How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Hummelstown PA

How to Choose an Esthetician Training Program near Hummelstown Pennsylvania

Hummelstown PA esthetician client with cucumber facial Once you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Hummelstown PA, the task starts to search for and enroll in the right program. It’s essential that the school you choose not only provides the appropriate instruction for the specialty you have selected, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you may be somewhat confused about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both refer to the same type of school. We’ll discuss a little bit further about that in the upcoming section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Hummelstown residence. Tuition will additionally be an important factor when reviewing potential schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it’s not necessarily the ideal option. There are various other qualifications that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are thinking about later in this article. Before we do, let’s talk a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of courses are available.

What is Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Hummelstown PA Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human body look more beautiful with the use of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic may be anything that improves 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 undergo some type of specialized training and then become licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only Hummelstown PA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gotten experience and a clientele, open their own shops or salons. Others will begin servicing customers either in their own homes or will travel to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by 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 mentioned, in the majority of states practicing cosmetologists must be licensed. In a few states there is an exception. Only those performing more skilled services, for example hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people working in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.

Esthetician Degrees

Hummelstown PA esthetician client with face mask There are basically two avenues available to obtain esthetician training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs usually 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 instructed in all of the main areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you wish to concentrate on just one area, for example esthetics. A degree program will also likely feature management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to manage a salon or other Hummelstown PA business. Higher degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whichever type of training program you go with, it’s essential to make certain that it’s certified by the Pennsylvania Board of Cosmetology. Many states only approve schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded agencies, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the advantages of accreditation for the school you decide on in the upcoming section.

Online Esthetician Schools

woman attending esthetician school online in Hummelstown PA Online esthetician classes are convenient for Hummelstown PA students who are working full-time and have family obligations that make it hard to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of web-based cosmetology school programs offered that can be attended via a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional cosmetology programs are often fast paced since many programs are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a large amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are covering the same amount of material, but you’re not devoting many hours outside of your home or travelling to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s imperative that the school you choose can provide internship training in area salons and parlors to ensure that you also receive the hands-on training required for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s difficult to acquire the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology profession. So make sure if you decide to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is available in your area.

Questions to Ask Esthetics Programs

Hummelstown PA models benefit from esthetic treatments Following is a list of questions that you will want to investigate for any esthetician training program you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Hummelstown home, together with the cost of tuition, will probably be your primary qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have put together several of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final selection.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s important to make sure that the esthetician training program you select 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for securing student loans or financial aid, which often are not obtainable in 17036 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many Hummelstown PA employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Any esthetician college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating services for reviews together with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Hummelstown PA salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not looked into. And finally, contact the Pennsylvania school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty? Many esthetician schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s imperative that you choose 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 respected for that program. If your dream is to start a Hummelstown PA beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly ranked school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you require.

Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Learning and mastering esthetician techniques and abilities involves lots of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is provided in the beauty lessons you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that make it possible for students to practice their developing skills on volunteers. If a beauty school offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead depends predominantly on the use of mannequins, it may not be the best option for cultivating your skills. So look for alternate schools that furnish this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from an esthetician program, it’s important that she or he gets help in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide assistance maintain relationships with Hummelstown PA businesses that are seeking qualified graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and inquire which salons and organizations they refer students to. In addition, 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 Offered? Many esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students also. If a school meets each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not eliminate it as an option before you learn what financial aid may be provided.

Attending Esthetician School Near Hummelstown PA?

Perhaps you live in the Hummelstown 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.

Hummelstown, Pennsylvania

Originally named "Fredrickstown", the village was established in 1762.[6] The borough's mayor is Bradley Koulfman . Hummelstown is a Tree City and is located in District 15 of the Pennsylvania State Senate, centrally located between Harrisburg and Hershey, making it a common tourist drive-through. It has several businesses and shops designed to capitalize on the amount of tourist travel through the small town.[7]

Hummelstown was founded as "Fredrickstown" in 1762 by two Germans, Frederick and Rosina Hummel.[6] They purchased the land for 200 pounds sterling, then divided the area into building lots, which were sold to German settlers. During the mid 19th century, the Union Canal along Swatara Creek was an important factor in the development of the local economy, promoting trade and transportation.

The town was located on the Berks-Dauphin Turnpike, and later it was served by the Union Canal[8] which paralleled Swatara Creek bordering the north and the west sides of the town, and was opened in 1827. The Lebanon Valley Railroad arrived in 1858. This brought about many jobs of stone cutting and shipyard work and helped facilitate the Hummelstown Brownstone Company which became the leading employer of Hummelstown residents.[8] The company mined Hummelstown brownstone at its quarries from 1867 until 1929. The company was the largest producer of brownstone on the East Coast.

Enroll in the Right Esthetician College near Hummelstown PA

Locating and enrolling in the ideal esthetician school is essential to obtain the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel positive about your decision. Be sure to organize all of the responses you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that data to compare schools. A good beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the academy and program you pick are accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and answer the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are ready to launch your new career as a professional esthetician in Hummelstown PA.