How to Pick the Right Aesthetician Training Program Near Radnor Pennsylvania
Since you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Radnor PA, the task begins to find and enroll in the best program. It's essential that the program you select not only provides the proper education for the specialty you have chosen, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your initial search, you might be somewhat confused about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the titles are basically interchangeable and both relate to the same type of school. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Radnor residence. Tuition will also be a critical aspect when reviewing possible schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it's not automatically the right option. There are several other factors that you should weigh when comparing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding the aesthetician schools you are looking at later within this article. Before we do, let's talk a little bit about what kinds of training programs are offered.
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Esthetician Training Requirements
Esthetics school is an investment of time, energy, and money. Requirements vary from state to state, but the majority of states require that you complete at least 600 hours of training. Full-time school can take an average of six months to complete, and part-time school can take anywhere from 9-12 months. The primary purpose of esthetics school is to get you ready to pass the state licensing exam. They also teach basic skills that you will need to perfect through experience and sometimes additional classes, such as giving facials, body treatments, and performing waxing. More advanced training includes learning to work with machines, such as IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) and Lasers used to rejuvenate the skin and permanently remove hair.
Esthetician Job Description
Estheticians (or aestheticians) are skin care specialists who typically work in Radnor Pennsylvania spas and salons as well as resorts and medical facilities to provide a variety of treatments for their clients. Some of the typical duties of an esthetician include performing deep skin cleansing and treatments, hair removal, and massages. Estheticians also recommend skincare treatments, products, and regimens to their clients. Many estheticians are self-employed, which allows them to set their schedules and work where they wish. However, these professionals still often need to work evenings and weekends. These skin care specialists also spend much of their time standing and may be exposed to harmful chemicals. Certified estheticians have excellent customer service and communication skills. They're adept at time management, observation and monitoring and are competent in understanding and using the tools necessary for facial procedures and extractions. Certified estheticians are familiar with medical, spreadsheets, and word processing software. They present a professional appearance and have the physical fitness to stand for prolonged periods of time. A career in esthetics generally requires working evening and weekend hours.
Online Esthetician Courses
Online esthetician schools are advantageous for Radnor PA students who are employed full-time and have family obligations that make it challenging to enroll in a more traditional school. There are many web-based cosmetology school programs offered that can be attended via a personal computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More conventional cosmetology programs are typically fast paced because many programs are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a significant amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are covering the same volume of material, but you're not devoting many hours away from your home or travelling to and from classes. However, it's vital that the training program you select can provide internship training in area salons and parlors to ensure that you also receive the hands-on training necessary for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it's impossible to acquire the skills required to work in any facet of the cosmetology field. So make sure if you choose to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.
What to Ask Aesthetician Training Programs
Below is a series of questions that you need to look into for any esthetician training program you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Radnor residence, together with the price of tuition, will undoubtedly be your primary qualifiers. Whether you wish to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have put together several of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final selection.
Is the Esthetician Program Accredited? It's necessary to make sure that the esthetician training program you pick 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 ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not available for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous Radnor PA businesses will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Every esthetician school 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 testimonials from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating services for reviews together with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Radnor PA salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not considered. And last, check with the Pennsylvania school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are comprehensive 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 often expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you choose a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your goal is to be trained as an esthetician, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your dream is to start a Radnor PA beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator as well. Picking a highly ranked school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you require.
Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and perfecting esthetician skills and techniques requires lots of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is included in the beauty classes you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that enable students to practice their developing skills on volunteers. If a beauty academy provides little or no scheduled live training, but rather depends mainly on the use of mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for cultivating your skills. So search for other schools that furnish this kind of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from an esthetician academy, it's imperative that he or she receives aid in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer assistance develop relationships with Radnor PA businesses that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and ask which salons and establishments they refer students to. In addition, ask 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 Assistance Available? Almost all esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid department. 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 also. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not eliminate it as an alternative before you determine what financial aid may be provided.
Find Out How to Become an Esthetician in Radnor
Enroll in the Best Radnor Esthetician Course
Picking and enrolling in the right esthetician college is essential to obtain the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel certain about your decision. Be sure to consolidate all of the responses you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that data to contrast schools. A good start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the school and program you choose are accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and address the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are ready to launch your career as a professional esthetician in Radnor Pennsylvania.