How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Pittstown NJ

How to Select an Esthetician Program near Pittstown New Jersey

Pittstown NJ esthetician client with cucumber facial Once you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Pittstown NJ, the task starts to search for and enroll in the right program. It’s important that the program you pick not only provides the necessary training for the specialty you have chosen, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your initial search, you might be a little bit unclear about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. We’ll discuss a bit further regarding that in the upcoming section. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Pittstown residence. Tuition will likewise be a critical factor when assessing potential schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it’s not automatically the right choice. There are a number of other considerations that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for example 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 talk a bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of training programs are offered.

Defining Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Pittstown NJ Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human body look more beautiful through the application of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but really a cosmetic can be almost anything that enhances the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, most states require that you take some kind of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Pittstown 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, establish their own shops or salons. Others will start seeing clients either in their own residences or will travel to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by many titles and work in a wide variety of specialties including:

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

As previously stated, in most states working cosmetologists have to be licensed. In some states there is an exemption. Only those offering more skilled services, for instance hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others working in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.

Esthetician Degrees and Certificates

Pittstown NJ esthetician client with face mask There are basically two pathways available to receive esthetician training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs typically take 12 to 18 months to complete, while an Associate’s degree ordinarily takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be instructed in each of the main areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are available if you wish to specialize in just one area, for instance esthetics. A degree program will also most likely feature management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to run a parlor or other Pittstown NJ business. More advanced degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whatever type of training program you go with, it’s essential to make certain that it’s recognized by the New Jersey Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only approve schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded agencies, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the benefits of accreditation for the school you select in the upcoming section.

Online Esthetician Schools

woman attending esthetician school online in Pittstown NJ Online esthetician programs are accommodating for Pittstown NJ students who are working full-time and have family commitments that make it hard to enroll in a more traditional school. There are a large number of online cosmetology school programs available that can be accessed by means of a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional cosmetology programs are frequently fast paced due to the fact that many programs are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a significant portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are covering the same amount of material, but you’re not spending many hours away from your home or driving back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it’s important that the program you select can provide internship training in local salons and parlors to ensure that you also get the hands-on training required for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s difficult to obtain the skills needed to work in any facet of the cosmetology industry. So be sure if you decide to enroll in an online school to confirm that internship training is available in your area.

Questions to Ask Esthetics Training Courses

Pittstown NJ models benefit from esthetic treatments Below is a list of questions that you should research for any esthetician training program you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Pittstown home, in addition to the expense of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have collected several of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final selection.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s essential to make sure that the esthetician college you enroll in is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for securing student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not offered in 08867 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many Pittstown NJ employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Each esthetician institute that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding 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, showing that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating companies for reviews together with the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Pittstown NJ salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the field, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. And finally, check with the New Jersey school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in full compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty? Many esthetician schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you select a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your goal is to be trained as an esthetician, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your desire is to start a Pittstown NJ beauty salon, then you want 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 provide the training you require.

Is Any Live Training Provided? Practicing and perfecting esthetician techniques and abilities demands lots of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the beauty courses you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that allow students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a beauty academy furnishes limited or no scheduled live training, but instead depends mainly on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the most effective alternative for acquiring your skills. So look for other schools that furnish this kind of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from an esthetician program, it’s crucial that she or he gets help in securing that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide assistance maintain relationships with Pittstown NJ employers that are seeking trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and inquire which salons and businesses they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only affirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Aid Available? Most esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students too. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not omit it as an option until you learn what financial aid may be available.

Attending Esthetician School Near Pittstown NJ?

Perhaps you live in the Pittstown 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.

Pittstown, New Jersey

Pittstown is an unincorporated community located at the intersection of the boundaries of Alexandria, Franklin and Union townships in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States.[4][5] The area is named after William Pitt. The area is served as United States Postal Service ZIP Code 08867. The area was named Hofftown in the 18th century after landowner Lawrence Hoff.[6]

Pick the Right Esthetics Program near Pittstown NJ

Choosing and enrolling in the ideal esthetician program is imperative to get the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel positive about your decision. Make certain to consolidate all of the information you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that information to compare schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the academy and program you select are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you begin with that base, and answer 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 exam, you will be confident that you are qualified to start your new career as a professional esthetician in Pittstown NJ.