How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Astoria NY

How to Choose an Esthetician College near Astoria New York

Astoria NY esthetician client with cucumber facial Now that you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Astoria NY, the task starts to search for and enroll in the best program. It’s imperative that the program you select not only provides the appropriate training for the specialty you have decided on, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your preliminary search, you might be somewhat unclear about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are pretty much interchangeable and both relate to the same type of school. We’ll talk a little bit more concerning that in the upcoming segment. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Astoria residence. Tuition will likewise be an important consideration when reviewing potential schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it’s not automatically the ideal choice. There are several other considerations that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask concerning the cosmetology schools you are looking at later within this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of courses are offered.

What is Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Astoria NY Cosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human anatomy look more attractive through the application of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are referred to as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic can be almost anything that improves the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, the majority of states mandate that you undergo some form of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only Astoria NY beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have gained experience and a customer base, establish their own shops or salons. Others will start seeing customers either in their own residences or will go to the client’s house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many titles and are employed in a wide range of specialties including:

Estheticians
Hairdressers
Hairstylists
Beauticians
Barbers
Manicurists
Nail Technicians
Makeup Artists
Hair Coloring Specialists
Electrolysis Technicians

As previously mentioned, in the majority of states practicing cosmetologists have to be licensed. In some states there is an exemption. Only those offering more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people working in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.

Esthetician Certificates and Degrees

Astoria NY esthetician client with face mask There are essentially two avenues offered to obtain esthetician training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs typically call for 12 to 18 months to finish, 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 main areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are offered if you prefer to specialize in just one area, for example esthetics. A degree program will also likely feature management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to run a salon or other Astoria NY business. Higher degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such areas as salon or spa management. Whichever type of course you choose, it’s imperative to make certain that it’s certified by the New York Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only approve schools that are accredited by certain respected organizations, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the advantages of accreditation for the school you decide on in the upcoming segment.

Online Esthetician Training

woman attending esthetician school online in Astoria NY Online esthetician classes are convenient for Astoria NY students who are working full-time and have family obligations that make it challenging to enroll in a more traditional school. There are numerous online cosmetology school programs offered that can be accessed through a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional beauty schools are typically fast paced due to the fact that many programs are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a significant portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are covering the same amount of material, but you are not devoting numerous hours outside of your home or commuting back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it’s essential that the school you choose can provide internship training in local salons and parlors so that you also obtain the hands-on training required for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s impossible to obtain the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology profession. So don’t forget if you choose to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.

What to Ask Esthetician Training Courses

Astoria NY models benefit from esthetic treatments Following is a series of questions that you should investigate for any esthetician training school you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Astoria residence, as well as the cost of tuition, will most likely be your initial qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have put together some of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final selection.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s important to make certain that the esthetician college you select is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which typically are not offered in 11102 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous Astoria NY businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation? Any esthetician institute that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly regarded. Check rating companies for reviews as well as the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Astoria NY salon owners or managers, or any person working in the business, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not considered. And finally, consult the New York school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus? A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs commonly expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s imperative that you pick a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your objective is to be trained as an esthetician, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your vision is to open a Astoria NY beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly ranked school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you need.

Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and perfecting esthetician techniques and abilities demands plenty of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the beauty courses you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that make it possible for students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a beauty academy offers limited or no scheduled live training, but instead depends heavily on using mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for developing your skills. Therefore search for other schools that furnish this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from an esthetician academy, it’s crucial that she or he receives help in landing that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer aid maintain relationships with Astoria NY businesses that are seeking qualified graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and ask which salons and organizations they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Aid Available? Most esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are considering have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you might get approved for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students also. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications except for expense, do not omit it as an option until you determine what financial aid may be available.

Attending Esthetician School Near Astoria NY?

Perhaps you live in the Astoria New York area, or have found a school that you will commute to or even relocate to attend. Either way, following is some interesting background information about the location of your new esthetician program.

Astoria, Queens

Astoria is a middle-class[4] and commercial neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens, bounded by the East River and is adjacent to three other Queens neighborhoods: Long Island City, Sunnyside (bordering at Northern Boulevard), and Woodside (bordering at 50th Street). It is located in Community Board 1, and is patrolled by the New York City Police Department's 114th Precinct.[5] As of 2016[update], Astoria has an estimated population of 78,793.[2]

The area now known as Astoria was originally called Hallett's Cove, after its first landowner William Hallet, who settled there in 1652 with his wife, Elizabeth Fones. Beginning in the early 19th century, affluent New Yorkers constructed large residences around 12th and 14th streets, an area that later became known as Astoria Village (now Old Astoria). Hallett's Cove, incorporated on April 12, 1839[6] and previously founded by fur merchant Stephen A. Halsey, was a noted recreational destination and resort for Manhattan's wealthy.[7][8]

The area was renamed for John Jacob Astor, then the wealthiest man in America with a net worth of more than $40 million, in order to persuade him to invest in the neighborhood. He only invested $500, but the name stayed nonetheless, as a bitter battle over naming the village finally was won by Astor's supporters and friends. From Astor's summer home in Hell Gate, Manhattan—on what is now East 87th Street near York Avenue—he could see across the East River the new Long Island village named in his honor. Astor, however, never actually set foot in Astoria.

Select the Right Esthetician College near Astoria NY

Picking and enrolling in the ideal esthetician program is imperative to receive the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel certain about your decision. Make sure to organize all of the responses you get from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that information to compare schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the academy and program you decide on are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you start with that base, and answer the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are prepared to begin your new career as a professional esthetician in Astoria NY.