How to Select the Right Esthetician Training Program Near Lower Merion Pennsylvania
Once you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Lower Merion PA, the process starts to find and enroll in the best program. It's essential that the program you choose not only provides the necessary training for the specialty you have selected, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you may be rather puzzled about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both refer to the same kind of school. If you intend on commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Lower Merion home. Tuition will also be an important factor when reviewing potential schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it's not necessarily the ideal option. There are several other qualifications that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask about the aesthetician schools you are thinking about later in this article. Before we do, let's talk a little bit about what types of courses are available.
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Esthetics Training Programs
An esthetics program may be found in a school of cosmetology, a dedicated esthetics school or, in some cases, a junior college. An esthetics program’s length is generally determined by the state in which it is located, as each state board of cosmetology sets minimum requirements for the number of hours of training an esthetics program must provide to meet the state’s licensing requirements. However, it is also quite common for esthetics programs to offer more extensive study beyond what is required for licensing purposes. In general, an esthetics program consists of about 600 hours, a common requirement in many states. However, a number of states require less than 600 hours and perhaps just as many require more than 600. Most state boards of cosmetology maintain lists of approved programs of esthetics within the state, while others recognize all programs that meet the state’s minimum clock-hour requirement. A comprehensive esthetics program includes instruction not only in esthetic treatment procedures and services, but in areas such as the structure of the skin and its function, disorders of the skin, and professional business skills.
Esthetician Job Description
An esthetician is a professional skin specialist who identifies cosmetic issues (such as wrinkles, pigmentation, or blemishes) and applies treatments to improve their condition. Most estheticians perform skin treatments like facials, superficial chemical peels, body treatments, skin conditioning, and blemish extraction, but they may also do waxing, lash extensions, and makeovers. Estheticians, unlike licensed cosmetologists, are also able to provide advanced treatments like microdermabrasion, chemical peels, light therapy, and hair removal. They may also educate clients on products, skincare regimens, and the benefits of esthetic procedures. Medical estheticians in clinical settings may help people identify and recover from health issues affecting the skin, such as working with cancer patients or burn victims after surgical procedures. Typically an esthetician works with a client in a spa or salon setting. Some estheticians work in a medical setting to complement medical services, such as in a dermatologist’s office, but they are not medical professionals. Estheticians may also work in locations as varied as Lower Merion Pennsylvania nursing facilities, luxury resorts, dermatologist offices or hospitals.
Online Esthetics Schools
Online esthetician classes are advantageous for Lower Merion PA students who are working full time and have family responsibilities that make it challenging to attend a more traditional school. There are numerous web-based cosmetology school programs available that can be accessed through a desktop computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More conventional cosmetology programs are frequently fast paced since many programs are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a significant portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are dealing with the same volume of material, but you're not devoting numerous hours away from your home or travelling to and from classes. On the other hand, it's vital that the program you pick can provide internship training in area salons and parlors so that you also receive the hands-on training needed for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it's difficult to obtain the skills required to work in any area of the cosmetology industry. So don't forget if you decide to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is provided in your area.
What to Ask Esthetician Programs
Below is a list of questions that you need to research for any esthetician training program you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Lower Merion home, together with the price of tuition, will probably be your initial qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you should research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have put together some of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final decision.
Is the Esthetician Program Accredited? It's necessary to make sure 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which often are not available for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of Lower Merion PA businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Each esthetician institute that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly regarded. Check rating companies for reviews as well as the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Lower Merion PA salon owners or managers, or someone working in the industry, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to propose others that you had not considered. And finally, contact the Pennsylvania school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Some esthetician schools offer programs that are broad 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 commonly broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you choose a school that specializes in your area of interest. Since 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 open a Lower Merion PA beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator as well. Picking a highly rated school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you need.
Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and perfecting esthetician skills and techniques demands lots of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the beauty lessons you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that enable students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a beauty academy offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather depends predominantly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the most effective option for acquiring your skills. Therefore look for other schools that furnish this kind of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from an esthetician program, it's important that he or she gets aid in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide help develop relationships with Lower Merion PA businesses 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 businesses they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Aid Available? Many esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are investigating 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 available to students also. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not drop it as an alternative until you learn what financial assistance may be available.
Learn How to Become an Aesthetician in Lower Merion
Enroll in the Best Lower Merion Esthetician Training
Picking and enrolling in the right esthetician school is imperative to obtain 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. Make certain to compile all of the information you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to contrast schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the school and program you decide on are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. If you start with that foundation, and answer the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are ready to launch your new career as a professional esthetician in Lower Merion Pennsylvania.
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