How to Pick the Right Esthetician College near Reading Pennsylvania
Since you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Reading PA, the process begins to locate and enroll in the right program. It’s imperative that the program you pick not only provides the necessary instruction for the specialty you have decided on, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your preliminary search, you may be somewhat puzzled about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. We’ll speak a bit further regarding that in the next section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Reading residence. Tuition will also be an important factor when evaluating possible schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it’s not automatically the right option. There are several other qualifications that you should evaluate when comparing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask about the cosmetology schools you are thinking about later within this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of programs are available.
Definition of Cosmetology
Cosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human anatomy look more beautiful through the application of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic may be almost anything that enhances the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, the majority of states require that you take some form of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Reading PA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have acquired experience and a customer base, open their own shops or salons. Others will begin seeing customers either in their own homes or will travel to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many titles and are employed in a wide variety of specializations including:
- Estheticians
- Hairdressers
- Hairstylists
- Beauticians
- Barbers
- Manicurists
- Nail Technicians
- Makeup Artists
- Hair Coloring Specialists
- Electrolysis Technicians
As formerly mentioned, in most states practicing cosmetologists must be licensed. In a few 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 be licensed in those states.
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Esthetics Certificates and Degrees
There are essentially two avenues offered to obtain esthetician training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs normally require 12 to 18 months to finish, while an Associate’s degree ordinarily takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be trained in all of the main areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are available if you want to focus on just one area, for instance esthetics. A degree program will also likely feature management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to operate a parlor or other Reading PA business. Higher degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whatever type of course you opt for, it’s important to make sure that it’s certified by the Pennsylvania Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded organizations, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the benefits of accreditation for the school you decide on in the next segment.
Online Esthetics Schools
Online esthetician classes are accommodating for Reading PA students who are employed full time and have family commitments that make it challenging to enroll in a more traditional school. There are numerous online cosmetology school programs available that can be accessed through a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional cosmetology schools are typically fast paced since many programs are as brief as six or eight 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 spending numerous hours away from your home or commuting back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it’s vital that the school you select can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors so that you also get the hands-on training needed for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s impossible to gain the skills required to work in any facet of the cosmetology field. So don’t forget if you choose to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is available in your area.
What to Ask Esthetics Degree Programs
Following is a list of questions that you will want to research for any esthetician training school you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Reading residence, as well as the price of tuition, will probably be your initial qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced 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. Below we have put together several of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final determination.
Is the School Accredited? It’s essential to make sure that the esthetician training program you enroll in is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified local or national organization, 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 getting student loans or financial aid, which often are not obtainable in 19601 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 Reading PA employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Each esthetician institute that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating services for reviews together with the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Reading PA salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the field, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. And finally, contact the Pennsylvania school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Some esthetician schools offer programs that are expansive 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 typically expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s essential that you decide on a school that specializes in your area of interest. If 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 Reading PA beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly ranked school with a weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you require.
Is Any Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and mastering esthetician skills and techniques demands plenty of practice on people. Ask 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 make it possible for students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a beauty academy furnishes limited or no scheduled live training, but rather relies heavily on using mannequins, it might not be the best option for acquiring your skills. Therefore look for alternate schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from an esthetician school, it’s essential that she or he receives aid in finding that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide assistance develop relationships with Reading PA employers that are seeking skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which salons and establishments they refer students to. Additionally, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Offered? Most esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Consult with 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 too. If a school meets all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not omit it as an option before you find out what financial assistance may be available.
Accredited Esthetician Training Reading Pennsylvania
Locating and enrolling in the right esthetician program is essential to receive the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel confident about your decision. Be sure to consolidate all of the information you get from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that data to contrast schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the academy and program you select are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the profession. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Accredited Esthetician Training and wanting more information on the topic Accelerated Esthetics Classes Online. However, if you begin with that base, and address the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are prepared to launch your new career as a professional esthetician in Reading PA.
More Beauty Spots in Reading Pennsylvania
Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading (/ˈrɛdɪŋ/ RED-ing; Pennsylvania German: Reddin) is a city in and the county seat of Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. With a population of 87,575, it is the fifth-largest city in Pennsylvania.[8][9][10] Located in the southeastern part of the state, it is the principal city of the Greater Reading Area, and is furthermore included in the Philadelphia-Reading-Camden PA-NJ-DE-MD Combined Statistical Area.
The city, which is approximately halfway between the state's most populous city, Philadelphia, and the state capital, Harrisburg (as well as about halfway between Allentown and Lancaster) is strategically situated along a major transportation route from Central to Eastern Pennsylvania, and lent its name to the now-defunct Reading Railroad, which transported anthracite coal from the Pennsylvania Coal Region to the eastern United States via the Port of Philadelphia. Reading Railroad is one of the four railroad properties in the classic United States version of the Monopoly board game.
Reading was one of the first localities where outlet shopping became a tourist industry. It has been known as "The Pretzel City", because of numerous local pretzel bakeries. Currently, Bachman, Dieffenbach, Tom Sturgis, and Unique Pretzel bakeries call the Reading area home.
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