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VEGAS INC C OV E R STO RY times on the first day. The first one is the hardest. Everyone is nervous. But by the time she graduated, she had over 200 hours of clinic time." Clinic is where students cut their teeth learning the skills they need to succeed in the real world. It's arguably the most important aspect of their education. "Clinic is where I see them mature into massage therapists," Teng said. "It's exactly like they're working in a spa." The same thing happens at Paul Mitchell. Working on a doll 's hair or role playing in class is one thing. Cutting and coloring a customer's hair is quite another. "It's stressful and irritating," Paul Mitchell student Nathan King said. "But you have to learn what you're doing." Robinson says clinics are a great place to train prospective employees without passing the cost and burden onto employers. "If these schools didn't exist, the business would have to figure out how to train these folks internally," Robinson said. "It would be bad for the customers." Aside from learning how to deal with clients, the schools teach students business skills to make them more marketable. At Paul Mitchell, students learn how to handle large amounts of cash. The European Massage Therapy School teaches students how to cope with appointment changes. At Roseman, all the students in the three-year orthodontic program receive both an orthodontic certificate as well as a master's degree in business administration. "We did that so we can create great clinicians and great business people," Pourhamidi said. "So they won't be afraid to open their own clinics and businesses." ■■■ Tuition at Roseman costs $59,400 a year for the threeyear program, although students receive a $12,000 annual stipend that includes health insurance. At the European Massage Therapy School, tuition runs about $8,500 for the 8-to-10-month program. The valley's down economy has had little effect on admissions at the vocational schools. Administrators say enrollment remains fairly constant from year to year, despite the economy. At UNLV, enrollment is on the upswing because more people are taking classes to increase their chances of landing a job. Enrollment dipped during the recession as money became scarce, after an uptick in the early- to mid-2000s. | 8 APRIL 2013 20130408_VI01_F.indd 15 | SAM MORRIS HANDS ON: From left, Ninette Suetos, Marilyn Barry and Supakullaya Pannok knead patients' backs at the European School of Massage Therapy. said she can't wait to start working as a massage therapist and trusts that her education will help her find a job. "It's the best thing in my life," said Leon, who moved from Florida in July to attend the school. "The teacher knows exactly what direction every student needs." Some students are lucky and talented enough to bring clients with them to their professional jobs. "Sometimes they really like a student, and when that student graduates, gets licensed and gets their own practice, the client will follow the student," Teng said. Other students prefer to stay "People are figuring out that those are good jobs that in school past graduation, as people don't get laid off from. Plus, higher education instructors. King, for instance, hopes to is getting more expensive. People may prefer a career parlay his beauty knowledge that pays well but doesn't have the tens of thousands to teach a new generation of students at Paul Mitchell. The of dollars" in tuition. — Bill Robinson, economist European Massage Therapy School features instructors who all are alumni. "The best way to learn something is from," he said. "Plus, higher education for wine jobs," Arfaras said. All the schools try to find jobs for their by teaching," said DanaMarie Telfer, is getting more expensive. People may prefer a career that pays well but doesn't graduates and maintain working rela- a massage school graduate who now have the tens of thousands of dollars" in tionships with employers. Once alumni works at the school as a receptionist land jobs, the schools survey the stu- and massage therapist. tuition. Either way, the schools do what they UNLV has a continuing-education dents' bosses to get feedback about how can to prepare students with hands-on program for people looking to change the graduates are performing. "We ask them, 'Are there any classes experience before they enter the job careers or learn new skills. The school doesn't run clinics, but it does arrange they feel we should add to the curricu- market. "It's the best of all worlds," Dereghisian lum?'" Teng said. for student internships and jobs. Tatiana Leon, one of Teng's students, said. "We're creating these certificate pro"They're coming back to us now and trying to get new jobs," said Emmanuel Saris, director of continuing education at UNLV. "They know there is a market for (specific) jobs." People have begun to realize the benefits of a specialized education, said Robinson. He expects enrollment at vocational schools to remain steady, even when the economy improves and jobs become more readily available. "People are figuring out that those are good jobs that people don't get laid off grams for them to enter the workforce. We're trying to get partnerships that will allow students to get real experience," Sarris said. Anna Arfaras studied wine in UNLV's continuing education program and received a certificate in the field. She now works as a sommelier at Babbo Ristorante e Enoteca in New York City. She credits her schooling for helping her break into the real world. "It really rounded out my wine education and helped get my foot in the door 15 4/4/13 2:17:57 PM