How to Find the Right Aesthetician College Near Bethlehem Pennsylvania
Once you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Bethlehem PA, the task begins to search for and enroll in the right program. It's imperative that the program you pick not only provides the necessary education for the specialty you have selected, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. 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 kind of school. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Bethlehem residence. Tuition will also be a critical factor when evaluating possible schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it's not always the ideal choice. There are many other qualifications that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask regarding the aesthetician schools you are thinking about later within this article. Before we do, let's talk a bit about what kinds of programs are available.
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Esthetician Degrees and Certificates
There are primarily two avenues offered to obtain esthetician training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can pursue an Associate's degree. Certificate programs generally call for 12 to 18 months to complete, while an Associate's degree ordinarily takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be instructed in all of the main areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are available if you wish to focus on just one area, for instance esthetics. A degree program will also probably include management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to manage a parlor or other Bethlehem PA business. Higher degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master's degree programs are offered in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whichever type of course you choose, it's important 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 reputable organizations, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the benefits of accreditation for the school you decide on in the upcoming section.
Online Esthetician Courses
Online esthetician classes are advantageous for Bethlehem PA students who are employed full time and have family responsibilities that make it challenging to enroll in a more traditional school. There are numerous web-based cosmetology school programs offered that can be accessed by means of a personal computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More conventional beauty programs are typically fast paced due to the fact that many programs are as short as six or eight months. This means that a large amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are covering the same volume of material, but you're not devoting many hours away from your home or travelling back and forth from classes. However, it's vital that the program you select can provide internship training in local salons and parlors to ensure that you also obtain the hands-on training needed for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it's difficult to gain the skills required to work in any area of the cosmetology industry. So make sure if you decide to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.
Questions to Ask Esthetician Programs
Following is a list of questions that you should look into for any esthetician training school you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Bethlehem home, together with the expense of tuition, will most likely be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like 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 even more factors that you should research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Following we have compiled several of those supplemental questions that you should ask every school before making a final decision.
Is the Esthetician Program Accredited? It's important to make certain that the esthetician school you choose 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 meet their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which often are not offered for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous Bethlehem PA businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Every esthetician institute 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 referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly demanded. Check rating companies for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Bethlehem PA salon owners or managers, or any person working in the field, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. And finally, consult 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? Many esthetician schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs commonly expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you choose a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your objective is to be trained as an esthetician, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your vision is to start a Bethlehem PA beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator as well. Choosing a highly ranked school with a weak program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you require.
Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and perfecting esthetician techniques and abilities requires plenty of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the beauty 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 offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather relies predominantly on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the most effective option for acquiring your skills. So look for other schools that offer this kind of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from an esthetician program, it's essential that he or she receives assistance in securing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer assistance develop relationships with Bethlehem PA businesses that are searching for skilled graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and inquire which salons and establishments they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Available? The majority of esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are considering have a financial aid department. Talk to a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you may get approved for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students too. If a school meets each of your other qualifications except for cost, do not eliminate it as an option until you learn what financial aid may be offered.
Learn How to Become an Aesthetician in Bethlehem
Enroll in the Best Bethlehem Esthetician Training
Picking and enrolling in the ideal esthetician program is imperative to obtain the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel positive about your decision. Be sure to consolidate all of the information you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to contrast schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the school and program you pick are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you begin with that foundation, and address the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are qualified to begin your career as a professional esthetician in Bethlehem Pennsylvania.
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