How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools East Freedom PA

How to Pick an Esthetics College near East Freedom Pennsylvania

East Freedom PA esthetician client with cucumber facial Once you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near East Freedom PA, the task begins to search for and enroll in the best program. It’s important that the program you pick not only provides the proper training for the specialty you have decided on, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your preliminary search, you might be a little bit confused about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both refer to the same type of school. We’ll talk a little bit more about that in the next section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to choose a school that is within driving distance of your East Freedom home. Tuition will additionally be a critical factor when reviewing potential schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it’s not always the ideal choice. There are a number of other factors that you should evaluate when comparing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask about 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 offered.

What is Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners East Freedom PA Cosmetology is a profession that is all about making the human body look more beautiful through the application of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are referred to as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but really a cosmetic may be anything that improves the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, the majority of states mandate that you go through some kind of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only East Freedom PA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gotten experience and a client base, launch their own shops or salons. Others will begin seeing customers either in their own residences or will go to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by many names and are employed in a wide range of specializations including:

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

As already mentioned, in the majority of states working cosmetologists have to be licensed. In a few states there is an exception. Only those conducting more skilled services, for example hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people employed in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.

Esthetics Degrees

East Freedom PA esthetician client with face mask There are essentially two options available to obtain esthetician training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs generally 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 trained in each of the main areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you wish to specialize in just one area, for instance esthetics. A degree program will also most likely include management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to operate a parlor or other East Freedom PA business. Higher degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whatever type of course you opt for, it’s imperative to make certain that it’s recognized by the Pennsylvania Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain reputable organizations, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the benefits of accreditation for the school you select in the upcoming section.

Online Esthetician Programs

woman attending esthetician school online in East Freedom PA Online esthetician programs are advantageous for East Freedom PA students who are working full time and have family responsibilities that make it challenging to attend a more traditional school. There are numerous online beauty school programs available that can be accessed by means of a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional beauty schools are frequently fast paced because many programs are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a large amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are covering the same volume of material, but you are not devoting numerous hours outside of your home or travelling to and from classes. However, it’s essential that the school you select can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors so that you also get the hands-on training needed for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s difficult to gain the skills necessary to work in any facet of the cosmetology industry. So be sure if you choose to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is available in your area.

Questions to Ask Esthetician Schools

East Freedom PA models benefit from esthetic treatments Following is a series of questions that you will want to look into for any esthetician training school you are contemplating. As we have already discussed, the location of the school relative to your East Freedom home, in addition to the price of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you want to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have compiled some of those supplemental questions that you should ask each school before making a final determination.

Is the School Accredited? It’s important to make certain that the esthetician training program 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable in 16637 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous East Freedom PA employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Great Reputation? Each esthetician institute that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good beginning. 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, indicating that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating services for reviews in addition to the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with East Freedom PA salon owners or managers, or someone working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not looked into. And last, check with the Pennsylvania school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in total compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus? A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular 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 specializes in your area of interest. If your objective is to be trained as an esthetician, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your dream is to open a East Freedom PA beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly ranked school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you need.

Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Studying and refining esthetician skills and techniques involves plenty of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is included in the cosmetology lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that allow students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a beauty academy offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead relies mainly on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the best option for acquiring your skills. Therefore look for other schools that provide this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from an esthetician program, it’s imperative that he or she receives aid in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer help maintain relationships with East Freedom PA businesses that are searching for skilled graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and inquire which salons and establishments they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered? Many esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are considering have a financial aid office. Consult with a counselor and find out 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 available to students also. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not eliminate it as an alternative before you learn what financial assistance may be provided.

Attending Esthetician School Near East Freedom PA?

Perhaps you live in the East Freedom 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.

Pennsylvania Route 851

Pennsylvania Route 851 (PA 851) is a 32.6-mile-long (52.5 km) state highway located in York County, Pennsylvania. The western terminus is at PA 516 in the Codorus Township community of Sticks. The eastern terminus is at PA 74 in Peach Bottom Township. PA 851 is a two-lane undivided road that runs through rural areas in southern York County a short distance to the north of the Maryland border. The route heads east from Sticks to New Freedom, where it turns north and intersects PA 616 in Railroad. PA 851 heads east through Shrewsbury and comes to an interchange with Interstate 83 (I-83). From here, the route heads east and passes through Stewartstown, where it forms a short concurrency with PA 24, and Fawn Grove, where it intersects PA 425, before continuing to its terminus. PA 851 has a truck route, PA 851 Truck, which bypasses the stretch between New Freedom and Shrewsbury.

PA 851 was designated in 1928 to run from Woodbine north to PA 74 in Airville. In 1937, PA 851 was realigned to run from U.S. Route 111 (US 111) at Main Street in Shrewsbury east to PA 74 north of Delta, with the former alignment between Woodbine and Airville becoming an extension of PA 124 (now PA 425). The same year, the road between Sticks and New Freedom became an extended PA 516 while the road between New Freedom and Railroad became an extended PA 616. PA 516 was extended east to I-83/US 111 east of Shrewsbury in the 1950s, replacing PA 616 between New Freedom and Railroad and cutting the west end of PA 851 back to the interchange. PA 851 was extended west to PA 516 in Sticks in the 1960s, replacing the part of PA 516 between Sticks and I-83. A roundabout was constructed at PA 74 in 2008.

PA 851 begins at an intersection with PA 516 just south of PA 216 in the community of Sticks in Codorus Township, York County, heading southeast on Steltz Road. The road winds southeast through farmland with some woods and homes, eventually bending to the south. The route turns east to remain along Steltz Road and runs a short distance to the north of the Maryland border, passing through the community of Steitz and crossing into Shrewsbury Township. PA 851 turns northeast away from the state line and continues through a mix of farm fields and woodland with occasional residences. The road curves east and then southeast before it makes a sharp turn to the northeast. The route becomes the border between Shrewsbury Township to the west and the borough of New Freedom to the east, passing between farmland to the west and residential neighborhoods to the east. PA 851 curves east to fully enter New Freedom and turns southeast onto West Main Street, passing a mix of homes and businesses. The route turns northeast onto North 2nd Street, with PA 851 Truck continuing east along West Main Street, and continues through residential areas. The road curves north into wooded areas and runs to the west of Old Mill Creek, the Steam into History tourist railroad, and the York County Heritage Rail Trail. PA 851 crosses into the borough of Railroad and becomes South Main Street, quickly turning west and then north as it runs through a mix of woods and residences. The route comes to an intersection with the southern terminus of PA 616, at which point it turns east onto East Main Street and crosses the South Branch Codorus Creek and both the Steam into History line and the York County Heritage Rail Trail. The road continues through wooded areas with some homes before leaving Railroad for Shrewsbury Township and turning northeast through farm fields.[2][3]

Enroll in the Right Esthetics Vocational School near East Freedom PA

Locating and enrolling in the right esthetician college is imperative to receive the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel certain about your decision. Don’t forget to compile all of the information you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that data to contrast 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 outstanding reputations within the field. If you start with that foundation, and answer the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are ready to begin your new career as a professional esthetician in East Freedom PA.