Degree Programs<\/strong><\/h3>\nFollowing is a list of questions that you need to investigate for any esthetician training school you are contemplating. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Gainesville residence, as well as the expense of tuition, will undoubtedly be your initial qualifiers. Whether you want to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have collected some of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final determination.<\/p>\n
Is the School Accredited?<\/strong> It’s essential to make sure that the esthetician training program you select 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 measure up to their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for getting student loans or financial aid, which often are not obtainable in 20155 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of Gainesville VA employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon those with accredited training.<\/p>\nDoes the School have a Good Reputation? <\/strong>Any esthetician college that you are seriously considering 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 businesses where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating companies for reviews as well as the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Gainesville VA salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the field, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to suggest others that you had not looked into. And finally, consult the Virginia school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.<\/p>\nWhat’s the School’s Specialty? <\/strong>Many esthetician schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering 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 important that you select a school that specializes in 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 aspiration is to open a Gainesville VA beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner\/operator. Choosing a highly ranked school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you require.<\/p>\nIs Enough Live Training Provided? <\/strong>Practicing and mastering esthetician skills and techniques demands plenty of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is provided in the beauty classes you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that allow students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a beauty school provides limited or no scheduled live training, but instead relies predominantly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the most effective option for cultivating your skills. Therefore try to find other schools that offer this kind of training.<\/p>\nDoes the School have a Job Placement Program? <\/strong>Once a student graduates from an esthetician school, it’s essential that she or he gets support in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer help develop relationships with Gainesville VA businesses that are searching for skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and ask which salons and organizations they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.<\/p>\nIs Financial Aid Available? <\/strong>The majority of esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you may qualify for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students too. If a school meets each of your other qualifications except for cost, do not omit it as an option before you learn what financial aid may be provided.<\/p>\n