How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools North East PA

How to Enroll In an Esthetician Training Program near North East Pennsylvania

North East PA esthetician client with cucumber facial Since you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near North East PA, the task begins to locate and enroll in the right program. It’s imperative that the school you pick not only furnishes the proper education for the specialty you have chosen, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your initial search, you might be somewhat unclear about the difference 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 discuss a little bit more regarding that in the upcoming section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your North East home. Tuition will likewise be a critical consideration when assessing potential schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it’s not automatically the best option. There are a number of other factors that you should evaluate when comparing 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 talk a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of training programs are offered.

Defining Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners North East PA Cosmetology is a profession 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 referred to as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic may be almost anything that improves the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, the majority of 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 North East PA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gained experience and a customer base, open their own shops or salons. Others will begin servicing clients either in their own homes or will travel to the client’s house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many titles and work in a wide variety of specialties including:

Estheticians
Hairdressers
Hairstylists
Beauticians
Barbers
Manicurists
Nail Technicians
Makeup Artists
Hair Coloring Specialists
Electrolysis Technicians

As earlier mentioned, in the majority of states practicing cosmetologists must be licensed. In certain states there is an exemption. Only those performing more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others working in cosmetology and less skilled, such as shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.

Esthetics Degrees and Certificates

North East PA esthetician client with face mask There are essentially two pathways offered to obtain 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 call for 12 to 18 months to complete, while an Associate’s degree commonly takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be instructed in all of the main areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are offered if you prefer to focus on just one area, for instance esthetics. A degree program will also probably include management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to manage a parlor or other North East 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 course you decide on, it’s imperative to make sure that it’s approved by the Pennsylvania Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only approve schools that are accredited by certain reputable organizations, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the advantages of accreditation for the school you choose in the upcoming segment.

Online Esthetician Training

woman attending esthetician school online in North East PA Online esthetician programs are convenient for North East PA students who are working full-time and have family responsibilities that make it difficult to attend a more traditional school. There are numerous web-based cosmetology school programs offered that can be accessed through a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional beauty programs are often fast paced due to the fact that many programs are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a substantial portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you are not devoting numerous hours outside of your home or travelling back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it’s vital that the school you choose can provide internship training in local salons and parlors in order that you also receive the hands-on training required for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s difficult to obtain the skills necessary to work in any facet of the cosmetology profession. So be sure if you decide to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is provided in your area.

What to Ask Esthetics Training Programs

North East PA models benefit from esthetic treatments Below is a list of questions that you should look into for any esthetician training school you are contemplating. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your North East residence, together with the expense of tuition, will undoubtedly be your initial qualifiers. Whether you wish to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Following we have collected some of those supplemental questions that you should ask each school before making a final determination.

Is the School Accredited? It’s essential to make certain that the esthetician school 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for securing student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not obtainable in 16428 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous North East PA employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Great Reputation? Any esthetician institute that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good beginning. 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 regarded. Check rating services for reviews together with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with North East PA salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the industry, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to propose others that you had not looked into. And last, contact the Pennsylvania school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in total compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty? Some esthetician schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for instance hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s imperative that you pick 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 vision is to start a North East PA beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly ranked school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you need.

Is Enough Live Training Provided? Learning and refining esthetician skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on people. 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 enable students to practice their developing talents on volunteers. If a beauty school provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead depends mainly on using mannequins, it might not be the best option for developing your skills. Therefore look for other schools that offer this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from an esthetician program, it’s imperative that she or he gets help in finding that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer help develop relationships with North East PA businesses that are searching for skilled graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and find out which salons and businesses they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered? Many esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you might qualify 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 all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not eliminate it as an alternative until you determine what financial assistance may be provided.

Attending Esthetician School Near North East PA?

Perhaps you live in the North East 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.

North East, Pennsylvania

North East is a borough in Erie County, Pennsylvania, United States, 14 miles (23 km) northeast of Erie in the northernmost part of the state; so named because it was in the county's northeastern corner. Fruit growing was an early economic endeavor, and is still to this day, as this is a popular area especially for cherries and grapes. There is an annual Cherry Festival in the summer and an annual Wine Country Harvest Festival in the fall. It contains one junior college, Mercyhurst North East. The population was 4,294 at the 2010 census,[4] down from 4,601 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Erie Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is the northernmost town in Pennsylvania. The name "North East" is not a misnomer, even though the borough is located in extreme northwestern Pennsylvania, it received it name for its northeastern-most location within Erie County.

As part of the Erie Triangle, it was only in 1792 that the locale was legally established as part of Pennsylvania. However, North East did not receive its first settler until 1794, still several years before the county (Erie) and township (North East) were organized. Originally the North East Township was called "Lower Greenfield" being downstream from Greenfield Township. The first road was built in 1797 from present day Freeport at the mouth of Sixteenmile Creek to present day Colt Station now in Greenfield Township. That road was extended in 1798 to where French Creek forks (present day Wattsburg).[6] In 1798 the first school was formed.[5][7] In 1800 a road from the village of North East to Wattsburg was opened, it paralleled, but ran east of, the first one from Freeport.[8] In 1801 the first church was organized, it was Presbyterian.[7]

North East is located in northeastern Erie County at 42°12′48″N 79°50′1″W / 42.21333°N 79.83361°W / 42.21333; -79.83361 (42.213385, -79.833711).[11] It is surrounded by North East Township.

Pick the Right Esthetics School near North East PA

Finding and enrolling in the ideal esthetician college is important to receive the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel positive about your decision. Make certain to consolidate all of the responses you get from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that information to compare schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the institution and program you choose are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. 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 proper choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to launch your career as a professional esthetician in North East PA.