How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Long Island City NY

How to Pick an Esthetician Training Program near Long Island City New York

Long Island City NY esthetician client with cucumber facial Since you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Long Island City NY, the task starts to search for and enroll in the ideal program. It’s essential that the program you pick not only provides the necessary education for the specialty you have selected, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your preliminary search, you may be a little bit unclear about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are essentially interchangeable and both refer to the same kind of school. We’ll talk a bit more regarding that in the following section. If you intend on commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Long Island City home. Tuition will also be a critical consideration when reviewing prospective schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it’s not necessarily the best option. There are a number of other qualifications that you should weigh when reviewing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are looking at later within this article. Before we do, let’s talk a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of courses are offered.

Defining Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Long Island City NY Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human body look more beautiful through the application of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but basically 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 type of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Long Island City 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, launch their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing clients either in their own homes or will travel to the client’s house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many names 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 a few states there is an exception. Only those performing more skilled services, for example hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others working in cosmetology and less skilled, such as shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.

Esthetician Degrees

Long Island City NY esthetician client with face mask There are basically two avenues offered to receive esthetician training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs generally call for 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 all of the major areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are offered if you prefer to specialize in just one area, for instance esthetics. A degree program will also likely feature management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to operate a salon or other Long Island City NY business. Higher degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whichever type of program you choose, it’s important to make sure that it’s approved by the New York Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only certify schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded agencies, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the advantages of accreditation for the school you decide on in the upcoming section.

Online Esthetics Classes

woman attending esthetician school online in Long Island City NY Online esthetician schools are advantageous for Long Island City NY students who are working full time and have family responsibilities that make it difficult to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of web-based beauty school programs offered that can be attended through a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional beauty programs are frequently fast paced since many courses are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a substantial amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you are not spending many hours outside of your home or commuting to and from classes. However, it’s vital that the school you pick can provide internship training in area salons and parlors in order that you also get the hands-on training necessary for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s difficult to obtain the skills required to work in any area of the cosmetology profession. So make sure if you choose to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is available in your area.

What to Ask Esthetician Training Programs

Long Island City NY models benefit from esthetic treatments Below is a series of questions that you need to look into for any esthetician training program you are considering. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Long Island City home, in addition to the price of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you should research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have compiled some of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final decision.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s necessary to make certain that the esthetician school you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for securing student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable in 11101 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many Long Island City NY businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation? Every esthetician institute that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly regarded. Check rating companies for reviews as well as the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Long Island City NY salon owners or managers, or any person working in the trade, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to suggest others that you had not looked into. And finally, contact the New York school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances 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, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, for instance hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs commonly expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s essential that you select a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your intention is to be trained as an esthetician, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your aspiration is to open a Long Island City NY beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly regarded school with a weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you need.

Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Studying and perfecting esthetician techniques and abilities involves plenty of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is provided in the beauty courses you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that make it possible for students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a beauty academy offers little or no scheduled live training, but instead depends heavily on the use of mannequins, it might not be the most effective option for acquiring your skills. So try to find other schools that offer this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from an esthetician school, it’s crucial that he or she receives aid in securing that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide aid maintain relationships with Long Island City NY employers that are seeking skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and ask which salons and establishments they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Assistance Offered? The majority of esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out 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 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 with the exception of expense, do not eliminate it as an option before you learn what financial assistance may be offered.

Attending Esthetician School Near Long Island City NY?

Perhaps you live in the Long Island City 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.

Long Island City

Long Island City (LIC) is a residential and commercial neighborhood located on the extreme western tip of Queens, New York City. It is bordered by Astoria to the north; the East River to the west; Hazen Street, 49th Street, and New Calvary Cemetery in Sunnyside to the east; and Newtown Creek—which separates Queens from Greenpoint, Brooklyn—to the south. The area is part of Queens Community Board 1 to the north and Queens Community Board 2 to the south.

Incorporated as a separate city in 1870, Long Island City was originally the seat of government of the Town of Newtown, before becoming part of New York City in 1898. Starting in the early 21st century, Long Island City became known for its rapid and ongoing residential growth and gentrification, its waterfront parks, and its thriving arts community.[3] The area has among the highest concentration of art galleries, art institutions, and studio space of any neighborhood in New York City.[4]

Long Island City is the eastern terminus of the Queensboro Bridge, also known as the 59th Street Bridge, which is the only non-tolled automotive route connecting Queens and Manhattan. Northwest of the bridge are the Queensbridge Houses, a development of the New York City Housing Authority and the largest public housing complex in North America.

Choose the Right Esthetics Training Program near Long Island City NY

Finding and enrolling in the right esthetician college is essential to get the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel certain about your decision. Make sure to compile all of the responses you get from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to compare schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the academy and program you choose are accredited and have impressive reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and address the additional questions supplied in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the right selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are qualified to launch your new career as a professional esthetician in Long Island City NY.