Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Pleasantville PA

How to Pick a Beauty College near Pleasantville Pennsylvania

nail technicians training at Pleasantville PA beauty school Since you have decided to train as a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Pleasantville PA, the process starts to search for and enroll in the right school. It’s essential that the school you select not only furnishes the appropriate education for the specialty you have decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your preliminary search, you may be a little bit unclear about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are basically interchangeable and both refer to the same type of school. We’ll talk a little bit more concerning that in the following segment. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Pleasantville residence. Tuition will also be an important factor when reviewing potential schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it’s not necessarily the right choice. There are various other considerations that you should evaluate when comparing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are considering later in this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of courses are offered.

Definition of Cosmetology

Pleasantville PA makeup ar4tist applying makeup Cosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human body look more attractive through the application of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are referred to 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. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, most states require that you go through some kind of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only Pleasantville PA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gotten experience and a client base, establish their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing customers either in their own homes or will travel to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many 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 already stated, in the majority of states working cosmetologists have to be licensed. In some states there is an exemption. Only those performing 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.

Cosmetologist Certificates and Degrees

Pleasantville PA hairdresser cutting hair There are essentially two options offered to obtain cosmetology training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs normally call for 12 to 18 months to complete, 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 main areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are offered if you wish to concentrate on just one area, for example hair coloring. A degree program will also likely include management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to manage a parlor or other Pleasantville PA business. Higher degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such areas as salon or spa management. Whatever type of program you choose, it’s imperative to make sure that it’s recognized by the Pennsylvania Board of Cosmetology. Many states only approve schools that are accredited by certain reputable agencies, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the advantages of accreditation for the school you choose in the following segment.

Online Beauty Training

student attending cosmetology school online in Pleasantville PA Online beauty classes are advantageous for Pleasantville PA students who are employed full-time and have family commitments that make it hard to attend a more traditional school. There are many web-based beauty school programs offered that can be attended by means of a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional cosmetology programs are frequently fast paced because many courses are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a large portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you’re not spending many hours away from your home or driving to and from classes. However, it’s vital that the school you pick can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors so that you also get the hands-on training required for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s difficult to acquire the skills needed to work in any facet of the cosmetology field. So be sure if you choose to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is provided in your area.

Questions to Ask Beauty Degree Programs

Questions to ask Pleasantville PA beauty schools Below is a list of questions that you should look into for any beauty training program you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Pleasantville PA residence, together with the expense of tuition, will most likely be your initial qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have put together some of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final selection.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s essential to make certain that the cosmetology training program you enroll in is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which often are not available in 16341 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous Pleasantville PA businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Any cosmetology institute that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating companies for reviews as well as the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Pleasantville PA salon owners or managers, or any person working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not thought of. And finally, consult the Pennsylvania school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus? Some cosmetology schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs often expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s imperative that you pick 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 respected for that program. If your dream is to start a hair salon in Pleasantville PA, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly ranked school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you need.

Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and mastering cosmetology skills and techniques involves plenty of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is provided in the cosmetology classes you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that make it possible for students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a beauty school furnishes limited or no scheduled live training, but rather depends mainly on the use of mannequins, it may not be the best option for cultivating your skills. Therefore look for alternate schools that provide this kind of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from a cosmetology program, it’s crucial that she or he gets help in securing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish aid develope relationships with Pleasantville PA businesses that are searching for qualified graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and ask which salons and businesses they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered? Many cosmetology schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid department. Talk to 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 as well. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications except for expense, do not eliminate it as an option before you learn what financial help may be offered.

Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Pleasantville PA?

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

Pleasantville, Pennsylvania

Select the Right Cosmetology Vocational School near Pleasantville PA

Pleasantville PA barber blow drying client's hair Choosing and enrolling in the right cosmetology school is important to get the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel positive about your decision. Make certain to compile all of the information you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that information to compare schools. A sensible start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the college and program you choose are accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and address the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the right selection. 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 cosmetologist in Pleasantville PA.