How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Montclair NJ

How to Pick an Esthetician Program near Montclair New Jersey

Montclair NJ esthetician client with cucumber facial Since you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Montclair NJ, the process begins to find and enroll in the right program. It’s important that the program you pick not only provides the proper instruction for the specialty you have chosen, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your initial search, you may be rather confused about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind of school. We’ll speak a little bit further about that in the next section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Montclair home. Tuition will also be a critical factor when evaluating prospective schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it’s not always the best choice. There are various other considerations that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask about 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 available.

Definition of Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Montclair NJ Cosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human body look more attractive with the application of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are referred to as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic can be anything that improves the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, most states require that you take some form of specialized training and then become licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only Montclair NJ beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have acquired experience and a client base, open their own shops or salons. Others will begin servicing customers either in their own residences or will go to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by many names and are employed in a wide variety of specialties including:

Estheticians
Hairdressers
Hairstylists
Beauticians
Barbers
Manicurists
Nail Technicians
Makeup Artists
Hair Coloring Specialists
Electrolysis Technicians

As already mentioned, in most states practicing cosmetologists must be licensed. In certain states there is an exemption. Only those conducting more skilled services, for instance hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people employed in cosmetology and less skilled, such as shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.

Esthetician Degrees

Montclair NJ esthetician client with face mask There are primarily two avenues offered to receive esthetician training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs usually take 12 to 18 months to finish, while an Associate’s degree commonly takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be trained in all of the major areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you wish to specialize in just one area, for example esthetics. A degree program will also likely include management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to manage a parlor or other Montclair NJ business. Higher degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whatever type of program you decide on, it’s essential to make sure that it’s certified by the New Jersey Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only certify schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded agencies, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the benefits of accreditation for the school you decide on in the next section.

Online Esthetics Schools

woman attending esthetician school online in Montclair NJ Online esthetician classes are advantageous for Montclair NJ students who are working full time and have family responsibilities that make it hard to enroll in a more traditional school. There are many online cosmetology school programs offered that can be attended through a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional cosmetology schools are frequently fast paced because many courses are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a considerable amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are covering the same amount of material, but you are not devoting numerous hours away from your home or driving back and forth from classes. However, it’s important that the school you choose 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 difficult to gain the skills needed to work in any area of the cosmetology industry. 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 Esthetics Training Courses

Montclair NJ models benefit from esthetic treatments Below is a series of questions that you will want to investigate for any esthetician training school you are considering. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Montclair home, together with the price of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like 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 preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have put together several of those supplemental questions that you should ask each school before making a final decision.

Is the School Accredited? It’s necessary to make sure that the esthetician college you pick 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 measure up to their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for securing student loans or financial aid, which typically are not available in 07042 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 Montclair NJ employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably 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 exceptional reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly demanded. Check rating services for reviews along with the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Montclair NJ salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the industry, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. Finally, contact the New Jersey school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus? Some esthetician schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs commonly broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you decide on a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your intention 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 vision is to launch a Montclair NJ beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly ranked school with a weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you need.

Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Studying and mastering esthetician skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the beauty classes you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that make it possible for students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a beauty program offers little or no scheduled live training, but instead depends heavily on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for cultivating your skills. Therefore search for other schools that furnish this kind of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from an esthetician program, it’s imperative that she or he receives help in finding that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish help develop relationships with Montclair NJ employers that are searching for qualified graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and inquire which salons and establishments they refer students to. Also, find out 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 Assistance Offered? The majority of esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are considering have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and identify 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 offered to students also. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not drop it as an option until you determine what financial aid may be available.

Attending Esthetician School Near Montclair NJ?

Perhaps you live in the Montclair New Jersey area, or have found a school that you will commute to or even relocate to attend. Either way, following is some interesting background information about the location of your new esthetician program.

Montclair, New Jersey

Montclair (/mɒn(t)ˈklɛər/) is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 37,669,[9][10][11] reflecting a decline of 1,308 (−3.4%) from the 38,977 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 1,248 (+3.3%) from the 37,729 counted in the 1990 Census.[20] As of 2010[update], it was the 60th-most-populous municipality in New Jersey.[21]

Montclair was first formed as a township on April 15, 1868, from portions of Bloomfield Township,[22] so that a second railroad could be built to Montclair. After a referendum held on February 21, 1894, Montclair was reincorporated as a town, effective February 24, 1894.[23] It derives its name from the French mont clair, meaning "clear mountain" or "bright mountain."[24][25]

In 1980, after multiple protests filed by Montclair officials regarding the inequities built into the federal revenue sharing system,[26] Montclair passed a referendum changing its name to the "Township of Montclair," becoming the third of more than a dozen Essex County municipalities to reclassify themselves as townships to take advantage of federal revenue sharing policies that allocated townships a greater share of government aid to municipalities on a per capita basis.[27][28][29]

Select the Right Esthetician Training Program near Montclair NJ

Choosing and enrolling in the ideal esthetician program is imperative to get the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel confident about your decision. Don’t forget to consolidate all of the responses you get from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to contrast schools. A good start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the school and program you decide on are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and answer the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to start your new career as a professional esthetician in Montclair NJ.