How to Select the Right Esthetics School near O Fallon Missouri
Since you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near O Fallon MO, the task starts to find and enroll in the best program. It’s imperative that the school you choose not only provides the proper training for the specialty you have decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your initial search, you may be a little bit unclear about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both relate to the same type of school. We’ll speak a bit further about that in the following segment. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your O Fallon home. Tuition will also be a critical aspect when assessing prospective schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it’s not necessarily the best choice. There are a number of other factors that you should weigh when comparing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are thinking about later within this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of training programs are available.
Definition of Cosmetology
Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human body look more beautiful with the use of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic may be almost anything that enhances the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, the majority of states require that you take some kind of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only O Fallon MO beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have acquired experience and a customer base, open their own shops or salons. Others will start seeing clients either in their own residences or will go to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by many names 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 already mentioned, in the majority of states working cosmetologists have to be licensed. In certain states there is an exception. Only those offering more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people employed in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Esthetician Schools Near You!
Esthetics Degrees
There are essentially two avenues available to receive esthetician training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs normally call for 12 to 18 months to complete, while an Associate’s degree ordinarily takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be instructed in each of the major areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are available if you prefer to concentrate on just one area, such as esthetics. A degree program will also likely incorporate management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to run a salon or other O Fallon MO business. Higher degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whatever type of training program you opt for, it’s essential to make certain that it’s certified by the Missouri Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only certify schools that are accredited by certain reputable agencies, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the benefits of accreditation for the school you decide on in the upcoming segment.
Online Esthetician Courses
Online esthetician classes are advantageous for O Fallon MO students who are working full time and have family commitments that make it difficult to enroll in a more traditional school. There are numerous online beauty school programs available that can be accessed through a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional beauty schools are frequently fast paced because many courses are as short as six or eight months. This means that a significant amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you’re not devoting numerous hours away from your home or travelling back and forth from classes. However, it’s vital that the training program you pick can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors to ensure that you also get the hands-on training necessary for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s impossible to gain the skills required to work in any facet of the cosmetology field. So make sure if you decide to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is available in your area.
What to Ask Esthetician Programs
Following is a series of questions that you will want to research for any esthetician training program you are considering. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your O Fallon home, as well as the cost of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you want to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Following we have put together some of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final determination.
Is the School 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 acknowledged 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 important for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which often are not available in 63366 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 O Fallon MO businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Any esthetician institute that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly sought after. Check rating companies for reviews in addition to the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with O Fallon MO salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not considered. And finally, contact the Missouri school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for instance hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs commonly broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s essential that you choose a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your objective is to be trained as an esthetician, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your desire is to start a O Fallon MO beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly rated school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you need.
Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and perfecting esthetician skills and techniques requires lots of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the cosmetology courses you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that enable students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a beauty school furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but instead relies mainly on using mannequins, it might not be the best option for developing your skills. Therefore try to find other schools that provide this kind of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from an esthetician program, it’s important that she or he gets aid in securing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer assistance maintain relationships with O Fallon MO employers that are seeking qualified graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which salons and establishments they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Assistance Available? Most 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. Consult with a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you may get approved 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 with the exception of expense, do not drop it as an option before you find out what financial assistance may be available.
Colleges That Offer Esthetics Training O Fallon Missouri
Choosing and enrolling in the right esthetician program is important to receive the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel certain about your decision. Don’t forget to compile all of the responses you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that information to contrast schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the academy and program you select are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Colleges That Offer Esthetics Training and wanting more information on the topic Aesthetician Course. However, if you begin with that foundation, and address the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the right selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are ready to start your new career as a professional esthetician in O Fallon MO.
More Beauty Spots in O Fallon Missouri
O'Fallon, Missouri
O'Fallon /oʊˈfælən/ is a city along Interstate 64 and Interstate 70 between Lake St. Louis and St. Peters in St. Charles County, Missouri, United States. It is part of the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census O'Fallon had a population of 79,329, making it the largest municipality in St. Charles County and seventh largest in the state of Missouri.[7] O'Fallon's namesake in St. Clair County, Illinois is also part of the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area. The two O'Fallons are one of the few pairs of same-named municipalities to be part of the same MSA.
O'Fallon was founded in 1856 by Nicholas Krekel.[8] The community was named after John O'Fallon, the president of the North Missouri Railroad.[9] A post office called O'Fallon has been in operation since 1859.[10] The St. Mary's Institute of O'Fallon was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007.[11]
In 2006, Money Magazine named O'Fallon 39th in its "Best 100 Places to Live."[12]Money Magazine also ranked O'Fallon 68th out of 100 in 2008,[13] 26th out of 100 in 2010,[14] and 42nd out of 100 in 2017.[15]
Business Results 1 - 10 of 270
15 Reviews 
6 Reviews 
23 Reviews 
4 Reviews 
4 Reviews 
7 Reviews 
11 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
28 Reviews 
5 Reviews 