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide help develop relationships with Cambridge MA employers that are looking for skilled 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, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm 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. Find out if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Consult with a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students also. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications except for cost, do not omit it as an option until you learn what financial assistance may be provided.
Evening Esthetician Classes Near Me Cambridge Massachusetts
Locating and enrolling in the ideal esthetician program is important to get the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel positive about your decision. Be sure to compile all of the responses you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to contrast schools. A good start in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the school and program you decide on are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Evening Esthetician Classes Near Me and wanting more information on the topic Where to Find Local Esthetician Schools. However, if you begin with that base, and answer the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to filter 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 begin your new career as a professional esthetician in Cambridge MA.
More Beautiful Spots in Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Situated directly north of Boston, across the Charles River, it was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders.[4]:18
Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Lesley University, and Hult Business School are in Cambridge,[5] as was Radcliffe College, a college for women until it merged with Harvard on October 1, 1999.
According to the 2010 Census, the city's population was 105,162.[6] As of July 2014[update], it was the fifth most populous city in the state, behind Boston, Worcester, Springfield, and Lowell.[7] Cambridge was one of two seats of Middlesex County until the county government was abolished in Massachusetts in 1997.
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