How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Collinsville VA

How to Pick an Esthetician School near Collinsville Virginia

Collinsville VA esthetician client with cucumber facial Since you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Collinsville VA, the process starts to locate and enroll in the best program. It’s important that the school you choose not only provides the appropriate training for the specialty you have selected, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your preliminary 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 refer to the same type of school. We’ll speak a bit more regarding that in the next segment. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Collinsville home. Tuition will additionally be a critical aspect when assessing possible schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it’s not necessarily the right choice. There are various other factors that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask concerning the cosmetology schools you are considering later within this article. Before we do, let’s talk a bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of training programs are offered.

Defining Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Collinsville VA Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human anatomy look more attractive through the use of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but really 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 mandate that you go through some type of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Collinsville VA 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, establish their own shops or salons. Others will begin seeing customers either in their own residences or will go to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by many professional names and are employed in a wide variety of specializations including:

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

As formerly mentioned, in the majority of states working cosmetologists must be licensed. In some states there is an exception. Only those conducting more skilled services, for instance hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others employed in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.

Esthetician Degrees and Certificates

Collinsville VA esthetician client with face mask There are essentially two avenues available to obtain esthetician training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs generally require 12 to 18 months to complete, 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 want to specialize in just one area, for example esthetics. A degree program will also probably feature management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to manage a parlor or other Collinsville VA business. Higher degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such areas as salon or spa management. Whatever type of course you go with, it’s essential to make sure that it’s recognized by the Virginia Board of Cosmetology. Many states only approve schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded organizations, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the advantages of accreditation for the school you select in the next segment.

Online Esthetics Courses

woman attending esthetician school online in Collinsville VA Online esthetician schools are advantageous for Collinsville VA students who are employed full-time and have family commitments 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 by means of a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional beauty programs are often fast paced given that many courses are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a large amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are covering the same amount of material, but you’re not devoting numerous hours outside of your home or travelling back and forth from classes. However, it’s imperative that the school you pick can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors to ensure that you also receive the hands-on training necessary for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s difficult to gain the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology industry. So make sure if you decide to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is provided in your area.

Questions to Ask Esthetician Training Classes

Collinsville VA models benefit from esthetic treatments Following is a series of questions that you will want to investigate for any esthetician training school you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Collinsville residence, together with the expense of tuition, will probably be your primary qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have collected some of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final determination.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s necessary to make certain that the esthetician training program you choose 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 necessary for getting student loans or financial aid, which typically are not available in 24078 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many Collinsville VA businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Great Reputation? Any esthetician school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating services for reviews in addition to the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Collinsville VA salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the trade, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to suggest others that you had not considered. Finally, check with the Virginia school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus? Many esthetician schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, for instance hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you enroll in a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your goal is to be trained as an esthetician, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your aspiration is to open a Collinsville VA beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly regarded school with a weak program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you need.

Is Any Live Training Provided? Learning and perfecting esthetician skills and techniques demands plenty of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is included in the cosmetology lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that make it possible for students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a beauty school offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead relies heavily on using mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for developing your skills. Therefore search for other schools that furnish this kind of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from an esthetician academy, it’s important that he or she gets assistance in finding that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer aid maintain relationships with Collinsville VA employers that are seeking qualified graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and ask which salons and establishments they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have extensive 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. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and learn 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 available to students too. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications except for cost, do not omit it as an option before you learn what financial assistance may be provided.

Attending Esthetician School Near Collinsville VA?

Perhaps you live in the Collinsville Virginia 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.

Collinsville, Virginia

Collinsville is a census-designated place (CDP) in Henry County, Virginia, United States. The population was 7,335 at the 2010 census, which was down from the 7,777 reported in 2000. It is part of the Martinsville Micropolitan Statistical Area. Collinsville is also where the administration building and county courthouse of Henry County are located (though nearby Martinsville - an independent city which is not technically part of the county - is usually identified as the county seat).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 7.9 square miles (20.4 km²), of which, 7.9 square miles (20.4 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.25%) is water.

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 7,777 people, 3,466 households, and 2,197 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 988.1 people per square mile (381.5/km²). There were 3,758 housing units at an average density of 477.5/sq mi (184.4/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 84.84% White, 11.28% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.63% Asian, 0.18% Pacific Islander, 1.98% from other races, and 0.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.77% of the population.

Enroll in the Right Esthetics Program near Collinsville VA

Choosing and enrolling in the ideal esthetician school is imperative to receive the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel confident about your decision. Don’t forget to consolidate all of the responses you get from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to contrast schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the institution and program you choose are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and address the additional questions provided in this article, 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 examination, you will be self-assured that you are ready to launch your career as a professional esthetician in Collinsville VA.