How to Choose a Beauty College near South Sterling Pennsylvania
Once you have decided to become a cosmetologist and attend a beauty school near South Sterling PA, the process starts to search for and enroll in the right school. It’s imperative that the school you choose not only furnishes the appropriate training 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 somewhat puzzled about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are essentially interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. We’ll speak a little bit further concerning that in the following segment. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your South Sterling home. Tuition will also be a critical aspect when reviewing possible schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it’s not necessarily the ideal choice. There are several other considerations that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask concerning the cosmetology schools you are looking at later within this article. Before we do, let’s talk a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of programs are offered.
What is Cosmetology
Cosmetology is a profession that is all about making the human body look more attractive with the application of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that a number of 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 look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, most states mandate that you take some kind of specialized training and then become licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only South Sterling PA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gotten experience and a customer base, establish their own shops or salons. Others will start seeing clients either in their own homes or will go to the client’s house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many professional 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 previously stated, in the majority of states practicing cosmetologists have to be licensed. In some states there is an exemption. Only those offering more skilled services, for instance hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others working in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.
Cosmetologist Degrees and Certificates
There are essentially two pathways offered 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 trained in all of the major areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are offered if you prefer to focus on just one area, for instance hair coloring. A degree program will also likely include management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to operate a salon or other South Sterling PA business. Higher degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whichever type of training program you choose, it’s imperative to make certain that it’s certified by the Pennsylvania Board of Cosmetology. Many states only approve schools that are accredited by certain respected agencies, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the advantages of accreditation for the school you select in the next segment.
Online Beauty Courses
Online cosmetology schools are accommodating for South Sterling PA students who are working full-time and have family obligations that make it hard to enroll in a more traditional school. There are numerous online beauty school programs available that can be accessed through a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional beauty schools are often fast paced due to the fact that many courses are as short as six or eight months. This means that a significant amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are covering the same volume of material, but you are not spending many hours outside of your home or commuting back and forth from classes. However, it’s important that the program you pick can provide internship training in local salons and parlors to ensure that you also get the hands-on training necessary for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s difficult to acquire the skills needed to work in any facet of the cosmetology profession. So make sure if you decide to enroll in an online school to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.
What to Ask Cosmetology Training Classes
Below is a series of questions that you will want to research for any beauty training program you are considering. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school in relation to your South Sterling PA residence, together with the price of tuition, will most likely be your primary 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 options 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 compiled several of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final decision.
Is the School Accredited? It’s necessary 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 comply with their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for securing student loans or financial aid, which typically are not offered in 18460 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of South Sterling PA businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively 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 exceptional reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating companies for reviews as well as the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with South Sterling PA salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not considered. And finally, contact the Pennsylvania school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? A number of cosmetology schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for instance hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs commonly broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you select a school that specializes in your area of interest. If your ambition is to be trained as an esthetician, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your aspiration is to open a hair salon in South Sterling PA, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly ranked school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you require.
Is Any Live Training Provided? Studying and mastering cosmetology techniques and abilities requires plenty of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is provided in the beauty courses you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that enable students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a beauty academy furnishes limited or no scheduled live training, but rather depends heavily on the use of mannequins, it may not be the best option for cultivating your skills. So try to find alternate schools that offer this kind of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from a cosmetology school, it’s imperative that she or he receives support in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer aid develope relationships with South Sterling PA businesses that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and find out which salons and businesses they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Aid Available? Many beauty schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Consult with a counselor and find out 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 accessible to students as well. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not drop it as an option before you find out what financial help may be provided.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near South Sterling PA?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater South Sterling PA area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Pennsylvania Route 423
Pennsylvania Route 423 (PA 423) is a state route in Monroe and Wayne Counties in Pennsylvania. It runs for 14.32 miles (23.05 km), crossing through the Pocono Mountains from PA 940 in Pocono Pines to PA 191 in South Sterling. The route runs southwest-northeast through forested areas of the Pocono Mountains as a two-lane undivided road. In Tobyhanna, PA 423 has an interchange with Interstate 380 (I-380) and an intersection with PA 611. Farther northeast, the route crosses PA 196 in Gouldsboro. PA 490 was designated in 1928 to run from U.S. Route 611 (US 611) in Tobyhanna northeast to PA 90 (now PA 191) in Laanna. In the 1930s, the route was extended and realigned to run from PA 940 in Pocono Pines to PA 90 in South Sterling. PA 490 became PA 423 in the 1960s.
PA 423 begins at an intersection with PA 940 in the community of Pocono Pines. The route heads northbound as Warnertown Road, progressing around the shores of Lake Naomi. The surroundings of the highway are primarily residential. Just after the intersection with Firehouse Road in Pocono Pines, the road turns eastward along the westernmost shore of Lake Naomi. After PA 423 leaves the shoreline, it turns northward and continues through the residential hills north of the lake. The highway passes through a small community named Lake Naomi Estates. It soon passes a local school and leaves Lake Naomi Estates. The surroundings become woodlands as PA 423 darts northwest and soon to the northeast. The two-lane highway maintains the northeast progression through forests until turning north and crossing a creek. There it turns eastward and returns northeastward for several miles and after several changes enters the community of Warnertown. Just after crossing the small community, PA 423 enters an interchange with I-380.[2]
After crossing the interchange with I-380, PA 423 heads eastward and enters an at-grade intersection with PA 611 in Tobyhanna. The road is renamed to Prospect Street and enters downtown Tobyhanna, crossing through a residential stretch. At Main Street, Prospect Street ends and PA 423 turns northward onto Main Street. This does not last, as the designation darts northward on Church Street. Following Church Street out of downtown Tobyhanna, PA 423 crosses the Delaware–Lackawanna Railroad, passing the former Tobyhanna Station and interlocking tower for the switch to the Tobyhanna Army Depot. The highway continues north of the tracks and along the side of the Army Depot into a rural portion of Tobyhanna. The name changes from Church Street to Tobyhanna State Park Road, entering the namesake park near Tobyhanna Lake. PA 423 passes the dam attached at the end of the lake, and crosses along the side of the park. After passing the state campground entrance, the highway heads eastward through a stretch of woodlands, crossing and passing two routes of power lines. After passing to the north of a large residential complex, the highway intersects with PA 196 in Gouldsboro.[2]
Select the Right Cosmetologist Vocational School near South Sterling PA
Choosing and enrolling in the ideal cosmetology program is important to get the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel confident about your decision. Don’t forget to collect 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 contrast schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the college and program you select are accredited and have impressive reputations within the profession. If you start 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 proper choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to launch your career as a professional cosmetologist in South Sterling PA.
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