How to Find the Right Beauty College near Valentines Virginia
Since you have decided to become a cosmetologist and attend a beauty school near Valentines VA, the task starts to locate and enroll in the best school. It’s imperative that the school you choose not only provides the necessary training for the specialty you have decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your initial search, you may be somewhat confused about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind of school. We’ll talk a little bit further about that in the upcoming segment. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Valentines residence. Tuition will also be an important consideration when reviewing potential schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it’s not always the best choice. There are many other qualifications that you should evaluate when comparing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask about the cosmetology schools you are thinking about later in this article. Before we do, let’s talk a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of courses are available.
Defining Cosmetology
Cosmetology is a profession that is all about making the human anatomy look more attractive through the application of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but really a cosmetic can be anything that improves the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, the majority of states require that you take some type of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Valentines VA 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 start servicing clients either in their own residences or will go to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many professional 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 mentioned, in the majority of states working cosmetologists must be licensed. In some states there is an exemption. Only those offering 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 be licensed in those states.
Cosmetology Degrees
There are basically two pathways offered to obtain 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 take 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 instructed in each of the major areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are offered if you want to focus on just one area, for example hair coloring. A degree program will also most likely incorporate management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to operate a parlor or other Valentines VA business. Higher degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such areas as salon or spa management. Whatever type of course you go with, it’s important to make certain that it’s recognized by the Virginia Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only certify schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded organizations, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the benefits of accreditation for the school you decide on in the next section.
Online Beauty Training
Online cosmetology programs are advantageous for Valentines VA students who are employed full time and have family responsibilities that make it challenging to attend a more traditional school. There are numerous online cosmetology school programs offered that can be accessed by means of a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional cosmetology programs are often fast paced given that many programs are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a large amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are covering the same volume of material, but you are not spending numerous hours outside of your home or commuting back and forth from classes. However, it’s imperative that the program you choose can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors in order that you also receive the hands-on training required for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s difficult to obtain the skills necessary to work in any facet of the cosmetology field. So don’t forget if you choose to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.
What to Ask Cosmetology Schools
Below is a series of questions that you need to investigate for any beauty training school you are contemplating. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Valentines VA home, as well as the price of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you wish to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Following we have collected several of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final determination.
Is the School Accredited? It’s essential to make certain that the cosmetology school 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which often are not available in 23887 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of Valentines VA employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Every cosmetology 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 references from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly sought after. Check rating services for reviews along with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Valentines VA salon owners or managers, or any person working in the business, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. Finally, consult the Virginia school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Many beauty 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 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 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 desire is to open a hair salon in Valentines VA, 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 pursuing will not deliver the training you need.
Is Any Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and perfecting cosmetology techniques and abilities requires lots of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is included in the beauty classes you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that enable students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a beauty program offers little or no scheduled live training, but rather depends predominantly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the most effective option for cultivating your skills. Therefore search for alternate schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from a cosmetology program, it’s important that he or she receives help in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer assistance develope relationships with Valentines VA businesses that are seeking skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and ask which salons and organizations they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Aid Available? Most beauty schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid department. Talk to a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students also. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not discard it as an alternative before you find out what financial aid may be available.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Valentines VA?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Valentines VA area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
The Valentine
The Valentine is a museum in Richmond, Virginia dedicated to the history of the city. Founded by Mann S. Valentine II 1898,[1] it was the first museum in Richmond.[2] The Valentine offers exhibitions that focus on "American urban and social history, costumes and textiles, decorative arts and architecture."[3] The Valentine also includes the 1812 neoclassical Wickham House, a National Historical Landmark.[4] In 2014, the Valentine completed a $4.1 million renovation of its public exhibition galleries, lobby, museum store and education center.
The funds for the museum were provided by Mann S. Valentine II, who made his fortune with Valentine’s Meat Juice, a health tonic made from beef juice invented as early as 1870.[5] In 1874, Mann Valentine published "A Brief History of the Production of Valentine's Meat Juice Together With Testimonials of the Medical Profession."[6] This document included recommendations from Medical College of Virginia professors and doctors (e.g., J.B. McCaw and Hunter McGuire), University of Maryland medical professor Richard McSherry, Columbia University gynecology professor Theodore Gaillard Thomas, New York Board of Health resident surgeon Walter Reed, D.W. Yandell, president of the American Medical Association, various members of the Association of Medical Superintendents of American Institutions for the Insane, a report by the American Pharmaceutical Association, and a report by pharmaceuticals inventor E. R. Squibb regarding the use of Meat Juice in various settings in the U.S. Army. According to Style Weekly, the beef juice's "health claims were at best dubious."[7] Mann and his sons earned their fortune from the Valentine Meat Juice Company.[8]
During the late 19th century, the Valentines[9] began to collect in the fields of archaeology, anthropology, fine arts and decorative arts. Mann laid the foundation for the museum in 1892; when he died in 1893, he provided the original bequest for the Valentine Museum, leaving his collection of art and artifacts, the 1812 John Wickham House[10] and a $50,000 endowment.[11] Their collection of art and artifacts was the foundation of the exhibitions, when the Valentine Museum opened in 1898. Part of the original intent of the founding of the museum was to display these archeological artifacts in perpetuity,[12] after the family was embarrassed by an archeological hoax in North Carolina.[13][14] When it opened, the Valentine Museum was the first private museum in the City of Richmond[4]
Pick the Right Cosmetology Vocational School near Valentines VA
Locating and enrolling in the right cosmetology college is essential to get the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel positive about your decision. Make certain to organize all of the information you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to compare schools. A sensible start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the academy and program you decide on are accredited and have impressive reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and address the additional questions supplied in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are qualified to begin your career as a professional cosmetologist in Valentines VA.
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