How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Ravenswood WV

How to Choose an Esthetician Program near Ravenswood West Virginia

Ravenswood WV esthetician client with cucumber facial Since you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Ravenswood WV, the process begins to find and enroll in the right program. It’s essential that the school you choose not only furnishes the proper education for the specialty you have decided on, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you might be somewhat unclear about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both refer to the same type of school. We’ll speak a bit further regarding that in the following segment. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Ravenswood home. Tuition will additionally be a critical aspect when evaluating potential schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it’s not automatically the best choice. There are several other qualifications that you should weigh when analyzing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are considering later within this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of courses are offered.

Definition of Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Ravenswood WV Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human body look more beautiful through the use of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Many 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, almost all states require that you take some type of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only Ravenswood WV beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gained experience and a clientele, establish their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing clients either in their own residences or will travel to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by many 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 already stated, in most states working cosmetologists have to be licensed. In certain states there is an exemption. Only those offering more skilled services, for example 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

Ravenswood WV esthetician client with face mask There are primarily two avenues offered 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 generally call for 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 all of the main areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are available if you wish to concentrate on 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 Ravenswood WV 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 decide on, it’s imperative to make certain that it’s certified by the West Virginia Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only approve schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded agencies, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the advantages of accreditation for the school you decide on in the next section.

Online Esthetician Programs

woman attending esthetician school online in Ravenswood WV Online esthetician programs are convenient for Ravenswood WV students who are employed full time and have family commitments that make it challenging to enroll in a more traditional school. There are numerous online cosmetology school programs available that can be accessed via a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional beauty schools are often fast paced due to the fact that many courses are as short as six or eight months. This means that a substantial portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are covering the same amount of material, but you’re not devoting many hours away from your home or driving back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it’s imperative that the training program you select can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors in order that you also get the hands-on training required for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s difficult to obtain the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology profession. So don’t forget if you decide to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is provided in your area.

Questions to Ask Esthetician Training Courses

Ravenswood WV models benefit from esthetic treatments Below is a list of questions that you need to look into for any esthetician training program you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Ravenswood residence, together with the cost of tuition, will undoubtedly be your primary qualifiers. Whether you wish 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 need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Following we have compiled several of those supplemental questions that you should ask every school before making a final selection.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s important to make sure that the esthetician college you choose is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified 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 quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not obtainable in 26164 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous Ravenswood WV businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation? Every esthetician institute that you are seriously considering 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. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating services for reviews along with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Ravenswood WV salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the field, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to suggest others that you had not looked into. Finally, consult the West Virginia school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus? Some esthetician schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs often 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 desire is to launch a Ravenswood WV 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 poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you need.

Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Studying and perfecting esthetician techniques and abilities requires lots of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the beauty classes you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that allow students to practice their growing talents on volunteers. If a beauty school provides little or no scheduled live training, but rather depends predominantly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the most effective option for developing your skills. Therefore look for other schools that furnish this type of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance? As soon as a student graduates from an esthetician program, it’s crucial 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 aid maintain relationships with Ravenswood WV businesses that are searching for skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and find out which salons and organizations they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Assistance Available? 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 office. Talk to a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you may get approved for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students too. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not discard it as an alternative before you learn what financial aid may be offered.

Attending Esthetician School Near Ravenswood WV?

Perhaps you live in the Ravenswood West 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.

Ravenswood, West Virginia

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 3,876 people, 1,657 households, and 1,061 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,118.0 inhabitants per square mile (817.8/km2). There were 1,807 housing units at an average density of 987.4 per square mile (381.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 97.4% White, 0.2% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.0% of the population.

There were 1,657 households of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.7% were married couples living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.0% were non-families. 32.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.90.

The median age in the city was 42.4 years. 23% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.4% were from 25 to 44; 23.9% were from 45 to 64; and 23.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.6% male and 53.4% female.

Pick the Right Esthetician School near Ravenswood WV

Choosing and enrolling in the right esthetician program is imperative to obtain the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel certain about your decision. Don’t forget to organize all of the information you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that information to compare 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 outstanding reputations within the field. If you begin with that foundation, and answer the additional questions supplied in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to start your new career as a professional esthetician in Ravenswood WV.