Choosing the right esthetics school is one of the most important decisions you’ll make as a future beauty professional. With esthetics growing faster than ever, new programs are popping up everywhere. While that gives you more options, it can also make the process feel overwhelming. Not all esthetics schools offer the same training, support, or student experience, and the school you choose will play a major role in your confidence, your skill level, and your career opportunities after graduation. If you’re exploring esthetics as your next chapter, we hope this post will help guide you through what to look for when choosing an esthetics school.
1. Look Beyond the Tour
Tours are a great way to view a school and get some insight into what your days will be like once you enroll. A school may look beautiful, but you need to go a little beyond the surface and get an understanding of the classroom culture. When you’re choosing a program, pay attention to the details that will matter most during your school experience:
● Do the instructors actually know their students? Strong programs have instructors who greet their students by name, understand their strengths and weaknesses, and give personalized feedback.
● Is the environment supportive? If you’re able to, observe how the students interact with each other and their instructors. A healthy learning environment should feel encouraging, respectful, and collaborative.
● Are students actively engaged or just sitting? Maybe you’re visiting on a theory day and that’s ok! Theory is extremely important, as is hands-on practice. You should notice discussions, students practicing treatments, worksheets being completed but NOT everyone staring at a wall.
● What are the class sizes like? At Elan Prep, we never have class sizes over 20 because in all honesty, the larger the classes, the harder it is to give individualized attention to students and many mistakes can slip under the radar. Smaller class sizes allow instructors to actually see you- your learning style, your progress, and the areas where you need extra support. You’re never just another face in one of our classrooms.
2. Ask About Hands-On Training
As previously mentioned, theory is important but it needs to be followed up with hands-on practice. At Elan Prep, you begin by practicing the skills you learn in class on your classmates. Once you’ve gained enough hours and comfortability with those skills, we have what’s called clinic. Clinic is where we open our books to the public and you are able to practice your skills on paying clients that you may- or may not- know. Besides giving you extra practice, it helps you to gain an understanding of what it will be like to offer services to clients you are unfamiliar with.
3. Who Teaches You Matters More Than the Building
Again, the school itself can be gorgeous, but what happens within the walls of the school is going to be much more important than what’s on them. Instructors should have enough real-world experience to confidently teach and perform every service included in the curriculum. A strong esthetics instructor can take complicated material and explain it clearly, ensuring students understand not only the “how,” but also the “why” behind every technique. Their expertise becomes your foundation. Because our instructors were once students themselves, they know how overwhelming esthetics school can feel at first. That’s why we take time to break things down, teach with patience, and give each student the individual attention they need to succeed.
4. Understand the Curriculum
In Georgia, The State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers requires that esthetician students acquire a total of 1000 hours in a program before being able to take the State Board exams to get an esthetician license. Within that 1000 hours, most schools only teach what is required by the state. What truly prepares you for a successful career is the quality and depth of the curriculum, not just getting the required hours. When visiting schools or looking at their curriculum, check to see if they:
● Exceed the state’s requirements, or just meets them
● Add supplemental content or courses based on industry demand
● Provide exposure to tools and techniques not listed in state guidelines
When we first began developing our curriculum at Elan Prep, we knew we had to offer more than just the basics to make sure our students were properly prepared to join the workforce after graduation. In recent years we have partnered with companies such as Hale&Hush, Make Up For Ever, and Procell to enhance our curriculum and provide our students with certifications they can carry with them into their careers.
5. Ask the Hard Questions About State Board Prep
Taking the State Board exams isn’t usually something people do just for fun. Students take the State Board exams in hopes that they pass and get their esthetician license. Since that’s the case, passing isn’t optional- it’s necessary. Not all schools prepare their students equally, so here are some questions worth asking:
1. Does the school teach using the new PSI exam format? State Board exams change and Georgia most recently updated theirs just this August (2025).
2. How many students pass on the first attempt? High pass rates show that the school’s methods work. Low pass rates could indicate a need to investigate further. Some students are not good test takers or experience test anxiety, but there could also be a failure to properly prepare students for the exams. Do they have a strategy in place to improve scores?
3. How do they prepare their students specifically? Do they practice the steps for the practical exam often? Do they give mock exams? Do the instructors provide detailed feedback?
State Board preparation should be ongoing, not just crammed in the last few weeks of class.
6. Find Out What Support You Get After Graduation
Once you’ve completed your program, graduation shouldn’t feel like the end of the road. It should feel like the beginning of your career. Make sure you’re asking what kind of support you’ll receive after you’re no longer on the current student roster.
Does the school offer any State Board testing support after graduation? Is there any help with navigating the application process after you’ve tested? Will there be assistance with putting together a resume and applying to jobs? Do businesses reach out to them looking for estheticians to hire? Some schools even provide ongoing education opportunities to their graduates. The right school doesn’t disappear once you’ve completed your hours, they should be available to assist you with your post-graduate needs. Choosing a program that offers continued support can make all the difference in how confident and prepared you feel as you step into the esthetics industry.
7. Look for a School That Feels Like the Right Fit for YOU
While hours, pricing, and location are key factors in choosing an esthetics school, keep in mind that the school you choose is where you’re going to be spending months learning and practicing so how the environment makes you feel is going to be extremely important.
Trust your instincts. The right fit isn’t about finding the “perfect” school. It’s about finding the one where you feel encouraged, challenged, and prepared to succeed.
Choosing the right esthetics school is a big decision that deserves thoughtful consideration. Take your time, ask lots of questions, and don’t be afraid to look beyond big names and bells and whistles. The right program will not only prepare you to pass state board, but will also help you grow into a confident, knowledgeable professional.
If you are in the Savannah area and think you’re ready to take the next step you are welcome to schedule a tour or reach out and get more information regarding Elan Prep’s esthetician program from our amazing admin. Even if we don’t end up being the right fit for you, we’d still be glad to be a pitstop on your journey to becoming a licensed esthetician.
