How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Harrison Valley PA

How to Select an Esthetics Program near Harrison Valley Pennsylvania

Harrison Valley PA esthetician client with cucumber facial Once you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Harrison Valley PA, the process starts to search for and enroll in the right program. It’s essential that the program you pick not only furnishes the proper education for the specialty you have decided on, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your preliminary search, you may be somewhat puzzled about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are essentially interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. We’ll discuss a bit more about that in the upcoming section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Harrison Valley home. Tuition will additionally be a critical factor when assessing potential schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it’s not automatically the ideal choice. There are many other qualifications that you should weigh when comparing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask about the cosmetology schools you are thinking about later within this article. Before we do, let’s talk a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of training programs are offered.

What is Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Harrison Valley PA Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human body look more attractive with the use of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic may be almost anything that enhances the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, the majority of states require that you go through some form of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Harrison Valley PA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have gotten experience and a customer base, launch their own shops or salons. Others will begin seeing customers either in their own residences or will travel to the client’s house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by many names and work in a wide range of specializations including:

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

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

Esthetician Certificates and Degrees

Harrison Valley PA esthetician client with face mask There are essentially two pathways available to get esthetician training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs typically require 12 to 18 months to finish, while an Associate’s degree usually takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be instructed in each of the major areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you prefer 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 operate a parlor or other Harrison Valley PA business. Higher degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whichever type of training program you opt for, it’s essential to make sure that it’s approved by the Pennsylvania Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain respected agencies, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the benefits of accreditation for the school you decide on in the following section.

Online Esthetics Courses

woman attending esthetician school online in Harrison Valley PA Online esthetician schools are accommodating for Harrison Valley PA students who are employed full time and have family responsibilities that make it hard to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of online cosmetology school programs available that can be attended via a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional cosmetology schools are typically fast paced given that many programs are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a significant 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 essential that the training program you select can provide internship training in local salons and parlors to ensure that you also receive the hands-on training necessary for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s difficult to acquire the skills required to work in any area of the cosmetology industry. So make sure if you choose to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is provided in your area.

What to Ask Esthetician Schools

Harrison Valley PA models benefit from esthetic treatments Below is a series of questions that you need to research for any esthetician training school you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school in relation to your Harrison Valley residence, in addition to the cost of tuition, will most likely be your primary qualifiers. Whether you wish to earn 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. Following we have collected some of those supplemental questions that you should ask every school before making a final selection.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s necessary to make sure that the esthetician school you select 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable in 16927 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of Harrison Valley PA employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Great Reputation? Every esthetician school that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly regarded. Check rating services for reviews together with the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Harrison Valley PA salon owners or managers, or someone working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to propose others that you had not considered. Finally, check with the Pennsylvania school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in complete 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, offering training in a specific 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 pick a school that specializes in 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 aspiration is to open a Harrison Valley 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 ranked school with a weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you require.

Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Practicing and mastering esthetician techniques and abilities demands plenty of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is provided in the beauty lessons you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that enable students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a beauty academy provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather relies mainly on the use of mannequins, it may not be the best option for cultivating your skills. Therefore look for alternate schools that offer this type of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance? As soon as a student graduates from an esthetician school, it’s important that she or he receives aid in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish aid develop relationships with Harrison Valley PA businesses that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and ask which salons and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Assistance Available? The majority of 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. Speak with a counselor and identify 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 accessible to students as well. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not drop it as an option until you determine what financial assistance may be offered.

Attending Esthetician School Near Harrison Valley PA?

Perhaps you live in the Harrison Valley Pennsylvania 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.

Pennsylvania Route 49

Pennsylvania Route 49 (PA 49) is a 52.6-mile-long (84.7 km) state highway located in northern Pennsylvania. The western terminus of the route is at Pennsylvania Route 44 three miles (5 km) north of Coudersport. The eastern terminus is at PA 287 in Lawrenceville less than 300 yards (270 m) south of the New York-Pennsylvania border. PA 49 serves as North Street, North Main Street, and Northern Potter Road in Ulysses, as Cowanesque Street in Lawrenceville, and as both East and West Main Street for Harrison Valley, Westfield, Knoxville, and Elkland. It is concurrent with PA 249 for 2.5 miles (4.0 km) between Cowanesque and Knoxville.

PA 49 begins at an intersection with PA 44 north of the borough of Coudersport in Eulalia Township, Potter County, heading east on a two-lane undivided road. The route heads through forested areas of hills with some farm fields and homes to the north of the Allegheny River, turning northeast and crossing into Hebron Township. The road curves east and enters Allegany Township, curving back to the northeast and turning east again at Colesburg. PA 49 winds east through more rural areas, turning to the northeast away from the river into more agricultural areas with some woods and homes, running through Raymond. The road heads into the borough of Ulysses Township and comes to an intersection with PA 449 in the community of Gold. The route crosses the Genesee River and continues through more farmland with some woodland and residences, passing through Kibboville Corners. PA 49 crosses into the borough of Ulysses and passes through more rural areas before turning east onto North Street, running past homes and a few businesses. The route turns north onto North Main Street and continues through residential areas, curving to the northeast. The road heads into a mix of farmland and woodland with some homes, entering Bingham Township and becoming Northern Potter Road. PA 49 continues through more rural areas, passing to the south of Northern Potter Junior Senior High School prior to crossing into Harrison Township and becoming an unnamed road. The road curves more to the east and passes through the residential community of Mills. The route passes through more agricultural areas with some woods and homes, becoming West Main Street and heading into the community of Harrison Valley. Here, PA 49 runs past homes and turns southeast onto East Main Street, passing more residences along with a few businesses. The road continues into a mix of farmland and woodland with a few homes, running to the northeast of the Cowanesque River. The route crosses the river and turns to the south-southeast, coming to Elmer. At this point, the road curves more to the southeast and crosses the Cowanesque River again, passing through more rural areas.[1][2]

PA 49 enters Westfield Township in Tioga County and passes through the residential community of Potter Brook before heading through open agricultural areas with a few homes, crossing the Cowanesque River twice and passing south of Cowanesque Valley Junior Senior High School. The road crosses into the borough of Westfield and becomes West Main Street, passing residences and a few businesses, coming to another crossing of the Cowanesque River. The route heads into the commercial downtown of Westfield and intersects the northern terminus of PA 349, becoming East Main Street. PA 49 continues east-northeast near a few homes and crosses back into Westfield Township, heading into farmland with some residences and crossing the river again. The road continues through more rural areas with some homes, passing through Cowanesque before coming to an intersection with PA 249 in Phillips. Here, PA 249 turns northeast to form a concurrency with PA 49, heading through farmland and woodland with some residences. The road briefly passes through Brookfield Township before heading into Deerfield Township. PA 249 splits from PA 49 by turning to the north, and PA 49 crosses the Troups Creek into the borough of Knoxville, becoming West Main Street. The road heads through residential areas with some businesses, becoming East Main Street as it continues through the town. The route heads back into Deerfield Township and continues through open agricultural areas with a few homes. PA 49 turns to the northeast and enters Osceola Township, running through more rural areas. The road heads near some farms and woods before curving to the east and passing through the residential community of Osceola. The route passes through agricultural areas prior to entering the borough of Elkland and becoming West Main Street, lined with homes. PA 49 heads through the commercial downtown and becomes East Main Street, continuing through more residential areas. The road crosses into Nelson Township and crosses the Cowanesque River, becoming Barney Hill Road and passing through farmland with a few homes. The route crosses the river again and heads through a mix of woods and fields prior to another crossing of the Cowanesque River, at which point it passes to the south of Cowanesque Lake. PA 49 continues through a mix of farmland and woodland with a few homes to the south of the lake, forming the southern boundary of the Cowanesque Lake National Recreation Area and crossing into Lawrence Township. The road continues through more rural areas, turning to the northeast and coming to an interchange with the US 15 freeway past the lake. The route enters the borough of Lawrenceville and passes through farmland with a few homes. PA 49 comes to its eastern terminus at an intersection with the northern terminus of PA 287 in the commercial center of Lawrenceville.[1][3]

Enroll in the Right Esthetician School near Harrison Valley PA

Finding and enrolling in the right esthetician college is imperative to get the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel certain 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 information to contrast schools. A good beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the academy and program you decide on are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you start with that foundation, and address the additional questions supplied in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are prepared to begin your new career as a professional esthetician in Harrison Valley PA.