How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Lovingston VA

How to Choose an Esthetics Course near Lovingston Virginia

Lovingston VA esthetician client with cucumber facial Now that you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Lovingston VA, the process starts to find and enroll in the ideal program. It’s important that the program you choose not only provides the proper education for the specialty you have selected, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your initial search, you may be rather puzzled about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. We’ll discuss a bit further regarding that in the following section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Lovingston home. Tuition will also be a critical factor when assessing potential schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it’s not automatically the best option. There are several other factors that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, for example 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 little bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of courses are available.

What is Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Lovingston VA Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human anatomy look more attractive with the use of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are referred to 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 look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states mandate that you go through some kind of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work environments include not only Lovingston VA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have acquired experience and a client base, open their own shops or salons. Others will begin seeing clients either in their own residences or will travel to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many professional names and work in a wide range of specializations including:

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

As formerly stated, in the majority of states working cosmetologists have to be licensed. In a few states there is an exemption. Only those conducting more skilled services, for instance hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people employed in cosmetology and less skilled, such as shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.

Esthetics Degrees

Lovingston VA esthetician client with face mask There are basically two avenues offered to get 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 typically require 12 to 18 months to finish, while an Associate’s degree ordinarily takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be trained in all of the major areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are offered if you want to specialize in just one area, such as esthetics. A degree program will also likely include management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to operate a parlor or other Lovingston VA business. Higher degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whatever type of program you choose, it’s imperative to make certain that it’s certified by the Virginia Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only approve schools that are accredited by certain reputable organizations, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the benefits of accreditation for the school you select in the following section.

Online Esthetician Programs

woman attending esthetician school online in Lovingston VA Online esthetician programs are convenient for Lovingston VA students who are employed full-time and have family obligations that make it hard to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of online cosmetology school programs available that can be accessed by means of a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional cosmetology programs are often fast paced due to the fact that many programs are as short as six or eight months. This means that a significant portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you’re not spending numerous hours outside of your home or driving back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it’s vital that the school you select can provide internship training in area salons and parlors in order that you also obtain the hands-on training needed for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s difficult to obtain the skills required to work in any facet of the cosmetology profession. So don’t forget if you decide to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is available in your area.

Questions to Ask Esthetician Schools

Lovingston VA models benefit from esthetic treatments Following is a list of questions that you should investigate for any esthetician training program you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Lovingston home, together with the price of tuition, will probably be your primary qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Following we have put together some of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final selection.

Is the School Accredited? It’s important to make sure that the esthetician college you pick 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 ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for getting student loans or financial aid, which often are not offered in 22949 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of Lovingston VA businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation? Each esthetician school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly sought after. Check rating companies for reviews along with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Lovingston VA salon owners or managers, or someone working in the business, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not considered. And finally, check with 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 broad in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently expand 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 ambition is to be trained as an esthetician, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and well regarded for that program. If your dream is to start a Lovingston VA beauty salon, then you need 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 seeking will not provide the training you need.

Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Learning and mastering esthetician techniques and abilities requires lots of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is provided 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 skills on volunteers. If a beauty program offers little or no scheduled live training, but instead relies heavily on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for developing your skills. So 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 imperative that he or she receives aid in finding that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide aid develop relationships with Lovingston VA businesses that are seeking trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and find out which salons and businesses they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered? Many esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are considering have a financial aid department. Consult with a counselor and find out 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 available to students as well. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not discard it as an option before you find out what financial assistance may be available.

Attending Esthetician School Near Lovingston VA?

Perhaps you live in the Lovingston 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.

Lovingston, Virginia

Lovingston is a census-designated place (CDP) in and the county seat of Nelson County, Virginia, United States.[1] The population as of the 2010 Census was 520.[2] Its ZIP Code is 22949. It was among the communities severely affected by flash flooding from Hurricane Camille in 1969.[3]

The town was formed in 1807 and has been the county seat of Nelson County since 1809 when the courthouse was built in the center of town. The original 30-acre parcel of land on which the town sits was given by the Loving family, a very influential family over the years of the town's history. The town is dominated by the courthouse in the center of town with a grid pattern of streets surrounding it. Front, Second and Spring streets (which is now Route 29) run in a north-south direction while Main and Pleasant streets run in an east-west direction. The layout of the town was designed by George W. Varnum and the original design is still present today with very few alterations.

The courthouse is a significant marker of Lovingston's history as a courthouse town. It was the first public building built after the town's formation in 1807, and expansions have enabled it to remain in use to the present. Notable buildings in the square include the Whitehead Law office, the First Clerk's office, and the original jail that was based on a design from Thomas Jefferson.

Choose the Right Esthetician School near Lovingston VA

Finding and enrolling in the ideal esthetician program is important to get the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel confident about your decision. Make certain to compile all of the responses you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to compare schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the college and program you choose are accredited and have impressive reputations within the profession. If you start with that foundation, and answer the additional questions supplied in this post, 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 confident that you are prepared to start your career as a professional esthetician in Lovingston VA.