How to Find the Right Beauty School near Edinboro Pennsylvania
Since you have decided to train as a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Edinboro PA, the process starts to search for and enroll in the best school. It’s important that the program you pick not only furnishes the appropriate instruction for the specialty you have chosen, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your preliminary search, you might be a little bit unclear about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are pretty much interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. We’ll talk a 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 Edinboro home. Tuition will likewise be a critical factor when reviewing possible schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it’s not automatically the ideal choice. There are various other qualifications that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask about the cosmetology schools you are looking at later in this article. Before we do, let’s talk a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of training programs are available.
Defining Cosmetology
Cosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human body look more attractive through the application of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are referred to as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic can be anything that improves the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, the majority of states mandate that you undergo some type of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Edinboro PA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gotten experience and a client base, open their own shops or salons. Others will start seeing customers either in their own homes or will go to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many names 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 formerly mentioned, in the majority of states working cosmetologists have to be licensed. In certain states there is an exception. Only those performing more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others working in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.
Cosmetologist Degrees and Certificates
There are basically two avenues available to get cosmetology training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs usually 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 instructed in all of the major areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are available if you wish to concentrate on just one area, for example hair coloring. A degree program will also probably feature management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to manage a salon or other Edinboro PA business. More advanced degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whatever type of program you go with, it’s essential to make certain that it’s certified by the Pennsylvania Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain reputable agencies, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the benefits of accreditation for the school you choose in the following segment.
Online Beauty Classes
Online beauty classes are advantageous for Edinboro PA students who are employed full time and have family responsibilities that make it difficult to enroll in a more traditional school. There are a large number of online cosmetology school programs offered that can be accessed through a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional beauty schools are typically fast paced since many courses are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a significant amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you are not spending many hours outside of your home or driving back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it’s vital that the school you choose can provide internship training in area salons and parlors to ensure that you also get the hands-on training necessary for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s impossible to gain the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology profession. So be sure if you choose to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is available in your area.
What to Ask Beauty Degree Programs
Below is a series of questions that you should research for any beauty training program you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school in relation to your Edinboro PA home, as well as the expense of tuition, will most likely be your primary 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 choices based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you should research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have put together several of those additional questions that you need to ask every school before making a final decision.
Is the Program Accredited? It’s essential to make certain that the cosmetology 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which often are not available in 16412 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many Edinboro PA employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Any cosmetologist school that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. 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, signifying that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating companies for reviews along with the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Edinboro PA salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the field, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to propose others that you had not looked into. And 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 comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing 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 objective is to be trained as an esthetician, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and well regarded for that program. If your vision is to start a hair salon in Edinboro PA, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly ranked school with a weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you need.
Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and refining cosmetology techniques and abilities requires lots of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is included in the beauty courses you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that make it possible for students to practice their developing skills on volunteers. If a beauty school provides little or no scheduled live training, but rather depends mainly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the best option for acquiring your skills. Therefore try to find alternate schools that furnish this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from a beauty academy, it’s essential that he or she receives help in finding that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer aid develope relationships with Edinboro PA businesses that are seeking qualified graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and inquire which salons and businesses they refer students to. In addition, ask 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 cosmetology schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid department. Talk to a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you might get approved for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students also. If a school meets all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not drop it as an alternative until you determine what financial aid may be provided.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Edinboro PA?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Edinboro PA area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Edinboro, Pennsylvania
Edinboro is a borough in Erie County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the Erie Metropolitan Statistical Area. As home to Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, it is a small college town, as well as a resort community. The population was 6,438 at the 2010 census,[3] down from 6,950 at the 2000 census.
The Eriez, Iroquois, and Cornplanter Native tribes were the first known residents of the area that is now known as Edinboro. The tribes called the region Conneauttee, meaning "land of the living snowflake". A man by the name of William Culbertson moved to the area in 1801, building a gristmill near Conneauttee Lake.[4]
From 1801 to 1825, the roots of the town were formed when congregations of Presbyterian and Methodist churches begun moving to the area and building houses and churches, some that are still around today. The original resident, William Culbertson, built the first school around 1825. The first post office was built and formed around 1837 when it was included in the Erie and Crawford counties postal routes. The farms helped the area grow during this time, and the area was incorporated in 1840 with a population of 232 at about 500 acres (200 ha). A turnpike between Erie and Meadville was constructed in the 1840s, made of wooden planks, and completed in 1852. In 1857, an academy was started, which was renamed the State Normal School in 1861, which would eventually become Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.[4]
Choose the Right Cosmetology School near Edinboro PA
Picking and enrolling in the right beauty college is important to obtain the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel positive about your decision. Don’t forget to compile all of the information you get from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that information to compare schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the academy and program you decide on are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and answer the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to start your career as a professional cosmetologist in Edinboro PA.
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