What to Do Prior to Admission to an Esthetician School in Renton
If you would like to pursue a career in the beauty industry, you should enroll in a beauty college to learn and acquire the skills required to succeed in this industry. With that in mind, here is what to do prior to admission to an esthetician school in Renton:
Education Qualifications
Most beauty colleges have minimum education requirements that suitable applicants must satisfy. However, these qualifications generally vary from one state to the other. For example, while the state of Illinois does not require applicants to have a high school diploma, applicants have to take an additional admission test. The situation is quite different in the state of Montana where applicants must have either a GED or a high school diploma. To be on the safe side, you should enquire about the minimum education qualifications required to enroll in a beauty college.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Before applying to join a beauty school, make sure you have enough money to cover tuition expenses. Just like education qualifications, tuition fees vary from one institution to another. In addition, some institutions provide financial aid to students who are unable to meet their educational expenses. In general, tuition fees range anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000. Luckily, multiple bodies and organizations provide financial assistance to students who require such assistance. Examples of loan and financial aid packages for beauty school include the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), ACE grant, and Federal Direct Plus Loan.
Accreditation
It is wise to enroll in a beauty school that has accreditation from respected bodies such as the US Department of Education. Other bodies that provide accreditation to beauty schools in the US include the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT), and the National Accrediting Commission for Career Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). This is important because employers tend to have a bias towards students who have graduated from accredited beauty colleges. Moreover, accredited institutions tend to adhere to strict guidelines to ensure their students meet the industry requirements. It is also important to note that only accredited institutions can offer federal financial assistance to needy students. If you come across a school that does not have accreditation, do not even bother to communicate with its administrators.
Job Placement
For you to excel as a beautician, you need plenty of hands-on experience to complement your theoretical knowledge. As such, you should choose beauty schools that have good working relationships with beauty salons, barbershops, and health spas. This is because such schools can arrange and offer their students internships and job placements. Students can use these placements to improve their practical skills as well as learn new skills. Finally, a job placement can help one build valuable relationships with professionals in the beauty industry. Attending a college that does not offer internship or job placement opportunities means you will be interviewing for the same jobs with graduates who have a huge competitive advantage.
Specialization
It is important to understand that the beauty industry is quite wide and varied. Some of the specialty niches in the industry include nail technology specialist, esthetician, cosmetologist, salon manager, research chemist, beauty product designer, hairstylist, makeup artist, beauty business consultant, and fashion show stylist. Therefore, you should choose your area of specialization with great care.
In summary, the beauty industry has many lucrative job opportunities for the right candidates. For instance, figures from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics show that some professionals in this industry (make-up artists) take home more than $117,720 per year. Before enrolling in an esthetician school in Renton, make sure you meet the minimum educational requirements and have enough money to cover your tuition expenses.
