How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Cumberland VA

How to Choose an Esthetics School near Cumberland Virginia

Cumberland VA esthetician client with cucumber facial Now that you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Cumberland VA, the process begins to find and enroll in the right program. It’s imperative that the school you select not only provides the proper instruction for the specialty you have chosen, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your initial search, you might be rather unclear about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both refer to the same type of school. We’ll talk a bit more regarding that in the next segment. If you intend on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Cumberland residence. Tuition will also be an important aspect when reviewing possible schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it’s not automatically the ideal option. There are a number of other qualifications that you should weigh when analyzing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are considering later in this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of courses are available.

Definition of Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Cumberland VA 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 referred to as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic may be almost anything that improves the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, the majority of states mandate that you undergo some kind of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Cumberland VA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gained experience and a clientele, open their own shops or salons. Others will start seeing clients either in their own homes or will go to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many names 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 have to be licensed. In certain states there is an exemption. Only those offering more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others employed in cosmetology and less skilled, such as shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.

Esthetics Certificates and Degrees

Cumberland 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) program, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs normally call for 12 to 18 months to complete, while an Associate’s degree commonly 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 want to concentrate on just one area, for instance esthetics. A degree program will also most likely feature management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to manage a salon or other Cumberland VA 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 course you go with, it’s essential to make sure that it’s approved by the Virginia Board of Cosmetology. Numerous 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 advantages of accreditation for the school you decide on in the next segment.

Online Esthetics Schools

woman attending esthetician school online in Cumberland VA Online esthetician classes are advantageous for Cumberland VA students who are employed full time and have family commitments that make it hard to attend a more traditional school. There are numerous online beauty school programs offered that can be attended via a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional cosmetology programs are frequently fast paced given that many courses 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 dealing with the same volume of material, but you are not spending many hours away from your home or commuting to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s vital that the training program you choose can provide internship training in local salons and parlors to ensure that you also get the hands-on training required for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s impossible to gain the skills needed to work in any facet of the cosmetology field. So don’t forget if you decide to enroll in an online school to confirm that internship training is available in your area.

Questions to Ask Esthetician Programs

Cumberland VA models benefit from esthetic treatments Below is a series of questions that you need to research for any esthetician training school you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Cumberland residence, in addition to the cost of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you want to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below 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 school you enroll in 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 assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which often are not offered in 23040 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of Cumberland VA businesses will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation? Every esthetician school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating companies for reviews in addition to the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Cumberland VA salon owners or managers, or someone working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to propose others that you had not considered. And last, contact the Virginia school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints 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, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s imperative that you pick a school that focuses on 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 dream is to start a Cumberland VA beauty salon, then you need 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 need.

Is Any Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and refining esthetician skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the cosmetology lessons you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that enable students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a beauty program offers little or no scheduled live training, but rather relies predominantly on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the most effective alternative for developing your skills. So try to find alternate schools that provide this kind of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance? As soon as a student graduates from an esthetician school, it’s imperative that she or he receives assistance in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish assistance develop relationships with Cumberland VA employers that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and ask which salons and establishments they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Aid Available? Almost all esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid department. Talk to 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 all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not discard it as an option until you learn what financial help may be available.

Attending Esthetician School Near Cumberland VA?

Perhaps you live in the Cumberland 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.

Cumberland, Virginia

Cumberland is a census-designated place (CDP) in and the county seat of Cumberland County, Virginia, United States.[1] Cumberland lies along U.S. Route 60 and State Route 45. It is 48 miles (77 km) west of Richmond and 51 miles (82 km) east of Amherst. The population as of the 2010 Census was 393.[2]

Select the Right Esthetics College near Cumberland VA

Choosing and enrolling in the ideal esthetician college is imperative to obtain the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel positive about your decision. Don’t forget to collect all of the information you get from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to contrast schools. A good start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the school and program you decide on are accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and answer the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the ideal choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are ready to begin your new career as a professional esthetician in Cumberland VA.