How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Elmhurst NY

How to Find the Right Esthetics College near Elmhurst New York

Elmhurst NY esthetician client with cucumber facial Once you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Elmhurst NY, the process starts to locate and enroll in the ideal program. It’s important that the school you select not only provides the necessary education for the specialty you have selected, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your initial search, you may be rather puzzled about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both relate to the same type of school. We’ll talk a little bit further regarding that in the following section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Elmhurst home. Tuition will additionally be an important factor when evaluating possible schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it’s not always the right option. There are many other qualifications that you should evaluate when comparing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are considering later within this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of training programs are available.

What is Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Elmhurst NY Cosmetology is a profession that is all about making the human body look more beautiful with the use of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic may be almost anything that enhances the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, most states mandate that you undergo some kind of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work environments include not only Elmhurst NY beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have acquired experience and a customer base, open their own shops or salons. Others will start seeing customers either in their own residences or will travel to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by many professional names and work in a wide range of specializations including:

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

As formerly mentioned, in most states working cosmetologists have to be licensed. In some states there is an exception. Only those offering more skilled services, for example hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people working in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.

Esthetics Degrees

Elmhurst NY esthetician client with face mask There are basically two pathways offered to obtain esthetician training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs normally take 12 to 18 months to finish, while an Associate’s degree usually takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be trained in each of the major areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are offered if you prefer to specialize in just one area, such as esthetics. A degree program will also likely feature management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to run a parlor or other Elmhurst NY business. Higher degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such areas as salon or spa management. Whatever type of training program you choose, it’s important to make certain that it’s approved by the New York Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only certify schools that are accredited by certain reputable agencies, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the benefits of accreditation for the school you select in the next segment.

Online Esthetician Training

woman attending esthetician school online in Elmhurst NY Online esthetician classes are advantageous for Elmhurst NY students who are employed full-time and have family obligations that make it hard to attend a more traditional school. There are many web-based beauty school programs offered that can be attended through a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional beauty schools are often fast paced because many programs are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a large portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are covering the same volume of material, but you’re not spending many hours away from your home or driving back and forth from classes. However, it’s vital that the program you choose can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors to ensure that you also obtain the hands-on training needed for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s difficult to gain the skills needed to work in any area of the cosmetology field. So don’t forget if you choose to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is provided in your area.

What to Ask Esthetician Training Programs

Elmhurst NY models benefit from esthetic treatments Following is a series of questions that you should investigate for any esthetician training program you are contemplating. As we have already discussed, the location of the school relative to your Elmhurst residence, together with the price of tuition, will undoubtedly 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 narrowed your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have compiled some of those supplemental questions that you should ask each school before making a final determination.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s essential to make sure that the esthetician training program you enroll in is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for securing student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not obtainable in 11373 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many Elmhurst NY businesses will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Great Reputation? Any esthetician institute that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating companies for reviews as well as the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Elmhurst NY salon owners or managers, or someone working in the field, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to propose others that you had not considered. And last, consult the New York school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus? A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs commonly expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you select a school that specializes in your area of interest. If your intention is to be trained as an esthetician, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your desire is to start a Elmhurst NY beauty salon, then you need 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 require.

Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Studying and refining esthetician techniques and abilities involves plenty of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is included in the beauty lessons you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that allow students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a beauty academy provides limited or no scheduled live training, but rather relies mainly on the use of mannequins, it might not be the most effective option for developing your skills. Therefore search for other schools that furnish this kind of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from an esthetician academy, it’s crucial that he or she gets aid in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer help maintain relationships with Elmhurst NY employers that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and inquire which salons and establishments they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered? Almost all esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you might get approved for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students as well. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not eliminate it as an alternative until you find out what financial aid may be offered.

Attending Esthetician School Near Elmhurst NY?

Perhaps you live in the Elmhurst 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.

Elmhurst, New York

Select the Right Esthetics Training Program near Elmhurst NY

Finding and enrolling in the right esthetician school is important to obtain the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel certain about your decision. Make sure to consolidate all of the responses you get from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to contrast schools. A good beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the institution and program you pick are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you start with that base, and address the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are prepared to launch your new career as a professional esthetician in Elmhurst NY.