How to Select the Right Aesthetician Program Near Bethlehem Pennsylvania
Once you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Bethlehem PA, the task starts to find and enroll in the ideal program. It's imperative that the school you select not only provides the proper training for the specialty you have decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your initial search, you may be rather puzzled about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the titles are basically interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Bethlehem home. Tuition will also be a critical consideration when evaluating prospective schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it's not necessarily the right choice. There are several other qualifications that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask about the aesthetician schools you are considering later in this article. Before we do, let's discuss a bit about what kinds of programs are offered.
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Esthetics Degrees
There are primarily two pathways offered to get 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 normally call for 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 each of the main areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are offered if you want to specialize in just one area, for example esthetics. A degree program will also most likely incorporate management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to operate a parlor or other Bethlehem PA business. Higher degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master's degree programs are available in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whatever type of training program you opt for, it's essential to make certain that it's certified by the Pennsylvania Board of Cosmetology. Many states only approve schools that are accredited by certain reputable organizations, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the benefits of accreditation for the school you choose in the following section.
Online Esthetics Training
Online esthetician schools are advantageous for Bethlehem PA students who are employed full-time and have family commitments that make it difficult to enroll in a more traditional school. There are many online cosmetology school programs offered that can be attended by means of a desktop computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More conventional cosmetology schools are often fast paced given that many courses are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a significant amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are dealing with the same volume of material, but you're not devoting numerous hours away from your home or commuting to and from classes. However, it's vital that the program you select can provide internship training in area salons and parlors so that you also obtain the hands-on training required for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it's impossible to acquire 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 available in your area.
What to Ask Esthetics Training Courses
Following is a list of questions that you need to research for any esthetician training school you are contemplating. As we have already covered, the location of the school in relation to your Bethlehem residence, in addition to the price of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you want to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have collected several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each school before making a final decision.
Is the Esthetician Program Accredited? It's necessary to make certain that the esthetician college 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). 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 for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of Bethlehem PA employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Every esthetician school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly sought after. Check rating companies for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Bethlehem PA salon owners or managers, or any person working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. And finally, check with 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? Many esthetician schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating 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 important that you choose a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your objective 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 start a Bethlehem PA beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator as well. Selecting a highly regarded school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you require.
Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and refining esthetician skills and techniques requires lots of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is included in the cosmetology classes you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that allow students to practice their growing talents on volunteers. If a beauty program furnishes limited or no scheduled live training, but rather relies predominantly on the use of mannequins, it may not be the most effective option for developing your skills. Therefore search for other schools that offer this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from an esthetician academy, it's imperative that he or she gets assistance in landing that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide aid develop relationships with Bethlehem PA employers that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which salons and organizations they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only affirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Aid Offered? Most esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are considering have a financial aid office. Speak with a counselor and find out 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 fulfills all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not drop it as an option until you determine what financial help may be provided.
Find Out How to Become an Esthetician in Bethlehem
Enroll in the Best Bethlehem Esthetician Training
Picking and enrolling in the right esthetician school is imperative to get the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel confident about your decision. Make sure to compile all of the information you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to contrast schools. A sensible start in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the school and program you select are accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and answer the additional questions supplied in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the right selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are qualified to begin your new career as a professional esthetician in Bethlehem Pennsylvania.
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