How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Bernville PA

How to Pick an Esthetics School near Bernville Pennsylvania

Bernville PA esthetician client with cucumber facial Now that you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Bernville PA, the process begins to locate and enroll in the right program. It’s important that the program you choose not only furnishes the appropriate education for the specialty you have selected, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your initial 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 basically interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. We’ll speak a little bit further regarding that in the next segment. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Bernville home. Tuition will likewise be an important aspect when reviewing possible schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it’s not always the ideal choice. There are many other considerations that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are thinking about later in this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of training programs are offered.

Defining Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Bernville PA Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human body look more attractive through the use of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic may be anything that improves the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, most states require that you go through some kind of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Bernville PA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gained experience and a customer base, open their own shops or salons. Others will start seeing clients either in their own residences or will go to the client’s house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by many names and work in a wide range of specialties including:

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

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

Esthetician Degrees and Certificates

Bernville PA esthetician client with face mask There are essentially two options offered to obtain esthetician training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, 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 usually takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be instructed in all of the main areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you wish to concentrate on just one area, for instance esthetics. A degree program will also likely incorporate management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to manage a salon or other Bernville PA business. Higher degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such areas as salon or spa management. Whatever type of course you choose, it’s important to make sure that it’s approved by the Pennsylvania Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only certify schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded agencies, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the benefits of accreditation for the school you select in the upcoming section.

Online Esthetician Training

woman attending esthetician school online in Bernville PA Online esthetician programs are accommodating for Bernville PA students who are employed full-time and have family commitments that make it difficult to enroll in a more traditional school. There are a large number of online beauty school programs available that can be accessed via a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional beauty schools are typically fast paced because many courses are as short as six or eight months. This means that a considerable portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are covering the same volume of material, but you are not spending numerous hours away from your home or travelling back and forth from classes. However, it’s important that the program you choose can provide internship training in local salons and parlors in order that you also obtain the hands-on training needed for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s impossible to obtain the skills required to work in any area of the cosmetology industry. So don’t forget if you choose to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is available in your area.

What to Ask Esthetician Degree Programs

Bernville PA 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 Bernville home, as well as the expense of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly 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 take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have compiled some of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final decision.

Is the School Accredited? It’s essential to make certain that the esthetician training program you choose 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 measure up to their high standards guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which typically are not available in 19506 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many Bernville PA businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Each esthetician college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating services for reviews together with the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Bernville PA salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not thought of. And last, consult the Pennsylvania school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus? Many esthetician schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s imperative that you pick 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 respected for that program. If your aspiration is to launch a Bernville PA beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly rated school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you need.

Is Any Live Training Provided? Learning and mastering esthetician techniques and abilities involves lots of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is included in the cosmetology classes you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that enable students to practice their growing talents on volunteers. If a beauty school provides little or no scheduled live training, but instead relies heavily on the use of mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for acquiring your skills. So try to find other schools that offer this kind of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from an esthetician school, it’s imperative that he or she receives support in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish help maintain relationships with Bernville PA employers that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and find out which salons and establishments they refer students to. Additionally, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Assistance Offered? Many 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 department. Consult with a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students too. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not discard it as an alternative before you find out what financial aid may be provided.

Attending Esthetician School Near Bernville PA?

Perhaps you live in the Bernville Pennsylvania 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.

Bernville, Pennsylvania

Bernville is a borough in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 955 at the 2010 census.[3] Bernville is bordered by Penn Township to the north, east, and south and by Jefferson Township to the west.

Before European settlers arrived in the Tulpehocken Creek valley, the area was inhabited by the Lenape people.[4] In 1723, thirty-three Palatine families from Schoharie, New York, moved to the confluences of the Tulpehocken and Northkill Creeks.[5][6][7] By 1735, a saw and grist mill was located three and a half miles up the Tulpehocken river from Bernville.[8]

In 1737, Stephanus Umbenhauer immigrated from Bern, Switzerland, and purchased 220 acres (0.89 km2) from Thomas Penn. In 1819, Stephanus' grandson, Johann Thomas Umbenhauer, set aside 46 acres (190,000 m2) to be divided into 62 lots. On 24 August 1819, Peter Bennethum bought the first six lots. In January 1820, the town was named Bernville after Stephanus' birthplace.[9] The first house was built by Philip Filbert in 1820.[10] In 1828, the Union Canal was completed, connecting the Susquehanna and Schuylkill rivers. Union Canal guard lock #36 and Lock #36 with a lift of 5.0 feet (1.5 m) is located at the southwest corner of Bernville, near where Northkill Creek empties into Tulpehocken Creek. An historic marker on Route 183 states: "The canal, at this point, followed the north bank of the Tulpehocken. A dam, two locks, and a mule bridge made it possible for boats to cross Northkill Creek. Nearby were grist mills, a lime kiln, and a tannery."[11] Due to the proximity of the Bernville Locks and the town's location on the canal, Bernville was a primary and prospering canal port.[12][13]

Enroll in the Right Esthetics Vocational School near Bernville PA

Selecting and enrolling in the ideal esthetician program is essential to obtain the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel positive about your decision. Make certain to organize all of the information you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to contrast schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the college and program you pick are accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and address the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are ready to begin your career as a professional esthetician in Bernville PA.