How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Irvine PA

How to Pick an Esthetics Training Program near Irvine Pennsylvania

Irvine PA esthetician client with cucumber facial Now that you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Irvine PA, the process starts to search for and enroll in the ideal program. It’s essential that the program you pick not only provides the appropriate 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 somewhat puzzled about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. We’ll speak a bit further concerning that in the next segment. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Irvine home. Tuition will likewise be an important consideration when assessing possible schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it’s not necessarily the right option. There are many other factors that you should evaluate when comparing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask concerning the cosmetology schools you are thinking about later within this article. Before we do, let’s talk a bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of programs are offered.

What is Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Irvine PA Cosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human body look more beautiful with the use of cosmetics. So naturally 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 basically a cosmetic can be anything that enhances the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states require that you undergo some type of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work environments include not only Irvine PA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gotten experience and a clientele, launch their own shops or salons. Others will start seeing clients either in their own homes or will go to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many 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 already mentioned, in most states working cosmetologists must be licensed. In a few states there is an exception. Only those offering more skilled services, for instance hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others working in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.

Esthetics Degrees

Irvine PA esthetician client with face mask There are essentially two avenues available to obtain esthetician training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs typically take 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 concentrate on just one area, such as esthetics. A degree program will also likely feature management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to manage a parlor or other Irvine PA business. Higher degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such areas as salon or spa management. Whatever type of course you go with, it’s imperative to make sure that it’s recognized by the Pennsylvania Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only approve schools that are accredited by certain respected agencies, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the advantages of accreditation for the school you choose in the following segment.

Online Esthetician Programs

woman attending esthetician school online in Irvine PA Online esthetician programs are convenient for Irvine PA students who are employed full time and have family commitments that make it hard to attend a more traditional school. There are numerous online beauty school programs available that can be accessed via a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional beauty programs are frequently fast paced due to the fact that many courses are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a considerable portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are covering the same volume of material, but you’re not spending numerous hours outside of your home or travelling back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it’s essential that the school you select can provide internship training in area salons and parlors to ensure that you also receive the hands-on training required for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s impossible to gain the skills required to work in any facet of the cosmetology field. So be sure if you decide to enroll in an online school to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.

Questions to Ask Esthetics Degree Programs

Irvine PA models benefit from esthetic treatments Following is a list of questions that you should investigate for any esthetician training school you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school in relation to your Irvine home, in addition to the price of tuition, will probably be your primary qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably 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 need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have put together several of those supplemental questions that you should ask every school before making a final decision.

Is the School Accredited? It’s essential to make certain that the esthetician training program 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 measure up to their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which typically are not offered in 16329 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 Irvine PA employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Each esthetician institute that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating companies for reviews in addition to the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Irvine PA salon owners or managers, or any person working in the business, ask them if they are acquainted 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 see if there have been any complaints 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 facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, for instance hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs often broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you decide on a school that specializes in your area of interest. If your intention is to be trained as an esthetician, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your aspiration is to launch a Irvine PA beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly ranked school with a weak program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you need.

Is Any Live Training Provided? Learning and perfecting 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. A number of schools have salons on campus that enable students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a beauty program provides little or no scheduled live training, but instead relies mainly on the use of mannequins, it might not be the most effective option for cultivating your skills. Therefore look for alternate schools that furnish this kind of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from an esthetician program, it’s imperative that she or he gets aid in finding that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide assistance maintain relationships with Irvine PA employers that are searching for qualified graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and ask which salons and organizations they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Assistance Available? Most esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you may qualify 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 satisfies each of your other qualifications except for cost, do not omit it as an alternative until you learn what financial aid may be offered.

Attending Esthetician School Near Irvine PA?

Perhaps you live in the Irvine 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.

Brokenstraw Township, Warren County, Pennsylvania

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 38.8 square miles (100 km2), of which 38.6 square miles (100 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) (0.41%) is water.

In 1797, 22-year-old Callender Irvine, the United States Army's Commissary General, and son of General William Irvine, settled in Brokenstraw Township. He "reported that there were more Indians in the area then than whites."

Callender built a "stately white mansion ... on the banks of the Allegheny in 1822," overlooking Crull's Island.[4] "Callender Irvine's brother, Dr. John W. Irvine shared in the management of the [general] store, along with Robinson R. Moore, until 1820, after which he practiced medicine in Brokenstraw."[5]

Enroll in the Right Esthetician Training Program near Irvine PA

Selecting and enrolling in the right esthetician program is essential to get the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel certain about your decision. Be sure to consolidate all of the information you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that information to compare schools. A good start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the school and program you pick are accredited and have impressive reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and answer the additional questions supplied in this post, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are ready to begin your career as a professional esthetician in Irvine PA.