How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Springtown PA

How to Choose an Esthetician Training Program near Springtown Pennsylvania

Springtown PA esthetician client with cucumber facial Once you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Springtown PA, the process begins to search for and enroll in the best program. It’s important that the program you select not only furnishes 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 may be rather puzzled about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both refer to the same kind of school. We’ll talk a bit more about that in the following section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Springtown residence. Tuition will additionally be a critical consideration when assessing possible schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it’s not always the ideal choice. There are various other qualifications that you should evaluate when comparing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask concerning the cosmetology schools you are considering later in this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of training programs are offered.

Defining Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Springtown PA Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human anatomy look more attractive with the application of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but really a cosmetic can be almost anything that improves the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, most states mandate that you go through some form of specialized training and then become licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only Springtown PA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have gained experience and a client base, open their own shops or salons. Others will begin seeing clients either in their own homes or will go to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many names 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 formerly mentioned, in most states practicing cosmetologists must be licensed. In a few states there is an exemption. Only those conducting more skilled services, for instance 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.

Esthetician Degrees

Springtown PA esthetician client with face mask There are basically two avenues available to obtain esthetician training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs typically require 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 major areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are offered if you prefer to concentrate on just one area, for instance esthetics. A degree program will also probably include management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to manage a salon or other Springtown PA business. Higher degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such areas as salon or spa management. Whichever type of training program you decide on, it’s essential to make certain that it’s recognized by the Pennsylvania Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain respected agencies, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the benefits of accreditation for the school you decide on in the upcoming section.

Online Esthetics Schools

woman attending esthetician school online in Springtown PA Online esthetician schools are accommodating for Springtown PA students who are working full-time and have family responsibilities that make it challenging to enroll in a more traditional school. There are many web-based beauty school programs available that can be attended via a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional beauty schools are typically fast paced because many programs are as short as six or eight months. This means that a significant amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are covering the same amount of material, but you are not devoting many hours away from your home or commuting back and forth from classes. However, it’s important that the training program you pick can provide internship training in local salons and parlors to ensure that you also get the hands-on training required for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s difficult to obtain the skills needed to work in any area of the cosmetology field. So don’t forget if you choose to enroll in an online school to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.

What to Ask Esthetician Programs

Springtown PA models benefit from esthetic treatments Below is a list of questions that you need to look into for any esthetician training school you are contemplating. As we have already covered, the location of the school in relation to your Springtown home, in addition to the cost of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first 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 preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have put together some of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final selection.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s essential to make certain that the esthetician college you select is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified local or national organization, 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 necessary for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which often are not offered in 18081 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many Springtown PA employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation? Every esthetician school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly regarded. Check rating companies for reviews together with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Springtown PA salon owners or managers, or any person working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. And last, contact the Pennsylvania school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in full compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus? Some esthetician schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s imperative that you enroll in a school that focuses on 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 start a Springtown PA beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly regarded school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you require.

Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Studying and perfecting esthetician skills and techniques requires lots of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is included in the cosmetology classes you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that enable students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a beauty school furnishes minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead relies predominantly on the use of mannequins, it might not be the best option for acquiring your skills. So look for alternate schools that furnish this type of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from an esthetician program, it’s essential that he or she gets help in securing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide help develop relationships with Springtown PA employers that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and ask which salons and organizations they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Assistance Offered? The majority of esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and identify 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 as well. If a school meets all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not drop it as an alternative before you determine what financial aid may be offered.

Attending Esthetician School Near Springtown PA?

Perhaps you live in the Springtown 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.

Pennsylvania Route 212

Pennsylvania Route 212 (PA 212) is a 14.9-mile-long (24.0 km) state highway in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The route runs from PA 313 in Quakertown northeast to PA 611 in Durham Township, just south of the borough of Riegelsville. The route, which is a two-lane undivided road its entire length, passes through rural areas of northern Bucks County, serving Richlandtown and Springtown. PA 212 has a concurrency with PA 412 through the Springtown area.

The westernmost part of PA 212 between Quakertown and Richlandtown was part of the Richland Turnpike or Plank Road Company, a company established in 1854 to build a turnpike connecting present-day PA 313 and PA 412. PA 212 was first designated by 1927 to run from U.S. Route 309 (US 309, now PA 309) and PA 312 (now PA 663) in Quakertown northeast to US 611 (now PA 611) in Riegelsville. The easternmost part of PA 212 was completed by 1940. PA 313 was designated concurrent with PA 212 on Broad Street in Quakertown by the 1970s. By the 1990s, the west end of PA 212 was cut back to its current location, removing the concurrency with PA 313.

PA 212 begins at an intersection with PA 313 in the borough of Quakertown in Bucks County, heading north on two-lane undivided Hellertown Avenue. The road passes through residential areas, curving east and becoming Tohickon Avenue. The route leaves Quakertown for Richland Township and heads northeast, crossing Tohickon Creek and becoming Richlandtown Pike. PA 212 is lined with homes as it passes through rural areas, crossing into the borough of Richlandtown. Here, the name of the road becomes Main Street and runs past more residences. The route turns northeast onto Church Road and heads back into Richland Township, where it heads north into farmland and woodland with some homes. PA 212 curves northeast and winds north into forested areas, entering Springfield Township. Here, the route becomes an unnamed road and turns northeast into agricultural areas with some woods and homes. The road passes through the community of Pleasant Valley as it continues north through more rural areas. PA 212 reaches an intersection with PA 412, at which point that route joins PA 212 in a concurrency.[2][3]

Pick the Right Esthetician Vocational School near Springtown PA

Finding and enrolling in the ideal esthetician school is imperative to get the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel confident about your decision. Don’t forget to organize all of the information you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that information to contrast schools. A good start in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the school and program you pick are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. If you start with that base, and address the additional questions supplied in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the right selection. And when 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 Springtown PA.