How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Freeport PA

How to Choose an Esthetician College near Freeport Pennsylvania

Freeport PA esthetician client with cucumber facial Once you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Freeport PA, the process begins to search for and enroll in the right program. It’s imperative that the program you pick not only provides the proper education for the specialty you have decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you might be somewhat confused about the difference 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 discuss a bit more about that in the next segment. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Freeport residence. Tuition will likewise be an important factor when evaluating potential schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it’s not necessarily the ideal option. There are many other factors that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, for example 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 talk a bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of courses are offered.

Defining Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Freeport PA Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human anatomy look more beautiful through the application 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 actually a cosmetic may be anything that enhances the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, most states mandate that you go through some kind of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work environments include not only Freeport PA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gained experience and a client base, launch their own shops or salons. Others will begin servicing customers either in their own residences or will go to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many titles and work in a wide variety 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 a few states there is an exemption. Only those conducting more skilled services, for instance hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others working in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.

Esthetics Degrees

Freeport PA esthetician client with face mask There are primarily two pathways offered to obtain 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 typically call for 12 to 18 months to complete, while an Associate’s degree ordinarily takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be instructed in each of the main areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are offered if you wish to concentrate on just one area, for instance esthetics. A degree program will also most likely incorporate management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to operate a salon or other Freeport PA business. More advanced degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such areas as salon or spa management. Whatever type of training program you opt for, it’s imperative to make sure that it’s approved by the Pennsylvania Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain reputable organizations, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the benefits of accreditation for the school you choose in the following section.

Online Esthetician Programs

woman attending esthetician school online in Freeport PA Online esthetician schools are advantageous for Freeport PA 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 web-based cosmetology school programs available that can be accessed via a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional beauty schools are frequently fast paced given that many courses are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a substantial portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are dealing with the same volume of material, but you’re not devoting numerous hours outside of your home or travelling to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s vital that the school you pick can provide internship training in area salons and parlors so that you also receive the hands-on training needed for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s difficult to gain the skills required to work in any facet of the cosmetology field. So make sure if you decide to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is available in your area.

What to Ask Esthetician Training Classes

Freeport PA 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 Freeport home, as well as the price of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first qualifiers. Whether you wish to earn 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 additional factors that you need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have put together some of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final selection.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s necessary to make sure that the esthetician training program you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for securing student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not obtainable in 16229 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of Freeport PA employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Great Reputation? Every esthetician college that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly regarded. Check rating services for reviews along with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Freeport PA salon owners or managers, or any person working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not considered. And last, consult the Pennsylvania school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus? Some esthetician schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s imperative that you enroll in 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 dream is to open a Freeport 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 rated school with a weak program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you require.

Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and refining esthetician skills and techniques involves lots of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is included in the beauty lessons you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that enable students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a beauty school provides limited or no scheduled live training, but instead relies predominantly on the use of mannequins, it might not be the most effective option for cultivating your skills. Therefore try to find alternate schools that offer this type of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from an esthetician program, it’s imperative that she or he receives assistance in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer assistance maintain relationships with Freeport PA employers that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and ask which salons and establishments they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Assistance Available? Almost all esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are considering have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you may get approved for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students as well. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not omit it as an option before you learn what financial aid may be offered.

Attending Esthetician School Near Freeport PA?

Perhaps you live in the Freeport 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.

Freeport, Pennsylvania

Freeport is a borough in Armstrong County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania; it is situated along the Allegheny River in the southwest corner of the county. The population was 1,813 at the 2010 Census.[3]

Freeport is located at 40°40′28″N 79°41′11″W / 40.67444°N 79.68639°W / 40.67444; -79.68639 (40.674337, -79.686320).[4] According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.3 square miles (3.4 km2), of which 1.3 square miles (3.3 km2) is land and 0.039 square miles (0.1 km2), or 2.20%, is water.[3]

As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 1,962 people, 878 households, and 532 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,697.9 people per square mile (653.0/km²). There were 944 housing units at an average density of 816.9 per square mile (314.2/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.42% White, 0.25% African American, 0.25% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.41% from other races, and 0.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.46% of the population.

Pick the Right Esthetics Program near Freeport PA

Choosing and enrolling in the right esthetician school is imperative to get the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel positive about your decision. Be sure to compile all of the information you get from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that information to contrast schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the college and program you decide on are accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and address the additional questions supplied in this post, 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 self-assured that you are qualified to start your career as a professional esthetician in Freeport PA.