How to Pick the Best Esthetician School near Millersville Pennsylvania
Once you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Millersville PA, the process starts to locate and enroll in the ideal program. It’s important that the program you select not only provides the appropriate instruction for the specialty you have selected, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your preliminary search, you may be somewhat confused 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. We’ll speak a little bit more concerning that in the following section. If you intend on commuting to classes you will need to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Millersville residence. Tuition will also be a critical aspect when evaluating possible schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it’s not necessarily the best option. There are a number of other factors that you should weigh when comparing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask concerning the cosmetology schools you are thinking about later in this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of training programs are offered.
Definition of Cosmetology
Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human anatomy look more beautiful through the use of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic may be anything that enhances the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, most states mandate that you take some type of specialized training and then become licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only Millersville PA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gained experience and a clientele, establish their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing customers either in their own homes or will go to the client’s house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many names and are employed in a wide range of specializations including:
- Estheticians
- Hairdressers
- Hairstylists
- Beauticians
- Barbers
- Manicurists
- Nail Technicians
- Makeup Artists
- Hair Coloring Specialists
- Electrolysis Technicians
As earlier mentioned, in most states working cosmetologists have to be licensed. In some states there is an exception. Only those conducting more skilled services, for example hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others employed in cosmetology and less skilled, such as shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Esthetician Schools Near You!
Esthetician Degrees
There are essentially two pathways available to get esthetician training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs generally take 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 instructed in all of the major areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are available if you wish to specialize in just one area, such as esthetics. A degree program will also likely feature management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to manage a salon or other Millersville PA business. Higher degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such areas as salon or spa management. Whatever type of course you go with, it’s important to make certain that it’s certified by the Pennsylvania Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only certify schools that are accredited by certain reputable agencies, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the benefits of accreditation for the school you choose in the next section.
Online Esthetics Programs
Online esthetician classes are advantageous for Millersville PA students who are employed full time and have family obligations that make it challenging to enroll in a more traditional school. There are a large number of online cosmetology school programs available that can be attended through a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional beauty programs are typically fast paced because many courses are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a significant amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are covering the same volume of material, but you are not spending numerous hours outside of your home or driving back and forth from classes. However, it’s essential that the school you choose can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors to ensure that you also get the hands-on training necessary for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s impossible to gain the skills required to work in any area of the cosmetology field. So be sure if you choose to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is provided in your area.
Questions to Ask Esthetics Schools
Below is a list of questions that you will want to look into for any esthetician training school you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school relative to your Millersville residence, as well as the cost of tuition, will probably be your primary qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt 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 must research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have collected several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each school before making a final determination.
Is the Program Accredited? It’s important to make certain that the esthetician training program you select 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 assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for securing student loans or financial aid, which often are not obtainable in 17551 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many Millersville PA employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Any esthetician college that you are seriously considering 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 placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating services for reviews as well as the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Millersville PA salon owners or managers, or someone 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. Finally, check with the Pennsylvania school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for instance hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s essential that you pick a school that focuses on your area of interest. If 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 launch a Millersville PA beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly rated school with a weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you require.
Is Any Live Training Provided? Learning and mastering esthetician techniques and abilities involves lots of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the cosmetology courses you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that enable students to practice their growing talents on volunteers. If a beauty program offers limited or no scheduled live training, but instead relies predominantly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for cultivating your skills. So search for alternate schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from an esthetician academy, it’s important that he or she gets help in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer assistance develop relationships with Millersville PA employers that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and ask which salons and businesses they refer students to. Additionally, 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 respected as well.
Is Financial Aid 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 office. Consult with a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you may qualify for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students as well. If a school meets each of your other qualifications except for cost, do not discard it as an alternative before you find out what financial aid may be provided.
Accelerated Esthetics Colleges Online Millersville Pennsylvania
Finding and enrolling in the ideal esthetician school is essential to receive the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel confident about your decision. Make sure to compile all of the responses you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that information to compare schools. A good start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the institution and program you decide on are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the profession. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Accelerated Esthetics Colleges Online and wanting more information on the topic Cosmetology Schools That Offer Esthetics Degrees. However, if you begin with that base, 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 choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are qualified to begin your career as a professional esthetician in Millersville PA.
More Beauty Spots in Millersville Pennsylvania
Millersville University of Pennsylvania
Millersville University of Pennsylvania (commonly known as Millersville University, The Ville, or MU) is a public university in Millersville, Pennsylvania. It is one of the fourteen schools that comprise the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE). Founded in 1855 as the first Normal School in Pennsylvania, Millersville is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools[2] and the Pennsylvania Department of Education.[3]
First established in 1854 as the Millersville Academy out of the since-demolished Old Main,[4] the Academy specialized in a series of workshop-style teacher institutes in response to the 1834 Free School Act of Pennsylvania.[5]
Millersville University was established in 1855 as the Lancaster County Normal School, the first state normal school in Pennsylvania. It subsequently changed its name to Millersville State Normal School in 1859 and Millersville later became a state teachers college in 1927. It was renamed Millersville State College in 1959 and officially became Millersville University of Pennsylvania in 1983.
Business Results 1 - 10 of 123
11 Reviews 
2 Reviews 
7 Reviews 
2 Reviews 
4 Reviews 
11 Reviews 
5 Reviews 
6 Reviews 
12 Reviews 
1 Reviews 