How to Choose the Best Esthetician School Near Scranton Pennsylvania
Once you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Scranton PA, the process starts to search for and enroll in the right program. It's imperative that the school you select not only provides the appropriate instruction for the specialty you have decided on, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your initial search, you may be a little bit unclear about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don't be, because the titles are basically interchangeable and both refer to the same kind of school. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Scranton residence. Tuition will also be an important factor when evaluating potential schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it's not always the best choice. There are several other qualifications that you should evaluate when comparing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask about the aesthetician schools you are thinking about later in this article. Before we do, let's discuss a little bit about what types of training programs are offered.
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Esthetics Certificates and Degrees
There are primarily two avenues offered to obtain esthetician training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can pursue an Associate's degree. Certificate programs normally require 12 to 18 months to complete, 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 wish to focus on just one area, such as esthetics. A degree program will also most likely incorporate management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to run a salon or other Scranton PA business. More advanced degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master's degree programs are offered in such areas as salon or spa management. Whatever type of course you go with, it's important to make sure that it's approved by the Pennsylvania Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain respected organizations, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the benefits of accreditation for the school you decide on in the following segment.
Online Esthetics Schools
Online esthetician programs are convenient for Scranton PA students who are working full-time and have family obligations that make it hard to attend a more traditional school. There are many online beauty school programs available that can be attended through a personal computer or laptop at the student's convenience. More traditional cosmetology programs are typically fast paced given that many courses are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a large portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are covering the same volume of material, but you're not spending many hours outside of your home or driving to and from classes. However, it's imperative that the school you choose can provide internship training in area salons and parlors to ensure that you also obtain the hands-on training necessary for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it's difficult to acquire the skills needed to work in any facet of the cosmetology profession. So don't forget if you choose to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.
What to Ask Esthetics Training Programs
Following is a list of questions that you will want to look into for any esthetician training program you are contemplating. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Scranton residence, in addition to the expense of tuition, will most likely be your first qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue 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 additional factors that you need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have compiled several of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final determination.
Is the Esthetician Program Accredited? It's necessary to make sure that the esthetician school you select is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for getting student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not available for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of Scranton PA employers 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 college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating services for reviews along with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Scranton PA salon owners or managers, or someone working in the industry, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to propose others that you had not looked into. Finally, contact the Pennsylvania school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in total 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, offering training in a specific specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs commonly expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative 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 well regarded for that program. If your aspiration is to start a Scranton PA beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator as well. Picking a highly ranked school with a weak program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you require.
Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and refining esthetician skills and techniques involves plenty of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is included in the beauty courses you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that allow students to practice their developing talents on volunteers. If a beauty school furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but instead relies predominantly on the use of mannequins, it may not be the most effective alternative for cultivating your skills. So try to find alternate schools that provide this kind of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from an esthetician program, it's important that he or she gets help in finding that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer help maintain relationships with Scranton PA employers that are seeking qualified graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and ask which salons and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Assistance Offered? Many esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you may qualify for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students as well. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not eliminate it as an alternative before you determine what financial assistance may be offered.
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Enroll in the Right Scranton Esthetician Training
Selecting and enrolling in the ideal esthetician college is essential to receive the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel confident about your decision. Make certain to collect all of the information you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that information to compare schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the college and program you choose are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the field. If you start with that base, and answer the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the proper selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to begin your career as a professional esthetician in Scranton Pennsylvania.
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