How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Gloucester Point VA

How to Pick an Esthetician College near Gloucester Point Virginia

Gloucester Point VA esthetician client with cucumber facial Once you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Gloucester Point VA, the task begins to find and enroll in the right program. It’s essential that the program you select not only provides the proper instruction for the specialty you have chosen, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your preliminary search, you might be rather unclear about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both relate to the same type of school. We’ll speak a little bit further regarding that in the next segment. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Gloucester Point home. Tuition will also be an important aspect when evaluating prospective schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it’s not always the right option. There are a number of other factors that you should evaluate when comparing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask about the cosmetology schools you are considering later in this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of training programs are available.

Defining Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Gloucester Point VA Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human anatomy look more beautiful with the use of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but really a cosmetic can be anything that enhances the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, most states require that you go through some type of specialized training and then become licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only Gloucester Point VA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have acquired experience and a customer base, open their own shops or salons. Others will begin seeing customers either in their own residences or will go to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by many titles and work in a wide variety of specialties including:

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

As previously stated, in the majority of states practicing cosmetologists must be licensed. In some states there is an exemption. Only those offering more skilled services, for instance hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others employed in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.

Esthetics Degrees and Certificates

Gloucester Point VA esthetician client with face mask There are basically two options available to receive esthetician training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs typically require 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 trained in all of the main areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are available if you want to specialize in just one area, such as esthetics. A degree program will also probably include management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to run a parlor or other Gloucester Point VA business. More advanced degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such areas as salon or spa management. Whatever type of training program you decide on, it’s essential to make sure that it’s approved by the Virginia Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only certify schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded agencies, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the advantages of accreditation for the school you choose in the upcoming section.

Online Esthetics Schools

woman attending esthetician school online in Gloucester Point VA Online esthetician schools are convenient for Gloucester Point VA students who are employed full-time and have family obligations that make it difficult to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of online beauty school programs available that can be accessed through a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional beauty schools are typically fast paced due to the fact that many courses are as short as six or eight months. This means that a substantial amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are covering the same volume of material, but you are not devoting numerous hours outside of your home or travelling back and forth from classes. However, it’s essential that the program you choose can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors so that you also get the hands-on training required for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s difficult to obtain the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology industry. So be 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 Programs

Gloucester Point VA models benefit from esthetic treatments Below is a list of questions that you need to look into for any esthetician training school you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Gloucester Point home, in addition to the cost of tuition, will undoubtedly be your initial qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue 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 even more factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have compiled some of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final selection.

Is the School Accredited? It’s important to make sure that the esthetician training program you choose 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for securing student loans or financial aid, which typically are not available in 23062 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many Gloucester Point VA employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation? Every esthetician school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating services for reviews along with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Gloucester Point VA salon owners or managers, or someone working in the business, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to propose others that you had not considered. And last, consult the Virginia school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty? Many esthetician schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, for instance hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s essential that you enroll in a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your intention is to be trained as an esthetician, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your desire is to start a Gloucester Point 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 poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you need.

Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and refining esthetician techniques and abilities involves lots of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is provided in the beauty classes you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that enable students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a beauty program provides limited or no scheduled live training, but instead depends mainly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the best option for developing your skills. Therefore try to find other schools that furnish this kind of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from an esthetician academy, it’s crucial that she or he gets assistance in securing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide assistance develop relationships with Gloucester Point VA businesses that are seeking skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and ask which salons and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Aid Available? Most esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid department. Consult with a counselor and learn 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 accessible to students too. If a school meets each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not drop it as an alternative before you determine what financial aid may be available.

Attending Esthetician School Near Gloucester Point VA?

Perhaps you live in the Gloucester Point 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.

Gloucester Point, Virginia

Gloucester Point is a census-designated place (CDP) in Gloucester County, Virginia, United States. The population was 9,402 at the 2010 census.[3] It is home to the College of William & Mary's Virginia Institute of Marine Science, a graduate school for the study of oceanography.

Gloucester Point is located in southern Gloucester County at 37°16′12″N 76°29′55″W / 37.27000°N 76.49861°W / 37.27000; -76.49861 (37.269907, −76.498604),[4] on the north side of the York River in southeastern Virginia. To the south across the river on U.S. Route 17 and the George P. Coleman Memorial Bridge is Yorktown, site of the conclusion of the American Revolutionary War. From Gloucester Point, US 17 leads south through Yorktown 18 miles (29 km) to the center of Newport News and north 12 miles (19 km) to Gloucester Courthouse, the Gloucester County seat.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Gloucester Point CDP has a total area of 16.4 square miles (42.4 km2), of which 9.4 square miles (24.3 km2) are land and 7.0 square miles (18.1 km2), or 42.58%, are water,[3] consisting of the tidal York River and its inlets, including Sarah Creek and part of Timberneck Creek.

Enroll in the Right Esthetics School near Gloucester Point VA

Choosing and enrolling in the ideal esthetician school is essential to receive the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel positive about your decision. Make certain to compile all of the information you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that information to compare schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence process 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 base, and answer the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are ready to launch your new career as a professional esthetician in Gloucester Point VA.