How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Stanley VA

How to Pick an Esthetics College near Stanley Virginia

Stanley VA esthetician client with cucumber facial Once you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Stanley VA, the task begins to search for and enroll in the best program. It’s imperative that the program you choose not only provides the appropriate training for the specialty you have chosen, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your initial search, you may be a little bit puzzled about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. We’ll talk a little bit further about that in the upcoming segment. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Stanley home. Tuition will additionally be a critical aspect when assessing prospective schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it’s not always the best option. There are many other factors that you should evaluate when comparing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask about the cosmetology schools you are looking at later in this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of courses are available.

Definition of Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Stanley VA Cosmetology is a profession that is all about making the human anatomy look more attractive through the use of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but actually 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, the majority of 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 Stanley VA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have gained experience and a customer base, open their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing customers either in their own homes 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 range of specialties including:

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

As formerly mentioned, in the majority of states practicing cosmetologists have to be licensed. In some states there is an exception. Only those offering more skilled services, for instance hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people working in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.

Esthetician Degrees

Stanley VA esthetician client with face mask There are primarily two options available to receive esthetician training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs usually 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 instructed in each of the major areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are available if you prefer to specialize in just one area, for example 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 Stanley VA business. Higher degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such areas as salon or spa management. Whichever type of course you choose, it’s essential to make sure that it’s recognized by the Virginia Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only approve schools that are accredited by certain respected agencies, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the advantages of accreditation for the school you choose in the following segment.

Online Esthetics Classes

woman attending esthetician school online in Stanley VA Online esthetician classes are convenient for Stanley VA students who are working full time and have family responsibilities that make it difficult to attend a more traditional school. There are numerous online cosmetology school programs available that can be attended through a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional cosmetology schools are often fast paced given that many courses are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a significant amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are covering the same amount of material, but you’re not devoting many hours outside of your home or commuting back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it’s imperative that the program you pick can provide internship training in local salons and parlors so that you also obtain the hands-on training required for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s difficult to gain the skills required to work in any area of the cosmetology industry. So make sure if you decide to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is available in your area.

What to Ask Esthetics Training Programs

Stanley VA models benefit from esthetic treatments Following is a list of questions that you need to look into for any esthetician training program you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Stanley home, together with the expense of tuition, will most likely be your initial qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn 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 put together several of those supplemental questions that you should ask every school before making a final selection.

Is the School Accredited? It’s important to make certain that the esthetician school you choose is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified 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 assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which often are not obtainable in 22851 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of Stanley VA employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Great Reputation? Every esthetician college that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating services for reviews along with the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Stanley VA salon owners or managers, or someone working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not considered. And last, contact the Virginia school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in total compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus? Many esthetician schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s imperative that you select a school that specializes in 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 well regarded for that program. If your desire is to launch a Stanley 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 ranked school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you require.

Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Practicing and mastering esthetician skills and techniques demands lots of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the cosmetology classes you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that allow students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a beauty school furnishes limited or no scheduled live training, but instead relies mainly on using mannequins, it may not be the most effective option for developing your skills. Therefore look for alternate schools that furnish this type of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from an esthetician academy, it’s imperative that he or she gets help in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide assistance develop relationships with Stanley VA businesses that are looking for trained 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. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Assistance Available? Almost all esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Consult with a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you might get approved for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students as well. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not discard it as an alternative before you find out what financial assistance may be available.

Attending Esthetician School Near Stanley VA?

Perhaps you live in the Stanley 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.

Stanley, Virginia

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 1,326 people, 562 households, and 363 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,203.8 people per square mile (465.4/km²). There were 598 housing units at an average density of 542.9 per square mile (209.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.89% White, 1.28% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.49% of the population.

There were 562 households out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.1% were married couples living together, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the town, the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.5 males.

Pick the Right Esthetics School near Stanley VA

Finding and enrolling in the ideal esthetician school is important to get the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel positive about your decision. Don’t forget to collect all of the information you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to compare schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the institution and program you select are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and address the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are ready to launch your career as a professional esthetician in Stanley VA.