How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Greenville PA

How to Choose an Esthetics Training Program near Greenville Pennsylvania

Greenville PA esthetician client with cucumber facial Now that you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Greenville PA, the task begins to search for and enroll in the right program. It’s imperative that the school you pick not only provides the necessary education for the specialty you have chosen, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your initial search, you might be rather unclear about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. We’ll talk a little bit more about that in the upcoming section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Greenville residence. Tuition will likewise be an important aspect when evaluating potential schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it’s not automatically the right option. There are many other factors that you should evaluate when comparing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are considering later in this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of programs are offered.

Definition of Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Greenville PA Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human anatomy look more beautiful with the use of cosmetics. So of course 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 can be almost anything that improves the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, almost all 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 Greenville PA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have acquired experience and a customer base, establish their own shops or salons. Others will begin servicing clients either in their own homes or will go to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known 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 already stated, in the majority of states working cosmetologists have to be licensed. In a few states there is an exemption. Only those offering 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 get licensed in those states.

Esthetics Certificates and Degrees

Greenville PA esthetician client with face mask There are primarily two avenues offered to get esthetician training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs typically call for 12 to 18 months to finish, while an Associate’s degree commonly 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, such as esthetics. A degree program will also likely include management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to manage a salon or other Greenville PA business. More advanced degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whichever type of training program you opt for, it’s essential to make certain that it’s recognized by the Pennsylvania Board of Cosmetology. Many states only approve schools that are accredited by certain respected agencies, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the benefits of accreditation for the school you select in the upcoming segment.

Online Esthetician Courses

woman attending esthetician school online in Greenville PA Online esthetician classes are advantageous for Greenville PA students who are working full-time and have family responsibilities 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 via a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional cosmetology schools are typically fast paced due to the fact that many programs are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a large amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are dealing with the same volume of material, but you’re not spending numerous hours away from your home or driving back and forth from classes. However, it’s imperative that the school you select can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors so that you also get the hands-on training necessary for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s difficult to obtain 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 Courses

Greenville PA models benefit from esthetic treatments Below is a list of questions that you need to investigate for any esthetician training program you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Greenville residence, together with the expense of tuition, will probably be your primary qualifiers. Whether you want to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Following we have put together several of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final determination.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s necessary to make certain 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which typically are not available in 16125 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many Greenville PA businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Every esthetician school that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly sought after. Check rating companies for reviews in addition to the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Greenville PA salon owners or managers, or someone working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. And finally, consult the Pennsylvania school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in total compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus? Many esthetician schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs often 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 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 desire is to launch a Greenville PA beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly rated school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you need.

Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and mastering esthetician skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is included in the cosmetology courses you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that allow students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a beauty program furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but rather depends heavily on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the most effective option for cultivating your skills. So search for alternate schools that furnish this kind of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from an esthetician school, it’s important that he or she gets support in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide assistance develop relationships with Greenville PA businesses that are seeking qualified graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and inquire which salons and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, ask 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 Assistance Offered? Almost all esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid department. Consult with a counselor and identify 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 fulfills all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not eliminate it as an option until you determine what financial help may be available.

Attending Esthetician School Near Greenville PA?

Perhaps you live in the Greenville 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.

Greenville, Pennsylvania

Greenville is a borough in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, United States. Located along the Shenango River, it lies roughly 80 miles from both Pittsburgh and Cleveland. It is just under 2.0 square miles in area, and had a population of 6380 in the 2000 U.S. census.

Greenville is located in northwest Pennsylvania at 41°24′18″N 80°23′12″W / 41.40500°N 80.38667°W / 41.40500; -80.38667 (41.404998, −80.386651),[3] along the Shenango River. Its altitude is 945 feet (288 m) above sea level.

Greenville was known for its manufacturing interests, including railroad shops, bridge works, gristmills, a cement-block plant, an automobile factory, foundries and machine shops, saw and planing mills, steelworks, a railroad-car manufacturer, and flour mills. Water power was supplied by the Shenango River.

Select the Right Esthetician Program near Greenville PA

Locating and enrolling in the ideal esthetician program is essential to receive the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel positive about your decision. Don’t forget to compile all of the responses you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that information to compare schools. A sensible start in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the school and program you choose are accredited and have impressive 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 selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are qualified to begin your new career as a professional esthetician in Greenville PA.