How to Pick the Best Esthetics Program near Clearwater Florida
Since you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Clearwater FL, the process starts to locate and enroll in the right program. It’s imperative that the program you choose not only provides the proper training for the specialty you have chosen, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your initial search, you might be somewhat confused about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are pretty much interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. We’ll talk a bit further about 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 Clearwater residence. Tuition will additionally be an important factor when reviewing possible schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it’s not automatically the best option. There are many other considerations that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask about the cosmetology schools you are considering later within this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of training programs are available.
Defining Cosmetology
Cosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human anatomy look more attractive through the use of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but really a cosmetic can be anything that improves the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states require that you go through some form of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only Clearwater FL beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gotten experience and a client base, open their own shops or salons. Others will start seeing clients either in their own homes or will travel to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by many names and are employed in a wide variety of specializations including:
- Estheticians
- Hairdressers
- Hairstylists
- Beauticians
- Barbers
- Manicurists
- Nail Technicians
- Makeup Artists
- Hair Coloring Specialists
- Electrolysis Technicians
As formerly stated, in most states working cosmetologists must be licensed. In a few states there is an exception. Only those performing more skilled services, for instance hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people employed in cosmetology and less skilled, such as shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.
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Esthetics Degrees
There are essentially two options offered to obtain esthetician training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs usually 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 instructed in all of the major areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are available if you want to concentrate on just one area, for instance esthetics. A degree program will also likely incorporate management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to operate a salon or other Clearwater FL business. More advanced degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whatever type of course you decide on, it’s essential to make sure that it’s recognized by the Florida Board of Cosmetology. Many states only certify schools that are accredited by certain reputable organizations, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the benefits of accreditation for the school you choose in the upcoming segment.
Online Esthetician Courses
Online esthetician schools are convenient for Clearwater FL students who are employed full-time and have family obligations that make it difficult to attend a more traditional school. There are many web-based beauty school programs available that can be accessed by means of a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional beauty programs are frequently fast paced given that many programs are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a significant portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are dealing with the same volume of material, but you’re not devoting many hours away from your home or driving to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s important that the training program you select can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors in order that you also obtain the hands-on training required for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s impossible to acquire the skills needed to work in any facet of the cosmetology industry. So be sure if you decide to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is available in your area.
Questions to Ask Esthetician Training Classes
Below is a list of questions that you need to research for any esthetician training school you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Clearwater 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 probably be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you should research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have compiled some of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final decision.
Is the Program Accredited? It’s necessary 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 organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for getting student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not available in 33755 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of Clearwater FL employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Any esthetician college that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional 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. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating services for reviews together with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Clearwater FL salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the business, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to suggest others that you had not considered. Finally, consult the Florida school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Some esthetician schools offer programs that are comprehensive 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 broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s essential that you enroll in a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your intention is to be trained as an esthetician, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and well regarded for that program. If your desire is to start a Clearwater FL beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly regarded school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you require.
Is Any Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and mastering esthetician skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is included in the beauty classes you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that enable students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a beauty school offers limited or no scheduled live training, but rather relies mainly on the use of mannequins, it might not be the best option for cultivating your skills. Therefore search for other schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from an esthetician school, it’s important that he or she receives assistance in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish aid develop relationships with Clearwater FL employers that are looking for qualified graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and ask which salons and establishments they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Offered? The majority of esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid office. Speak with a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you may qualify for. If the school is a member of 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 except for expense, do not eliminate it as an alternative until you find out what financial help may be offered.
Accelerated Esthetician Programs Online Clearwater Florida
Selecting and enrolling in the right esthetician program is imperative to get the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel positive about your decision. Be sure to organize all of the responses you get from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to contrast schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the academy and program you select are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Accelerated Esthetician Programs Online and wanting more information on the topic Schools That Offer Esthetics Courses. However, if you begin with that base, and address the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the proper selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are ready to begin your new career as a professional esthetician in Clearwater FL.
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Clearwater, Florida
Clearwater is a city located in Pinellas County, Florida, United States, northwest of Tampa and St. Petersburg. To the west of Clearwater lies the Gulf of Mexico and to the southeast lies Tampa Bay. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 107,685.[5] Clearwater is the county seat of Pinellas County[6] and is the smallest of the three principal cities in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metropolitan area, most commonly referred to as the Tampa Bay Area.
Present-day Clearwater was originally the home of the Tocobaga people. Around 1835, the United States Army began construction of Fort Harrison, named after William Henry Harrison, as an outpost during the Seminole Wars. The fort was located on a bluff overlooking Clearwater Harbor, which later became part of an early 20th-century residential development called Harbor Oaks. University of South Florida archaeologists excavated the site in 1962 after Mark Wyllie discovered an underground ammunition bunker while planting a tree in his yard.
The area's population grew after the Federal Armed Occupation Act of 1842 offered 160 acres (0.65 km2) to anyone who would bear arms and cultivate the land. Early settlers included the Stevens, Stevenson, Sever and McMullen families, who claimed and farmed large tracts of land. Prior to 1906, the area was known as Clear Water Harbor. The name "Clear Water" is thought to have come from a fresh water spring flowing from near where the City Hall building is located today. There were many other freshwater springs that dotted the bluff, many in the bay or harbor itself.
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