How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Hatfield PA

How to Find the Right Esthetics Program near Hatfield Pennsylvania

Hatfield PA esthetician client with cucumber facial Once you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Hatfield PA, the process begins to search for and enroll in the ideal program. It’s important that the school you select not only provides the appropriate education for the specialty you have decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your preliminary search, you might be a little bit puzzled about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are essentially interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. We’ll discuss a bit further regarding that in the next segment. If you intend on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Hatfield residence. Tuition will also be a critical consideration when reviewing possible schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it’s not necessarily the best option. There are various other qualifications that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask concerning the cosmetology schools you are thinking about later in this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of programs are available.

What is Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Hatfield PA Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human body look more attractive with the use of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but really a cosmetic can be almost anything that enhances 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 form of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Hatfield PA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gained experience and a clientele, establish their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing clients either in their own residences or will go to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many titles 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 mentioned, in the majority of states practicing cosmetologists must be licensed. In certain states there is an exemption. Only those conducting 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.

Esthetics Certificates and Degrees

Hatfield PA esthetician client with face mask There are primarily two pathways 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 generally take 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 main areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are offered if you want to specialize in just one area, for example esthetics. A degree program will also most likely feature management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to manage a salon or other Hatfield PA business. Higher degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whatever type of training program you decide on, it’s imperative to make certain that it’s approved by the Pennsylvania 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 benefits of accreditation for the school you decide on in the next section.

Online Esthetician Programs

woman attending esthetician school online in Hatfield PA Online esthetician programs are accommodating for Hatfield PA students who are working full time and have family obligations that make it hard to enroll in a more traditional school. There are numerous online beauty school programs available that can be attended via a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional cosmetology schools are typically fast paced given that many programs are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a substantial portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are covering the same volume of material, but you’re not spending many hours outside of your home or travelling back and forth from classes. However, it’s important that the training program you choose can provide internship training in local salons and parlors so that you also receive the hands-on training necessary for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s impossible to obtain the skills necessary to work in any facet of the cosmetology field. So be sure if you choose to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is available in your area.

What to Ask Esthetics Degree Programs

Hatfield PA models benefit from esthetic treatments Below is a series of questions that you need to look into for any esthetician training school you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Hatfield home, in addition to the price of tuition, will probably be your primary qualifiers. Whether you wish to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Following we have compiled several of those additional 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 college you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for getting student loans or financial aid, which often are not obtainable in 19440 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of Hatfield PA employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation? Every esthetician school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating companies for reviews together with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Hatfield PA salon owners or managers, or any person working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to propose others that you had not looked into. Finally, check with the Pennsylvania school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in full compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus? Many esthetician schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you choose 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 launch a Hatfield 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 ranked school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you need.

Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Practicing and perfecting esthetician techniques and abilities demands plenty of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is provided in the cosmetology courses you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that make it possible for students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a beauty academy furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but instead depends predominantly on using mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for cultivating your skills. Therefore look for other schools that furnish this kind of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from an esthetician academy, it’s important that he or she receives support in landing that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish aid develop relationships with Hatfield 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 businesses they refer students to. Additionally, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Aid Available? Most esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are considering have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you may get approved for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students too. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not drop it as an alternative before you find out what financial aid may be available.

Attending Esthetician School Near Hatfield PA?

Perhaps you live in the Hatfield 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.

Hatfield, Pennsylvania

Hatfield is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,290 at the time of the 2010 census. It is part of the North Penn Valley region that is centered around the borough of Lansdale. The borough is surrounded by Hatfield Township.

As of the 2010 census, the borough was 66.6% White, 4.1% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 23.5% Asian, and 2.9% were two or more races. 6.8% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry [7]

As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 2,605 people, 1,106 households, and 650 families residing in the borough. The population density was 4,102.7 people per square mile (1,596.5/km2). There were 1,139 housing units at an average density of 1,793.9 per square mile (698.0/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 82.19% White, 1.77% African American, 0.31% Native American, 12.05% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.42% from other races, and 2.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.34% of the population.

Find the Right Esthetics Vocational School near Hatfield PA

Choosing and enrolling in the right esthetician college is essential to obtain the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel positive about your decision. Don’t forget 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 good start in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the college and program you select are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and answer the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the ideal choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to begin your new career as a professional esthetician in Hatfield PA.