How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Hazleton PA

How to Choose an Esthetician Training Program near Hazleton Pennsylvania

Hazleton PA esthetician client with cucumber facial Once you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Hazleton PA, the task begins to find and enroll in the right program. It’s essential that the school you choose not only provides the appropriate instruction for the specialty you have chosen, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your preliminary search, you may be a little bit confused about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are essentially interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. We’ll talk a bit more about that in the next segment. If you intend on commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Hazleton home. Tuition will likewise be an important consideration when reviewing prospective schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it’s not automatically the ideal choice. There are several other considerations that you should weigh when reviewing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are looking at later in this article. Before we do, let’s talk a bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of programs are offered.

Defining Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Hazleton PA Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human anatomy look more attractive through the application of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic may be almost anything that enhances the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, most states mandate that you take some type of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only Hazleton PA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have acquired experience and a clientele, establish their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing customers either in their own homes or will go to the client’s house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many professional names 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 earlier stated, in the majority of states practicing cosmetologists must be licensed. In some states there is an exception. Only those offering more skilled services, for example hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others employed in cosmetology and less skilled, such as shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.

Esthetician Certificates and Degrees

Hazleton PA esthetician client with face mask There are primarily two options available to receive esthetician training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs generally take 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 trained in all of the major areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you prefer to specialize in just one area, such as esthetics. A degree program will also probably feature management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to run a parlor or other Hazleton PA business. Higher degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such areas as salon or spa management. Whichever type of program you decide on, it’s essential to make sure that it’s recognized by the Pennsylvania Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded organizations, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the advantages of accreditation for the school you choose in the following section.

Online Esthetician Classes

woman attending esthetician school online in Hazleton PA Online esthetician schools are advantageous for Hazleton PA students who are employed full time and have family obligations that make it hard to enroll in a more traditional school. There are numerous web-based cosmetology school programs available that can be accessed by means of a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional beauty programs are often fast paced because many programs are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a substantial amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you’re not spending many hours outside of your home or driving to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s imperative that the training program you choose can provide internship training in local salons and parlors so that you also receive the hands-on training needed for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s difficult to acquire the skills required to work in any area of the cosmetology profession. So don’t forget if you decide to enroll in an online school to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.

Questions to Ask Esthetician Training Courses

Hazleton PA models benefit from esthetic treatments Following is a list of questions that you should investigate for any esthetician training program you are considering. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Hazleton home, together with the cost of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably 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 take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Following we have put together several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each school before making a final selection.

Is the School Accredited? It’s necessary to make sure that the esthetician school you select 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 assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for securing student loans or financial aid, which typically are not offered in 18201 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many Hazleton PA businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation? Each esthetician school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly regarded. Check rating companies for reviews together with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Hazleton PA salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the business, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. Finally, consult the Pennsylvania school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus? A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing 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 typically broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s essential that you choose a school that specializes in your area of interest. If your ambition is to be trained as an esthetician, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your dream is to open a Hazleton PA beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly regarded school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you require.

Is Any Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and refining esthetician skills and techniques demands lots of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is included in the beauty courses you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that allow students to practice their developing talents on volunteers. If a beauty program offers limited or no scheduled live training, but instead relies predominantly on the use of mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for cultivating your skills. So look for other schools that provide this kind of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from an esthetician academy, it’s crucial that he or she receives aid in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish aid maintain relationships with Hazleton PA businesses that are seeking trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and find out which salons and organizations they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered? Many esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid office. Speak with a counselor and learn 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 offered to students also. If a school meets each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not eliminate it as an option until you learn what financial assistance may be provided.

Attending Esthetician School Near Hazleton PA?

Perhaps you live in the Hazleton 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.

Hazleton, Pennsylvania

Hazleton is a city in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 25,340 at the 2010 census. Hazleton is the second largest city in Luzerne County and the seventeenth largest city in Pennsylvania.[3] It was incorporated as a borough on January 5, 1857, and as a city on December 4, 1891.

During the height of the American Revolution, in the summer of 1780, British sympathizers (known as Tories) began attacking the outposts of American revolutionaries located along the Susquehanna River in the Wyoming Valley. Because of reports of Tory activity in the region, Captain Daniel Klader and a platoon of 41 men from Northampton County were sent to investigate. They traveled north from the Lehigh Valley along a path known as "Warrior's Trail" (which is present-day Pennsylvania Route 93). This route connects the Lehigh River in Jim Thorpe (formerly known as Mauch Chunk) to the Susquehanna River in Berwick.

Captain Klader's men made it as far north as present-day Conyngham, when they were ambushed by Tory militiamen and members of the Seneca tribe. In all, 15 men were killed on September 11, 1780, in what is now known as the Sugarloaf Massacre.

Choose the Right Esthetics School near Hazleton PA

Picking and enrolling in the right esthetician program is imperative to receive the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel confident about your decision. Be sure to consolidate all of the information you get from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to compare schools. A sensible start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the school and program you select are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and answer the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to start your new career as a professional esthetician in Hazleton PA.