Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Unionville PA

How to Find the Right Cosmetology School near Unionville Pennsylvania

nail technicians training at Unionville PA beauty school Since you have made a decision to become a cosmetologist and attend a beauty school near Unionville PA, the process starts to search for and enroll in the ideal school. It’s essential that the school you select not only provides the necessary training for the specialty you have decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your preliminary search, you might be a little bit confused about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind of school. We’ll discuss a little bit further about that in the upcoming section. If you intend on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Unionville home. Tuition will likewise be a critical aspect when assessing prospective schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it’s not necessarily the right option. There are many other factors that you should evaluate when comparing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will go over 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 types of programs are offered.

What is Cosmetology

Unionville PA makeup ar4tist applying makeup Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human body look more beautiful through the application of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are referred to as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but really a cosmetic may be almost anything that enhances the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, most states require that you undergo some form of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only Unionville PA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have acquired experience and a clientele, establish their own shops or salons. Others will begin seeing customers either in their own residences or will travel to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many professional names and are employed in a wide variety of specializations including:

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

As already mentioned, in most states working cosmetologists must be licensed. In some states there is an exception. Only those offering more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people working in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.

Cosmetologist Degrees and Certificates

Unionville PA hairdresser cutting hair There are essentially two pathways 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 require 12 to 18 months to finish, while an Associate’s degree commonly 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 available if you wish to focus on just one area, for instance hair coloring. A degree program will also probably incorporate management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to manage a parlor or other Unionville PA business. More advanced degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whichever type of training program you go with, it’s essential to make sure that it’s certified by the Pennsylvania Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only certify schools that are accredited by certain respected organizations, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the benefits of accreditation for the school you select in the following segment.

Online Cosmetology Courses

student attending cosmetology school online in Unionville PA Online cosmetology classes are advantageous for Unionville PA students who are employed full time and have family obligations that make it difficult to attend a more traditional school. There are many online cosmetology school programs available that can be accessed through a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional cosmetology schools are frequently fast paced given that many courses are as short as six or eight months. This means that a substantial portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are covering the same amount of material, but you are not spending many hours outside of your home or commuting back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it’s essential that the school you pick can provide internship training in local salons and parlors so that you also receive the hands-on training needed for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s difficult to gain the skills necessary to work in any facet of the cosmetology field. So don’t forget if you choose to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is provided in your area.

What to Ask Cosmetology Trade Schools

Questions to ask Unionville PA beauty schools Following is a list of questions that you should investigate for any cosmetologist training school you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school in relation to your Unionville PA residence, together with the price of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have collected several of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final selection.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s essential to make sure that the cosmetology training program you select is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which typically are not available in 19375 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of Unionville PA businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Each cosmetologist institute that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating services for reviews along with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Unionville PA salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the business, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not thought of. Finally, contact the Pennsylvania school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty? Many cosmetology schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating 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 imperative that you select a school that specializes in your area of interest. If your intention is to be trained as an esthetician, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your vision is to start a hair salon in Unionville PA, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly regarded school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you need.

Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and mastering cosmetology techniques and abilities demands plenty of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is included in the beauty lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that enable students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a beauty academy provides little or no scheduled live training, but rather relies mainly on the use of mannequins, it may not be the most effective alternative for developing your skills. Therefore search for 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 program, it’s imperative that she or he receives assistance in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer aid maintain relationships with Unionville PA employers that are looking for qualified graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and find out which salons and establishments they refer students to. In addition, 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 regarded as well.

Is Financial Assistance Available? Many cosmetology schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Speak with a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you might get approved for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students too. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not eliminate it as an alternative until you find out what financial assistance may be provided.

Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Unionville PA?

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

Unionville, Pennsylvania

Select the Right Cosmetology School near Unionville PA

Unionville PA barber blow drying client's hair Picking and enrolling in the ideal cosmetologist college is essential to obtain the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel confident about your decision. Make sure to organize all of the information you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to contrast schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the institution and program you choose are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and address the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the proper selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to begin your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Unionville PA.