How to Choose the Right Esthetician Program near Lovettsville Virginia
Once you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Lovettsville VA, the task starts to find and enroll in the right program. It’s imperative that the school you pick not only furnishes the necessary training for the specialty you have selected, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your initial search, you may be somewhat unclear 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 talk a bit further about that in the upcoming segment. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Lovettsville home. Tuition will likewise be an important factor when reviewing potential schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it’s not always the best choice. There are a number of other considerations that you should weigh when reviewing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are considering later in this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of courses are available.
Defining Cosmetology
Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human anatomy look more beautiful with the application of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the word 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, the majority of states mandate that you go through some form of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Lovettsville VA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have acquired experience and a customer base, open their own shops or salons. Others will begin servicing clients either in their own residences 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 earlier stated, in most states working cosmetologists have to be licensed. In a few states there is an exemption. Only those performing more skilled services, for example hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people working in cosmetology and less skilled, such as shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.
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Esthetician Degrees and Certificates
There are basically two pathways available to obtain 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 normally 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 all of the major areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are offered if you want to specialize in just one area, for example esthetics. A degree program will also probably feature management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to manage a parlor or other Lovettsville VA business. Higher degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whatever type of course you choose, it’s imperative to make sure that it’s approved by the Virginia 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 upcoming segment.
Online Esthetics Training
Online esthetician classes are accommodating for Lovettsville VA students who are employed full-time and have family responsibilities that make it challenging to attend a more traditional school. There are numerous web-based cosmetology school programs available that can be attended through a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional cosmetology programs are typically fast paced since many courses are as short as six or eight months. This means that a significant amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you’re not devoting many hours away from your home or travelling back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it’s vital that the program you choose can provide internship training in local 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 acquire the skills required to work in any facet of the cosmetology industry. So make sure if you choose to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.
Questions to Ask Esthetics Degree Programs
Below is a series of questions that you will want to research for any esthetician training program you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school in relation to your Lovettsville home, in addition to the expense of tuition, will most likely be your primary qualifiers. Whether you want 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 even more factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have put together some of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each school before making a final decision.
Is the School Accredited? It’s important to make sure that the esthetician school you choose is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for getting student loans or financial aid, which typically are not offered in 20180 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of Lovettsville VA employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Any esthetician school that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent 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, showing that their students are highly sought after. Check rating services for reviews as well as the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Lovettsville VA salon owners or managers, or any person working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not looked into. Finally, consult the Virginia school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s imperative that you enroll in 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 vision is to launch a Lovettsville VA beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly regarded school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you need.
Is Any Live Training Provided? Learning and perfecting esthetician techniques and abilities demands plenty of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is included in the beauty classes you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that make it possible for students to practice their developing skills on volunteers. If a beauty school offers limited or no scheduled live training, but instead depends predominantly on using mannequins, it may not be the most effective alternative for developing your skills. Therefore look for other schools that provide this kind of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from an esthetician academy, it’s important that she or he gets assistance in finding that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer aid maintain relationships with Lovettsville VA businesses that are seeking skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and ask which salons and organizations they refer students to. In addition, ask 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 Available? Most esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you may 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 meets each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not drop it as an alternative before you determine what financial help may be offered.
Colleges That Offer Esthetician Training Lovettsville Virginia
Finding and enrolling in the right esthetician college is imperative to get the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel positive about your decision. Make sure to organize all of the information you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to compare schools. A sensible start in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the institution and program you pick are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the field. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Colleges That Offer Esthetician Training and wanting more information on the topic Aesthetic Training Program. However, if you begin with that base, 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 right choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are ready to begin your new career as a professional esthetician in Lovettsville VA.
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Lovettsville, Virginia
Lovettsville is a town in Loudoun County, located near the very northern tip of the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States. Settled primarily by German immigrants, the town was originally established in 1836.
Following the 1722 Treaty of St. Albans which established the Blue Ridge Mountains as the buffer between Native Americans and white settlers, German immigrants began arriving in the northern Loudoun Valley to farm the rich topsoil. They established several villages, many constructed of log and wooden buildings, and began to expand their land holdings. Lovettsville was then called The German Settlement.
In 1820 David Lovett subdivided his property into quarter-acre "city lots." As a result of the ensuing construction boom, the town was called Newtown. In 1828, the town was again renamed Lovettsville. In 1836 the Virginia General Assembly established Lovettsville as a town, but the town was not fully incorporated until 1876.
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