How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Seneca Falls NY

How to Select an Esthetician School near Seneca Falls New York

Seneca Falls NY esthetician client with cucumber facial Now that you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Seneca Falls NY, the process begins to locate and enroll in the ideal program. It’s important that the school you choose not only furnishes the proper education for the specialty you have decided on, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you may be a little bit confused about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are pretty much interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind of school. We’ll speak a bit more about that in the following section. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Seneca Falls residence. Tuition will likewise be an important factor when reviewing possible schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it’s not necessarily the right option. There are several other qualifications that you should evaluate when comparing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask concerning the cosmetology schools you are looking at later in this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of courses are available.

Defining Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Seneca Falls NY Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human anatomy look more beautiful through the application of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but really a cosmetic may be almost anything that enhances the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, most states require that you go through some type of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Seneca Falls NY beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have gained experience and a client base, establish their own shops or salons. Others will begin servicing customers either in their own homes or will go to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by many titles and are employed in a wide variety of specialties including:

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

As formerly mentioned, in most states practicing cosmetologists have to be licensed. In some states there is an exception. Only those offering more skilled services, such as 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

Seneca Falls NY esthetician client with face mask There are essentially two options available to get esthetician training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs normally require 12 to 18 months to complete, while an Associate’s degree usually takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be instructed in each of the major areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you prefer to focus on just one area, for instance esthetics. A degree program will also probably incorporate management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to manage a parlor or other Seneca Falls NY business. Higher degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whatever type of training program you decide on, it’s essential to make sure that it’s recognized by the New York Board of Cosmetology. Many states only certify schools that are accredited by certain respected agencies, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the advantages of accreditation for the school you decide on in the next segment.

Online Esthetics Classes

woman attending esthetician school online in Seneca Falls NY Online esthetician schools are accommodating for Seneca Falls NY students who are working full time and have family commitments that make it challenging to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of online cosmetology school programs available that can be attended by means of a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional beauty programs are often fast paced since many programs are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a significant amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you are not devoting many hours away from your home or travelling to and from classes. However, it’s essential that the school you select can provide internship training in local salons and parlors so that you also get the hands-on training necessary for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s difficult to acquire the skills needed to work in any facet of the cosmetology profession. So be sure if you decide to enroll in an online school to confirm that internship training is available in your area.

Questions to Ask Esthetician Schools

Seneca Falls NY models benefit from esthetic treatments Following is a series of questions that you need to investigate for any esthetician training school you are contemplating. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Seneca Falls home, in addition to the expense of tuition, will probably be your primary qualifiers. Whether you would like 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 must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have collected some of those additional questions that you need to ask every school before making a final decision.

Is the School Accredited? It’s necessary 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 agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for securing student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable in 13148 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of Seneca Falls NY businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation? Any esthetician college that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly sought after. Check rating companies for reviews along with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Seneca Falls NY salon owners or managers, or any person working in the field, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not thought of. And finally, consult the New York school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus? Many esthetician schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing 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 often broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s essential that you select a school that specializes in your area of interest. If your ambition is to be trained as an esthetician, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and well regarded for that program. If your dream is to start a Seneca Falls NY beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly ranked school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you require.

Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Practicing and mastering esthetician techniques and abilities demands plenty of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is provided in the cosmetology courses you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that allow students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a beauty school offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead depends mainly on using mannequins, it might not be the most effective option for cultivating your skills. Therefore search for other schools that furnish this type of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance? As soon as a student graduates from an esthetician school, it’s important that he or she gets help in securing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide assistance develop relationships with Seneca Falls NY businesses that are seeking skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and ask which salons and businesses they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Aid Available? Almost all esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid office. Consult with a counselor and identify 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 accessible to students as well. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not discard it as an option before you find out what financial assistance may be provided.

Attending Esthetician School Near Seneca Falls NY?

Perhaps you live in the Seneca Falls 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.

Seneca Falls, New York

The region is the former realm of the Cayuga tribe, who were visited by Jesuit missionaries during the 17th century. Cayuga villages were attacked and destroyed by the Sullivan Expedition of 1779 in retaliation for plundering and killing colonists.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 27.4 square miles (71.0 km²), of which, 24.2 square miles (62.7 km²) of it is land and 3.2 square miles (8.3 km²) of it (11.63%) is water.

The east town line is partly defined by Cayuga Lake. The Seneca River/Cayuga-Seneca Canal passes across the town. More recently, efforts are underway to complete a scenic trail along the historic canal. The eastern section of the town is part of Montezuma Marsh, an extensive wetland at the north end of Cayuga Lake.

Select the Right Esthetician College near Seneca Falls NY

Finding and enrolling in the ideal esthetician program is important to receive the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel certain about your decision. Don’t forget to collect all of the responses you receive from the cosmetology 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 college and program you select are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. If you begin with that base, and answer the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are qualified to start your career as a professional esthetician in Seneca Falls NY.