How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Pittsfield VT

How to Select an Esthetics Program near Pittsfield Vermont

Pittsfield VT esthetician client with cucumber facial Since you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Pittsfield VT, the process begins to locate and enroll in the right program. It’s essential that the school you choose not only provides the necessary instruction for the specialty you have chosen, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you may be rather confused about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are basically interchangeable and both refer to the same type of school. We’ll discuss a little bit more about that in the upcoming segment. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Pittsfield residence. Tuition will additionally be an important consideration when reviewing prospective schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it’s not automatically the right choice. There are various other considerations that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask about the cosmetology schools you are thinking about later in this article. Before we do, let’s talk a bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of courses are offered.

What is Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Pittsfield VT Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human body look more beautiful through the use of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but really a cosmetic may be almost anything that enhances the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, the majority of states require that you go through some kind of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only Pittsfield VT beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gotten experience and a clientele, launch their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing clients either in their own homes or will travel to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many titles 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 earlier stated, in the majority of states working cosmetologists have to be licensed. In certain states there is an exception. Only those performing 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 be licensed in those states.

Esthetics Degrees and Certificates

Pittsfield VT esthetician client with face mask There are primarily two pathways offered to receive esthetician training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs usually 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 major areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are available if you wish to focus on just one area, for instance esthetics. A degree program will also probably include management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to operate a parlor or other Pittsfield VT business. More advanced degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whichever type of course you opt for, it’s important to make sure that it’s certified by the Vermont Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only approve schools that are accredited by certain respected agencies, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the advantages of accreditation for the school you decide on in the upcoming section.

Online Esthetician Training

woman attending esthetician school online in Pittsfield VT Online esthetician classes are accommodating for Pittsfield VT students who are employed full-time and have family commitments that make it hard to attend a more traditional school. There are numerous web-based cosmetology school programs available that can be attended through a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional beauty programs are typically fast paced due to the fact that many courses are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a substantial portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are covering the same amount of material, but you are not spending numerous hours outside of your home or driving to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s important that the school you select can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors so that you also obtain the hands-on training needed for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s difficult to gain the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology profession. So make sure if you choose to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is provided in your area.

What to Ask Esthetician Training Classes

Pittsfield VT models benefit from esthetic treatments Following is a list of questions that you need to investigate for any esthetician training program you are contemplating. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Pittsfield home, as well as the cost of tuition, will most likely be your initial qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you should research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Following we have collected some of those supplemental questions that you should ask each school before making a final selection.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s essential to make certain that the esthetician college you select is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged 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 can also be essential for securing student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not obtainable in 05762 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous Pittsfield VT businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Any esthetician school that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating services for reviews as well as the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Pittsfield VT salon owners or managers, or any person working in the business, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not considered. And finally, check with the Vermont school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty? Some esthetician schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs commonly broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s essential that you pick a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your intention is to be trained as an esthetician, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and well regarded for that program. If your dream is to start a Pittsfield VT beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly regarded school with a weak program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you require.

Is Any Live Training Provided? Practicing and mastering esthetician skills and techniques requires lots of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is provided in the cosmetology courses you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that make it possible for students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a beauty school provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather relies mainly on the use of mannequins, it might not be the best option for acquiring your skills. Therefore try to find other schools that furnish this kind of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from an esthetician academy, it’s important that she or he gets aid in securing that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide help develop relationships with Pittsfield VT employers that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and ask which salons and businesses they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Assistance Offered? The majority of 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. Consult with a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you may qualify for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students too. If a school meets all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not omit it as an option before you determine what financial assistance may be offered.

Attending Esthetician School Near Pittsfield VT?

Perhaps you live in the Pittsfield Vermont 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.

Pittsfield, Vermont

Granted on November 8, 1780, the town was chartered on July 29, 1781, to Samuel Wilcox and 129 others. Pittsfield was named after Pittsfield, Massachusetts, which itself had been named in honor of William Pitt. It was first settled in 1786. The town proved suitable for grazing livestock because of its mountainous terrain.[4] Indeed, in the 19th-century, humorists attributed the invention of the one-legged milking stool to Pittsfield, "...as a means of conquering a stern difficulty."[5]

The Farmhouse pictured in this 1915 Postcard to the left still stands and was converted in 1960 to The Fleur De Lis Lodge, for travelers and skiers to stay. Six rooms remain in the original farmhouse, while seven more rooms were added to the new section above the great room.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 20.0 square miles (52 km2), all land. Set among the Green Mountains, Pittsfield is drained by the Tweed River, a tributary of the White River.

Select the Right Esthetician Training Program near Pittsfield VT

Selecting and enrolling in the right esthetician college is essential to get the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel positive about your decision. Don’t forget to compile all of the responses you get from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to compare schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the school and program you choose are accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and address the additional questions supplied in this post, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the right selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are ready to start your career as a professional esthetician in Pittsfield VT.