How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Towanda PA

How to Find the Right Esthetics Course near Towanda Pennsylvania

Towanda PA esthetician client with cucumber facial Since you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Towanda PA, the task starts to locate and enroll in the ideal program. It’s essential that the school you choose not only furnishes the appropriate education for the specialty you have decided on, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your initial search, you might be a little bit puzzled about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both relate to the same type of school. We’ll speak a bit further regarding that in the following section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Towanda residence. Tuition will additionally be a critical aspect when assessing potential schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it’s not necessarily the best choice. There are many other considerations that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are considering later within this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of training programs are available.

What is Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Towanda PA Cosmetology is a profession that is all about making the human body look more beautiful through the use of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic may be anything that improves the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states mandate that you undergo some form of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work environments include not only Towanda PA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have acquired experience and a client base, establish their own shops or salons. Others will begin servicing customers either in their own homes or will go to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by many titles and are employed 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 must be licensed. In some 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, including shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.

Esthetics Degrees and Certificates

Towanda PA esthetician client with face mask There are essentially two options offered to get esthetician training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs normally 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. Briefer programs are offered if you want to concentrate on just one area, such as esthetics. A degree program will also probably include management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to manage a parlor or other Towanda PA business. Higher degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whichever type of program you go with, it’s important to make certain that it’s approved by the Pennsylvania Board of Cosmetology. Many states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded agencies, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the benefits of accreditation for the school you choose in the upcoming segment.

Online Esthetician Training

woman attending esthetician school online in Towanda PA Online esthetician schools are accommodating for Towanda PA students who are employed full time and have family commitments that make it challenging to enroll in a more traditional school. There are a large number of online cosmetology school programs offered that can be accessed through a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional beauty schools are often fast paced since many courses are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a large portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are dealing with the same volume of material, but you are not devoting many hours outside of your home or driving back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it’s vital that the training program you select can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors so that you also obtain the hands-on training necessary for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s impossible to obtain the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology industry. So make sure if you choose to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is provided in your area.

What to Ask Esthetician Degree Programs

Towanda PA models benefit from esthetic treatments Following is a list of questions that you need to look into for any esthetician training program you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school in relation to your Towanda home, together with the cost of tuition, will most likely be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you should research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have put together several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each school before making a final selection.

Is the School Accredited? It’s necessary to make certain that the esthetician training program you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not available in 18848 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous Towanda PA employers will not recruit 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 college that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating companies for reviews as well as the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Towanda PA salon owners or managers, or any person working in the field, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to propose others that you had not looked into. And last, consult the Pennsylvania school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty? A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs commonly broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s imperative that you choose 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 well regarded for that program. If your desire is to open a Towanda PA beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly ranked school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you need.

Is Enough Live Training Provided? Studying and refining esthetician skills and techniques demands plenty of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is provided in the cosmetology classes you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that make it possible for students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a beauty academy provides limited or no scheduled live training, but rather relies predominantly on the use of mannequins, it may not be the most effective option for cultivating your skills. Therefore try to find other schools that provide this kind of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from an esthetician program, it’s crucial that he or she receives help in securing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide aid maintain relationships with Towanda PA employers that are looking for qualified graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and inquire which salons and organizations 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 regarded as well.

Is Financial Assistance Available? Many esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Consult with a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you may get approved for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students also. If a school meets all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not drop it as an option until you find out what financial assistance may be provided.

Attending Esthetician School Near Towanda PA?

Perhaps you live in the Towanda 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.

Towanda, Pennsylvania

Towanda is a borough and the county seat of Bradford County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.[3] It is located 66 miles (106 km) northwest of Wilkes-Barre, on the Susquehanna River. The name means "burial ground" in the Algonquian language.[4] Settled in 1784 and incorporated in 1828, Towanda was once known primarily for its industrial interests, which included flour, planing and silk mills, a foundry and machine shop, dye works, and manufacturers of talking machines, cut glass, toys and furniture. The population in 1900 was 4,663 and 4,281 in 1910. As of the 2010 census the population of Towanda was 2,919.[5]

Towanda is located near the center of Bradford County at 41°46′13″N 76°26′48″W / 41.77028°N 76.44667°W / 41.77028; -76.44667 (41.770251, −76.446545),[7] on the west bank of the Susquehanna River. It is bordered to the north and west by North Towanda Township, to the south and west by Towanda Township, and to the east, across the river, by Wysox Township.

U.S. Route 6 passes through the center of the borough, leading southeast 39 miles (63 km) to Tunkhannock and 60 miles (97 km) to the Scranton area, and west 37 miles (60 km) to Mansfield. U.S. Route 220 bypasses the borough to the west and leads north 18 miles (29 km) to its terminus at Waverly, New York and southwest 67 miles (108 km) to Williamsport.

Enroll in the Right Esthetician College near Towanda PA

Picking and enrolling in the ideal esthetician school is important to obtain the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel certain about your decision. Make certain to collect all of the information you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to compare schools. A good start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the academy and program you decide on are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. If you begin with that base, and address the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the proper selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are prepared to begin your career as a professional esthetician in Towanda PA.