Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Bluemont VA

How to Choose a Cosmetology School near Bluemont Virginia

nail technicians training at Bluemont VA beauty schoolNow that you have made a decision to train as a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Bluemont VA, the process starts to search for and enroll in the right school. It’s essential that the program you select not only provides the proper training 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 distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are basically interchangeable and both refer to the same kind of school. We’ll speak a bit more about that in the upcoming segment. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Bluemont home. Tuition will additionally be a critical consideration when assessing prospective schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it’s not always the right option. There are a number of other considerations that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for example 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 discuss a bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of training programs are available.

Definition of Cosmetology

Bluemont VA makeup ar4tist applying makeupCosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human body look more beautiful with the application of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic may be anything that improves the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, most states require that you undergo some kind of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work environments include not only Bluemont VA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have acquired experience and a customer base, launch their own shops or salons. Others will start seeing clients either in their own residences or will go to the client’s house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many titles and work in a wide variety of specializations including:

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

As earlier 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, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others working in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.

Cosmetologist Certificates and Degrees

Bluemont VA hairdresser cutting hairThere are basically two options available to receive 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 generally take 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 prefer to concentrate on just one area, for instance hair coloring. A degree program will also probably include management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to manage a salon or other Bluemont VA business. More advanced degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whatever type of program you go with, it’s imperative to make certain that it’s certified by the Virginia Board of Cosmetology. Many states only approve schools that are accredited by certain reputable organizations, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the benefits of accreditation for the school you choose in the upcoming section.

Online Cosmetologist Schools

student attending cosmetology school online in Bluemont VAOnline cosmetology classes are convenient for Bluemont VA students who are employed full time and have family commitments that make it difficult to enroll in a more traditional school. There are many online cosmetology school programs available that can be attended by means of a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional beauty programs are typically fast paced since many programs are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a substantial portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are covering the same amount of material, but you are not devoting numerous hours away from your home or driving back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it’s important 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 comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s difficult to acquire the skills required to work in any facet of the cosmetology profession. So don’t forget if you choose to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is available in your area.

What to Ask Cosmetologist Training Classes

Questions to ask Bluemont VA beauty schoolsBelow is a series of questions that you will want to research for any cosmetology training program you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Bluemont VA home, as well as the price of tuition, will most likely be your initial qualifiers. Whether you want to earn 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 need to research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have collected some of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final selection.

Is the School Accredited? It’s important to make certain that the cosmetology college 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not offered in 20135 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many Bluemont VA employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation?  Any cosmetology institute that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good starting point. 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, attesting that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating services for reviews along with the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Bluemont VA salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to propose others that you had not considered. And last, contact the Virginia school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in total compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty?  Many beauty schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs commonly expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s essential that you select 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 vision is to launch a hair salon in Bluemont VA, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly rated school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you require.

Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided?  Learning and mastering cosmetology skills and techniques involves lots of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the cosmetology classes you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that allow students to practice their growing talents on volunteers. If a beauty program offers little or no scheduled live training, but rather depends heavily on the use of mannequins, it may not be the most effective option for developing your skills. Therefore look for alternate schools that provide this kind of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance?  When a student graduates from a cosmetology school, it’s crucial that he or she receives assistance in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide help maintain relationships with Bluemont VA employers that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which salons and organizations they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Aid Available?  Almost all cosmetology schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Consult with a counselor and find out 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 offered to students also. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not drop it as an alternative before you determine what financial aid may be available.

Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Bluemont VA?

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

Bluemont, Virginia

Bluemont is an unincorporated community in Loudoun County, Virginia located at the base of Snickers Gap in the Blue Ridge Mountain. As of 2010, the Bluemont postal area had a population of 2,834. At 680 feet (210 m), it is the highest community in Loudoun County. Originally named Snickersville, Bluemont changed its name to attract Washingtonians out to it when a predecessor of the Washington and Old Dominion Railroad was extended to the town from Round Hill. It is located on Virginia Route 7 just west of the incorporated town of Round Hill. Every fall it is home to the Bluemont Fair.

A nearby landmark is Mount Weather, an operations and training facility above ground for the Federal Emergency Management Agency and is rumored to contain an underground facility designed to house or replace the American government in the case of nuclear warfare.

The settlement of the area that is now Bluemont began in the 1770s when a connection was made between the old Winchester Pike, which led from Loudoun to Winchester via Keyes' (Vestals) Gap, and the Colchester Road which ran from the port of Colchester to Winchester via Snickers Gap (named after Edward Snickers, who operated a ferry across the nearby Shenandoah River).[1]

Enroll in the Right Cosmetologist Training Program near Bluemont VA

Bluemont VA barber blow drying client's hairChoosing and enrolling in the ideal cosmetology college is essential to receive the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel confident about your decision. Make sure to compile all of the information you get from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to contrast schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the school and program you decide on are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the profession. If you start with that foundation, 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 proper choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are ready to begin your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Bluemont VA.

Other Beautiful Locations in Virginia

  • Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Howardsville VA
  • Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Spencer VA
  • Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Narrows VA
  • Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Bluefield VA
  • Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Stevensville VA
  • Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Newsoms VA
  • Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Village VA
  • Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Boyce VA
  • Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Sealston VA
  • Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Whitetop VA
  •  

     

    The location could not be found.

     

    Business Results 1 - 10 of 4

    Permanent Makeup and Esthetics
    20 Reviews
    Skin Care, Permanent Makeup, Makeup Artists
    Phone:
    17337-B Pickwick Dr, Purcellville, VA 20132

    VAU Artistry
    9 Reviews
    Eyelash Service, Makeup Artists, Waxing
    Phone:
    10554 Associates Ct, Manassas, VA 20109

    Salon & Day Spa
    16 Reviews
    Skin Care, Hair Stylists, Massage
    Phone:
    10350 Portsmouth Rd, Manassas, VA 20109

    JET Cosmetics
    4 Reviews
    Makeup Artists, Skin Care, Cosmetics & Beauty Supply
    Phone:
    At Exclusively Yours Salon, 6801 Northern Parkway (rear building), Baltimore, MD 21214