How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Stanardsville VA

How to Pick an Esthetics College near Stanardsville Virginia

Stanardsville VA esthetician client with cucumber facial Now that you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Stanardsville VA, the process starts to find and enroll in the ideal program. It’s essential that the program you choose not only provides the necessary education for the specialty you have selected, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your initial search, you may be rather puzzled about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. We’ll speak a little 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 Stanardsville home. Tuition will additionally be an important factor when reviewing possible schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it’s not automatically the right option. There are many other factors that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are thinking about later in this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of programs are offered.

Defining Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Stanardsville VA Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human body look more attractive through the use of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but really a cosmetic can be anything that enhances the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states mandate that you take some kind of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work environments include not only Stanardsville VA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have gotten experience and a clientele, establish their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing clients either in their own residences or will go to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by many titles and are employed in a wide variety of specialties including:

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

As earlier mentioned, in the majority of states working cosmetologists must be licensed. In some 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, which include shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.

Esthetics Certificates and Degrees

Stanardsville VA esthetician client with face mask There are primarily two pathways available to get esthetician training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs usually take 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 each of the main areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are offered if you want to concentrate on just one area, such as esthetics. A degree program will also likely feature management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to run a parlor or other Stanardsville VA business. Higher degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whatever type of course you opt for, it’s imperative to make certain that it’s certified by the Virginia Board of Cosmetology. Many states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded agencies, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the advantages of accreditation for the school you choose in the next segment.

Online Esthetics Classes

woman attending esthetician school online in Stanardsville VA Online esthetician programs are advantageous for Stanardsville VA students who are employed full-time and have family obligations that make it hard to enroll in a more traditional school. There are many web-based cosmetology school programs available that can be accessed by means of a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional beauty schools are typically fast paced since many programs are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a substantial portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are covering the same volume of material, but you’re not spending numerous hours outside of your home or travelling to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s important that the school you pick can provide internship training in area salons and parlors to ensure that you also obtain the hands-on training required for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s difficult to obtain the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology field. So make sure if you choose to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is provided in your area.

What to Ask Esthetics Training Programs

Stanardsville VA models benefit from esthetic treatments Following is a series of questions that you will want to look into for any esthetician training school you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Stanardsville residence, in addition to the price 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 reduced your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have collected several of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final selection.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s necessary to make certain that the esthetician school you enroll in 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which often are not available in 22973 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many Stanardsville VA businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation? Any esthetician institute that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating companies for reviews as well as the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Stanardsville VA salon owners or managers, or someone working in the trade, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. Finally, contact the Virginia school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty? Some esthetician schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for instance hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s imperative that you choose a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your goal is to be trained as an esthetician, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your aspiration is to open a Stanardsville VA beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly regarded school with a weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you need.

Is Any Live Training Provided? Practicing and perfecting esthetician techniques and abilities requires lots of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is included in the cosmetology courses you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that enable students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a beauty school offers little or no scheduled live training, but instead depends predominantly on using mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for cultivating your skills. Therefore search for alternate schools that provide this kind of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from an esthetician program, it’s essential that she or he gets help in landing that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish assistance maintain relationships with Stanardsville 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 establishments they refer students to. Additionally, 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 Aid Available? 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. Speak with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students as well. If a school meets all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not discard it as an option until you find out what financial help may be provided.

Attending Esthetician School Near Stanardsville VA?

Perhaps you live in the Stanardsville 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.

Stanardsville, Virginia

Stanardsville is a town in Greene County, Virginia, United States. The population was 367 at the 2010 census,[3] down from 476 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Greene County.[4] The name is from Robert Stanard, a benefactor who donated land for public use. It is part of the Charlottesville Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Stanardsville is named for Stanard family, landholders who surveyed the first lots for the town in 1794.[5] In 1838, Greene County was created from land previously contained within Orange County and Stanardsville was selected as the county seat.[6]

Stanardsville is located in central Greene County at 38°17′49″N 78°26′22″W / 38.29694°N 78.43944°W / 38.29694; -78.43944 (38.296852, -78.439367),[8] at the eastern foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains. U.S. Route 33 passes just south of the town, leading southeast 6 miles (10 km) to U.S. Route 29 at Ruckersville and northwest 8 miles (13 km) to Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park. State Highway 230 terminates at Business US 33 in the center of Stanardsville and leads northeast 11 miles (18 km) to US 29 near Madison.

Pick the Right Esthetician Training Program near Stanardsville VA

Selecting and enrolling in the right esthetician college is imperative to receive the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel certain about your decision. Make sure to consolidate all of the responses you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to contrast schools. A sensible start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the academy and program you choose are accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. If you begin with that foundation, and address the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to launch your new career as a professional esthetician in Stanardsville VA.