How to Choose the Right Cosmetology Training Program near Lexington Virginia
Now that you have made a decision to become a cosmetologist and attend a beauty school near Lexington VA, the task begins to locate and enroll in the right school. It’s important that the program you choose not only furnishes the necessary instruction for the specialty you have decided on, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your preliminary search, you may be rather puzzled about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. We’ll discuss a little bit further about that in the following section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Lexington residence. Tuition will also be an important consideration when evaluating possible schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it’s not necessarily the best choice. There are various other factors that you should evaluate when comparing 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 bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of programs are available.
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Definition of Cosmetology
Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human anatomy look more attractive with the application 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 word 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, most states mandate that you go through some kind of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work environments include not only Lexington VA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gained experience and a client base, open their own shops or salons. Others will begin servicing customers either in their own residences or will travel to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many titles and work in a wide variety of specialties including:
- Hairdressers
- Hairstylists
- Beauticians
- Barbers
- Manicurists
- Nail Technicians
- Makeup Artists
- Hair Coloring Specialists
- Estheticians
- Electrolysis Technicians
As earlier stated, in the majority of states practicing cosmetologists must be licensed. In some states there is an exemption. Only those performing more skilled services, for example hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people working in cosmetology and less skilled, such as shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.
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Cosmetology Degrees
There are basically two options available to obtain cosmetology 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 normally require 12 to 18 months to finish, while an Associate’s degree usually takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be instructed in all of the main areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are offered if you want to focus on just one area, such as hair coloring. A degree program will also most likely incorporate management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to manage a salon or other Lexington 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 important 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 highly regarded organizations, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the advantages of accreditation for the school you choose in the upcoming segment.
Online Beauty Training
Online cosmetology programs are convenient for Lexington VA students who are employed full time and have family obligations that make it hard to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of online beauty school programs available that can be attended through a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional beauty programs are typically fast paced given that many courses are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a substantial portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you’re not spending numerous hours outside of your home or driving back and forth from classes. However, it’s vital that the program you choose can provide internship training in local salons and parlors in order that you also receive the hands-on training needed for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s difficult to gain the skills needed to work in any area of the cosmetology industry. So be sure if you decide to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is provided in your area.
What to Ask Cosmetologist Programs
Below is a series of questions that you should research for any cosmetologist training program you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school in relation to your Lexington VA home, together with the expense of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you wish 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 preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have collected some of those supplemental questions that you should ask every school before making a final decision.
Is the School Accredited? It’s important to make certain that the cosmetology training program you select is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not obtainable in 24450 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of Lexington VA businesses will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Any cosmetologist college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly regarded. Check rating services for reviews together with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Lexington VA salon owners or managers, or any person working in the field, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to propose others that you had not looked into. And last, contact the Virginia school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Many cosmetology schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating 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 commonly expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s imperative that you select a school that focuses on 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 respected for that program. If your aspiration is to start a hair salon in Lexington VA, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly regarded school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you need.
Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and refining cosmetology skills and techniques involves lots of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is provided in the cosmetology courses you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that enable students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a beauty program provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead relies mainly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for developing your skills. So look for other schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from a cosmetology program, it’s important that he or she gets assistance in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer aid maintain relationships with Lexington VA businesses that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and ask which salons and organizations they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Assistance Offered? Most cosmetology schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are considering have a financial aid office. Speak with a counselor and identify 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 offered to students as well. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications except for expense, do not omit it as an alternative before you find out what financial aid may be offered.
Beautician Courses Lexington Virginia
Choosing and enrolling in the right cosmetologist program is imperative to get the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. You originally came to this website because you have an interest in Beautician Courses and learning more about the topic School For Cosmetology. So be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel confident about your decision. Be sure to compile all of the information you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that information to contrast schools. A good 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 field. If you begin with that base, and address the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are ready to launch your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Lexington VA.
Other Beautiful Virginia Locations
Lexington, Virginia
Lexington is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. At the 2010 census, the population was 7,042.[5] It is the county seat of Rockbridge County,[6] although the two are separate jurisdictions. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Lexington (along with nearby Buena Vista) with Rockbridge County for statistical purposes. Lexington is about 57 miles (92 km) east of the West Virginia border and is about 50 miles (80 km) north of Roanoke, Virginia. It was first settled in 1777.
Lexington was named in 1778. It was the first of what would be many American places named after Lexington, Massachusetts, known for being the place at which the first shot was fired in the American Revolution.[7]
The Union General David Hunter led a raid on Virginia Military Institute during the American Civil War. Robert E. Lee and Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson are buried here. It is the site of the only house Jackson ever owned, now open to the public as a museum. Cyrus McCormick invented the horse-drawn mechanical reaper at his family's farm in Rockbridge County, and a statue of McCormick is located on the Washington and Lee University campus. McCormick Farm is now owned by Virginia Tech and is a satellite agricultural research center.
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