How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Watsontown PA

How to Select an Esthetician Course near Watsontown Pennsylvania

Watsontown PA esthetician client with cucumber facial Once you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Watsontown PA, the process starts to find and enroll in the right program. It’s important that the school you pick not only furnishes the proper instruction for the specialty you have selected, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your initial search, you might be a little bit puzzled about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are pretty much interchangeable and both refer to the same type of school. We’ll discuss a bit further about that in the following segment. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Watsontown residence. Tuition will additionally be an important consideration when reviewing prospective schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it’s not necessarily the best option. There are several other factors that you should weigh when reviewing 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 talk a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of programs are offered.

What is Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Watsontown PA Cosmetology is a profession that is all about making the human anatomy look more attractive with the use of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but really a cosmetic may 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 go through some form of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work environments include not only Watsontown PA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gotten experience and a client base, launch their own shops or salons. Others will begin seeing customers either in their own homes or will go to the client’s house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go 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 earlier stated, in the majority of states working cosmetologists must be licensed. In a few states there is an exception. Only those performing more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others working in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.

Esthetician Certificates and Degrees

Watsontown PA esthetician client with face mask There are primarily two avenues 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 usually call for 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 all of the main areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are offered if you prefer to focus on just one area, for instance esthetics. A degree program will also likely include management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to operate a salon or other Watsontown PA business. Higher degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whichever type of course you choose, it’s imperative to make certain that it’s recognized by the Pennsylvania Board of Cosmetology. Many states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain reputable organizations, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the advantages of accreditation for the school you choose in the upcoming section.

Online Esthetician Training

woman attending esthetician school online in Watsontown PA Online esthetician schools are convenient for Watsontown PA students who are employed full time and have family commitments that make it difficult to enroll in a more traditional school. There are many online cosmetology school programs offered that can be accessed by means of a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional cosmetology schools are typically fast paced since many programs are as short as six or eight months. This means that a considerable portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are covering the same amount of material, but you’re not devoting many hours away from your home or driving to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s important that the program you choose can provide internship training in area salons and parlors so that you also receive the hands-on training necessary for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s impossible to acquire the skills needed to work in any area of the cosmetology field. So be sure if you choose to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is available in your area.

Questions to Ask Esthetics Trade Schools

Watsontown PA models benefit from esthetic treatments Below is a series of questions that you will want to investigate for any esthetician training program you are contemplating. As we have already discussed, the location of the school relative to your Watsontown residence, together with the price of tuition, will most likely be your initial qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Following we have collected several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each school before making a final selection.

Is the School Accredited? It’s important to make sure that the esthetician college you select is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for securing student loans or financial aid, which often are not offered in 17777 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of Watsontown PA employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation? Every esthetician college that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly regarded. Check rating companies for reviews in addition to the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Watsontown PA salon owners or managers, or any person working in the business, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not considered. And finally, consult the Pennsylvania school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus? Some esthetician schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s imperative that you pick a school that specializes in your area of interest. If your objective is to be trained as an esthetician, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your vision is to start a Watsontown PA 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 pursuing will not deliver the training you require.

Is Any Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and mastering esthetician techniques and abilities involves plenty of practice on people. Find out 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 program furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but rather relies predominantly on using mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for cultivating your skills. Therefore try to find alternate schools that furnish this kind of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from an esthetician program, it’s important that he or she gets help in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide help develop relationships with Watsontown PA businesses that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and inquire which salons and establishments they refer students to. Additionally, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Assistance Offered? Most esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid office. Speak with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you may qualify for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students as well. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not eliminate it as an alternative until you determine what financial help may be provided.

Attending Esthetician School Near Watsontown PA?

Perhaps you live in the Watsontown 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.

Watsontown, Pennsylvania

Land in the Watsontown area was first purchased by John Watson in 1792. The borough's post office was opened in 1828. There was a racetrack in Watsontown from 1830 to 1840. Railroad tracks first reached the borough in 1854. A sawmill was built in the area in 1856. Watsontown was a part of Turbot Township until its incorporation in 1867.[4]

Watsontown is located at 41°5′7″N 76°51′48″W / 41.08528°N 76.86333°W / 41.08528; -76.86333 (41.085319, -76.863325).[5] According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.9 square miles (2.3 km2), of which, 0.7 square miles (1.8 km2) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) of it (24.47%) is water.

Watsontown's terrain is almost entirely flat except for a hill in the eastern part of the borough. The borough's land is mostly residential, with some forest and industrial areas. The West Branch Susquehanna River borders the western part of Watsontown. The borough is served by Pennsylvania Route 44 and Pennsylvania Route 405.[6]

Enroll in the Right Esthetician College near Watsontown PA

Finding and enrolling in the right esthetician school is essential to obtain the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel positive about your decision. Make sure to collect all of the information you get from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that information to compare schools. A good start in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the academy and program you decide on are accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. If you start with that foundation, and answer the additional questions supplied in this post, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to begin your career as a professional esthetician in Watsontown PA.