Before You Go To Esthetician School

By: Anitra Brown

Being an esthetician - a skin care professional - can be a rewarding and lucrative way to make a living, but esthetician school is a big investment of time, energy and money. Here's how to find the best esthetician school and make sure it's the right career path for you.

Talk To Spa Directors About Esthetician Schools

Talk to other estheticians and ask them where they went to school and what their experience was. Call the owners or spa directors at spas where you would like to work and tell them that you're considering going to esthetician school.

Research the Realities of Being An Esthetician

Ask other estheticians in your area about the realities of the workplace – market demand, starting salaries, stress levels, and what the best and worst parts of the job are. Ask them what school they went to, and their opinion of it.

Find Esthetician Schools In The State You Want To Work.

Look for esthetician schools in the state where you want to work. This is very important becauase each state has its own licensing practices. The schools can give you more information on the licensing requirements in your state. Search for esthetician schools by state. Use this to find the schools nearest you.

Call The Esthetician School

Once you narrow down your list, call the school for an initial phone interview. Call them to get a candid assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of that school.

Visit The Esthetician School

It’s also very important to make an on-site visit to the esthetician school. Talk to students while you’re there and ask what they think. Some schools have an open house or free workshops so you can get a feel for skin care in general and the atmosphere at the school.

Talk To The Esthetician School's Graduates

Ask the school for names and phone numbers of graduates. Call them to get their opinion of the school, and ask about the job market, starting salaries and what it’s like in the real world.

Ask The Esthetician School Questions!

All esthetician schools teach you what you need to know to pass the state licensing exam. But ask about their philosophy.

Do they emphasize traditional European beauty therapies, or do they have a medical spa philosophy?

What kind of specialized equipment do they have? How long have their teachers worked there and what is their background?

What is their continuing education program? Are there benefits for graduates, like discounts on products or continuing

education classes?