How to Find the Right Beauty School near Prompton Pennsylvania
Since you have made a decision to become a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Prompton PA, the process begins to search for and enroll in the best school. It’s imperative that the school you pick not only provides the appropriate instruction for the specialty you have chosen, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your preliminary search, you may be a little bit confused about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are essentially interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. We’ll discuss a bit further concerning that in the next section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Prompton residence. Tuition will also be an important factor when assessing possible schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it’s not necessarily the best option. There are many other factors that you should weigh when reviewing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask concerning the cosmetology schools you are looking at later within this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of courses are available.
Defining Cosmetology
Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human body look more beautiful with the application of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are referred to as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but really a cosmetic may be anything that enhances the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, the majority of states require that you go through some form of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only Prompton PA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have gained experience and a clientele, establish their own shops or salons. Others will begin seeing customers either in their own homes or will go to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by many names and work in a wide range of specializations including:
- Hairdressers
- Hairstylists
- Beauticians
- Barbers
- Manicurists
- Nail Technicians
- Makeup Artists
- Hair Coloring Specialists
- Estheticians
- Electrolysis Technicians
As already stated, in the majority of states practicing cosmetologists have to be licensed. In some states there is an exception. Only those performing more skilled services, for example hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people working in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.
Cosmetology Certificates and Degrees
There are basically two options offered 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 normally call for 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 all of the main areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you want to focus on just one area, for instance hair coloring. A degree program will also most likely include management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to run a salon or other Prompton PA business. Higher degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whichever type of program you decide on, it’s imperative to make certain that it’s recognized by the Pennsylvania Board of Cosmetology. Many states only certify schools that are accredited by certain respected agencies, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the benefits of accreditation for the school you choose in the upcoming segment.
Online Beauty Courses
Online beauty schools are accommodating for Prompton PA students who are working full-time and have family commitments that make it difficult to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of web-based beauty school programs available that can be accessed by means of a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional beauty schools are often fast paced because many courses are as short as six or eight months. This means that a large amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are covering the same amount of material, but you’re not spending numerous hours away from your home or commuting back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it’s imperative that the program you choose can provide internship training in local 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 impossible to acquire the skills needed to work in any area of the cosmetology industry. So make sure if you choose to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.
Questions to Ask Cosmetology Training Courses
Below is a series of questions that you need to look into for any cosmetologist training school you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Prompton PA home, in addition to the price of tuition, will most likely be your first qualifiers. Whether you wish to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have compiled several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each school before making a final decision.
Is the School Accredited? It’s important to make sure that the cosmetology training program you select is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for getting student loans or financial aid, which typically are not available in 18456 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of Prompton PA employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Every cosmetologist school that you are seriously considering 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 businesses where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly demanded. Check rating companies for reviews as well as the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Prompton 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 last, contact the Pennsylvania school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances 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, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, for instance hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs often expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s imperative that you decide on 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 well regarded for that program. If your vision is to launch a hair salon in Prompton PA, 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 weak program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you need.
Is Any Live Training Provided? Learning and mastering cosmetology skills and techniques involves plenty of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the beauty classes you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that enable students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a beauty school provides little or no scheduled live training, but instead depends predominantly on the use of mannequins, it might not be the best option for cultivating your skills. Therefore search for other schools that offer this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from a cosmetology academy, it’s important that he or she gets support in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide aid maintain relationships with Prompton PA businesses that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and inquire which salons and establishments 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 offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are considering have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you may qualify for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students too. If a school meets all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not discard it as an alternative before you learn what financial assistance may be provided.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Prompton PA?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Prompton PA area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Prompton, Pennsylvania
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.7 square miles (4.4 km2), of which, 1.6 square miles (4.1 km2) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) of it (7.51%) is water.
As of the census[7] of 2010, there were 250 people, 104 households, and 68 families residing in the borough. The population density was 156.25 people per square mile (60.3/km²). There were 111 housing units at an average density of 69.4 per square mile. The racial makeup of the borough was 96.8% White and 3.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.2% of the population.
There were 104 households out of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.2% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.6% were non-families. 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.96.
Select the Right Cosmetologist Training Program near Prompton PA
Finding and enrolling in the ideal cosmetologist college is essential to receive the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel confident about your decision. Be sure to consolidate all of the information you get from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to contrast schools. A good start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the institution and program you decide on are accredited and have impressive reputations within the profession. If you begin with that foundation, and address the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are ready to begin your career as a professional cosmetologist in Prompton PA.
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