Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Croydon PA

How to Select a Cosmetologist College near Croydon Pennsylvania

nail technicians training at Croydon PA beauty school Once you have decided to train as a cosmetologist and attend a beauty school near Croydon PA, the task begins to search for and enroll in the ideal school. It’s important that the school you choose not only provides the proper instruction for the specialty you have decided on, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your preliminary search, you may be a little bit puzzled about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are essentially interchangeable and both refer to the same kind of school. We’ll speak a little bit further about that in the next section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Croydon residence. Tuition will also be an important aspect when evaluating prospective schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it’s not automatically the right choice. There are several other qualifications that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are thinking about later within this article. Before we do, let’s talk a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of training programs are available.

Defining Cosmetology

Croydon PA makeup ar4tist applying makeup Cosmetology is a profession that is all about making the human anatomy look more beautiful 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 word cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic may be anything that enhances the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states require that you take some kind of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only Croydon PA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gained experience and a customer base, open their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing customers either in their own homes or will go to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many professional names and are employed in a wide variety of specialties including:

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

As formerly stated, in most states working cosmetologists must be licensed. In a few states there is an exemption. Only those conducting 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 be licensed in those states.

Cosmetologist Certificates and Degrees

Croydon PA hairdresser cutting hair There are essentially two options available to get 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 generally take 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 trained in each of the major areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you want to specialize in just one area, for instance hair coloring. A degree program will also most likely incorporate management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to run a parlor or other Croydon PA business. Higher degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whichever type of training program you opt for, it’s essential to make sure that it’s recognized by the Pennsylvania Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only certify schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded organizations, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the benefits of accreditation for the school you choose in the next segment.

Online Cosmetology Courses

student attending cosmetology school online in Croydon PA Online beauty programs are advantageous for Croydon PA students who are employed full-time and have family responsibilities that make it challenging to attend a more traditional school. There are numerous web-based beauty school programs offered that can be accessed through a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional cosmetology programs are often fast paced given that many programs are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a large portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, 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. However, it’s imperative that the school you choose can provide internship training in local salons and parlors to ensure that you also get the hands-on training required for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s difficult to acquire the skills necessary to work in any facet of the cosmetology field. So don’t forget if you choose to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.

What to Ask Beauty Programs

Questions to ask Croydon PA beauty schools Below is a series of questions that you should investigate for any cosmetologist training program you are contemplating. As we have already discussed, the location of the school relative to your Croydon PA home, in addition to the expense of tuition, will most likely be your first qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have put together several of those supplemental questions that you should ask each school before making a final decision.

Is the School Accredited? It’s essential to make certain that the cosmetology school 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 necessary for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which often are not available in 19021 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous Croydon PA businesses will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Great Reputation? Any beauty college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating services for reviews in addition to the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Croydon PA salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the field, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to propose others that you had not considered. Finally, consult the Pennsylvania school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty? Some cosmetology schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs often broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s essential that you choose 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 desire is to launch a hair salon in Croydon PA, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly ranked school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you need.

Is Any Live Training Provided? Practicing and refining cosmetology techniques and abilities involves plenty of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is provided in the cosmetology lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that allow students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a beauty program furnishes minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather relies mainly on using mannequins, it may not be the most effective option for developing your skills. Therefore try to find other schools that furnish this type of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from a cosmetology academy, it’s crucial that he or she receives aid in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish assistance develope relationships with Croydon PA employers that are seeking skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and inquire which salons and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Assistance Offered? The majority of beauty schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid department. Consult with a counselor and identify 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 also. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not drop it as an option until you determine what financial assistance may be available.

Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Croydon PA?

If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Croydon PA area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.

Croydon, Pennsylvania

Croydon does not have a central government of its own. It is not organized or incorporated as a town or village. The area known as Croydon is located in Bristol Township. Croydon has an all-volunteer fire company which handles fire, medical, marine, and other calls servicing the community named Croydon Fire Company#1. Croydon uses zip code 19021.

Several notable mid-size businesses are headquartered in the business district of Croydon, including PAC Industries and Denaq Laptop Batteries. [[Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company] [Johnston's Sporting Goods] [Blask of Croydon] [White Oak's Pharmacy]] is also located in Croydon.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 6.4 km2 (2.5 sq mi), all of it land. Croydon is bordered to the south by Neshaminy Creek, which is tidal, and navigable by small vessels (about a 8 ft (2.4 m) to 6 ft (1.8 m) draft at high tide). There are several private marinas on the Neshaminy, and a Commonwealth of Pennsylvania marina (part of Neshaminy State Park) at the mouth of the creek. The Neshaminy empties into the Delaware River, which borders Croydon to the east, and forms the boundary between Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The Delaware is tidal in Croydon, and is navigable by ocean-going vessels (40 foot marked / maintained channel) as far upriver as Trenton, New Jersey.

Pick the Right Beauty School near Croydon PA

Croydon PA barber blow drying client's hair Finding and enrolling in the ideal cosmetologist program is imperative to receive the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel certain about your decision. Don’t forget to compile all of the information you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that data to contrast schools. A good start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the college and program you pick are accredited and have impressive 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 ideal choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are prepared to start your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Croydon PA.