How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Toms River NJ

How to Pick an Esthetics Course near Toms River New Jersey

Toms River NJ esthetician client with cucumber facial Now that you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Toms River NJ, the process starts to find and enroll in the best program. It’s essential that the school you pick not only provides the necessary training for the specialty you have decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your initial search, you might be a little bit unclear about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are essentially interchangeable and both relate to the same type of school. We’ll talk a little bit more regarding that in the next segment. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Toms River home. Tuition will additionally be an important aspect when assessing prospective schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it’s not necessarily the right choice. There are several other considerations that you should evaluate when comparing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding 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 types of training programs are available.

What is Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Toms River NJ Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human anatomy look more attractive through the use of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are referred to as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic can be anything that enhances the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, most states mandate that you take some kind of specialized training and then become licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only Toms River NJ beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gained experience and a clientele, establish their own shops or salons. Others will begin seeing clients either in their own homes or will travel to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many titles and are employed in a wide range of specialties including:

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

As already stated, in the majority of states practicing cosmetologists have to be licensed. In some states there is an exemption. Only those performing more skilled services, for example hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others working in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.

Esthetician Degrees

Toms River NJ esthetician client with face mask There are basically two options available to receive esthetician training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs usually call for 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 each of the major areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are offered if you wish to concentrate on just one area, for instance esthetics. A degree program will also most likely feature management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to run a salon or other Toms River NJ business. More advanced degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such areas as salon or spa management. Whatever type of course you opt for, it’s important to make certain that it’s approved by the New Jersey Board of Cosmetology. Many states only certify schools that are accredited by certain reputable organizations, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the advantages of accreditation for the school you select in the following section.

Online Esthetician Schools

woman attending esthetician school online in Toms River NJ Online esthetician classes are convenient for Toms River NJ students who are working full time and have family obligations that make it difficult to attend a more traditional school. There are many online beauty school programs available that can be accessed 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 six or eight months. This means that a considerable amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are covering the same volume of material, but you are not devoting numerous hours outside of your home or driving back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it’s vital that the school you pick can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors so that you also get the hands-on training necessary for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s difficult to gain the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology industry. So don’t forget if you decide to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is available in your area.

Questions to Ask Esthetician Training Classes

Toms River NJ models benefit from esthetic treatments Below is a series of questions that you will want to look into for any esthetician training school you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Toms River residence, together with the expense of tuition, will most likely be your initial qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have collected some of those additional questions that you need to ask every school before making a final decision.

Is the School Accredited? It’s important to make sure that the esthetician training program you choose 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 comply with their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which often are not obtainable in 08753 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous Toms River NJ employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Great Reputation? Each esthetician school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly regarded. Check rating services for reviews together with the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Toms River NJ salon owners or managers, or any person working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. And last, consult 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? A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs often 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 well regarded for that program. If your aspiration is to launch a Toms River 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 rated school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you require.

Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Practicing and mastering esthetician skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is included in the beauty lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that make it possible for students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a beauty school provides little or no scheduled live training, but instead depends heavily on the use of mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for developing your skills. So try to find alternate schools that offer this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from an esthetician academy, it’s essential that she or he gets assistance in securing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish aid maintain relationships with Toms River NJ employers that are seeking skilled graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and inquire which salons and establishments they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have broad 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. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid office. Consult with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you might get approved for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students as well. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications except for expense, do not discard it as an alternative until you determine what financial aid may be available.

Attending Esthetician School Near Toms River NJ?

Perhaps you live in the Toms River 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.

Toms River, New Jersey

Toms River is a township in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. Its mainland portion is also a census-designated place of the same name, which serves as the county seat of Ocean County.[22][23] Formerly known as the Township of Dover, in 2006 voters approved a change of the official name to the Township of Toms River, adopting the name of the largest unincorporated community within the township. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township had a total population of 91,239,[11][12][13] with the township ranking as the 8th-most-populous municipality in the state in 2010 (after having been ranked 7th in 2000) and the second most-populous municipality in Ocean County (behind Lakewood Township, which had a population of 92,843).[24] The 2010 population increased by 1,533 (+1.7%) from the 89,706 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 13,335 (+17.5%) from the 76,371 counted in the 1990 Census.[25]

In 2006, Toms River was ranked by Morgan Quitno Press as the 15th safest city in the United States, of 369 cities nationwide.[26] In 2007, Toms River was again ranked as the 14th-safest city in the United States of 371 cities nationwide.[27]

Toms River can be seen in various TV and news media including MTV's Made and Jersey Shore (seasons 1, 3, and 5), HBO's Boardwalk Empire and the original The Amityville Horror movie. In 1998, Toms River East Little League won the Little League World Series. The township has what is said to be the second-largest Halloween parade in the world.[28]

Select the Right Esthetics College near Toms River NJ

Selecting and enrolling in the right esthetician college is essential to receive the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel confident about your decision. Don’t forget to consolidate all of the responses you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that information to contrast schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the school and program you pick are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. If you start with that base, and address the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. 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 Toms River NJ.