How to Find the Right Esthetics Training Program near Ashburn Virginia
Now that you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Ashburn VA, the task starts to find and enroll in the ideal program. It’s important that the school you choose not only provides the appropriate instruction for the specialty you have chosen, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your preliminary search, you might be rather puzzled about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are essentially interchangeable and both relate to the same type of school. We’ll speak a bit more regarding that in the upcoming section. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Ashburn home. Tuition will additionally be a critical aspect when assessing potential schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it’s not always the best choice. There are a number of other qualifications that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, for instance 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 bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of programs are offered.
What is Cosmetology
Cosmetology is a profession that is all about making the human anatomy look more beautiful with the application of cosmetics. So of course 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 actually a cosmetic may be almost anything that improves the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states mandate that you go through some type of specialized training and then become licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only Ashburn VA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have gotten experience and a clientele, open their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing clients either in their own homes or will travel to the client’s house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many names and work in a wide variety of specialties including:
- Estheticians
- Hairdressers
- Hairstylists
- Beauticians
- Barbers
- Manicurists
- Nail Technicians
- Makeup Artists
- Hair Coloring Specialists
- Electrolysis Technicians
As formerly stated, in the majority of states practicing cosmetologists have to be licensed. In some states there is an exception. Only those conducting more skilled services, for example hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others working in cosmetology and less skilled, such as shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.
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Esthetics Degrees
There are basically two options available to receive esthetician training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can work toward 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 trained in each of the main areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are offered if you prefer to specialize in just one area, such as esthetics. A degree program will also most likely feature management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to manage a salon or other Ashburn VA business. Higher degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whichever type of training program you go with, it’s important to make sure that it’s certified by the Virginia Board of Cosmetology. Many states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded agencies, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the advantages of accreditation for the school you select in the next section.
Online Esthetics Programs
Online esthetician schools are advantageous for Ashburn VA students who are employed full-time and have family obligations that make it difficult to attend a more traditional school. There are numerous online beauty school programs offered that can be accessed by means of a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional cosmetology schools are often fast paced given that 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’re not devoting numerous hours away from your home or travelling back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it’s vital that the training program you select can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors to ensure that you also receive the hands-on training needed for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s impossible to acquire the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology profession. So make sure if you decide to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is available in your area.
What to Ask Esthetician Programs
Following is a list of questions that you will want to research for any esthetician training program you are contemplating. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Ashburn residence, together with the expense of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have put together some of those supplemental questions that you should ask each school before making a final determination.
Is the School Accredited? It’s important to make sure that the esthetician training program you enroll in is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified 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 guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for getting student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not offered in 20146 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous Ashburn VA employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Any esthetician college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly sought after. Check rating services for reviews as well as the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Ashburn VA salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not thought of. And last, consult the Virginia school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Some esthetician schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for instance hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s imperative that you decide on a school that specializes in your area of interest. If your objective 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 desire is to launch a Ashburn VA beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly regarded school with a weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you need.
Is Enough Live Training Provided? Learning and refining esthetician skills and techniques demands lots of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the beauty courses you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that allow students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a beauty school provides little or no scheduled live training, but rather depends heavily on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for developing your skills. So search for other schools that offer this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from an esthetician school, it’s essential that she or he gets help in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide assistance develop relationships with Ashburn VA businesses that are seeking trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and ask which salons and businesses they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Aid Available? The majority of esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid office. Speak with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you might 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 satisfies each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not eliminate it as an alternative until you determine what financial assistance may be provided.
Weekend Esthetics Colleges Ashburn Virginia
Finding and enrolling in the ideal esthetician school is imperative to obtain the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel positive about your decision. Make certain to organize all of the responses you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that information to contrast schools. A good beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the academy and program you choose are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Weekend Esthetics Colleges and wanting more information on the topic Aesthetician Training. However, if you begin with that foundation, and answer the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are prepared to start your career as a professional esthetician in Ashburn VA.
More Beauty Spots in Ashburn Virginia
Ashburn, Virginia
Ashburn is a census-designated place (CDP) in Loudoun County, Virginia. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 43,511.[3][6] It is 30 miles (48 km) northwest of Washington, D.C. and part of the Washington metropolitan area.
Ashburn was originally called Farmwell (variant names include Old Farmwell and Farmwell Station) after a nearby mansion of that name owned by George Lee III. The name "Farmwell" first appeared in George Lee's October 1802 will and was used to describe the 1,236-acre (500 ha) plantation he inherited from his father, Thomas Ludwell Lee II. A section of Farmwell plantation west of Ashburn Road, a 580-acre (230 ha) tract, was purchased in 1841 as a summer home by John Janney, a Quaker lawyer who nearly became Vice President of the United States. Janney called the property Ashburn Farm; the name's first known appearance in writing is 1870 when he sold the property. It is likely he named the farm after family friends whose name was "Ashburn".[11]
Ashburn is located at 39°02′37″N 077°29′15″W / 39.04361°N 77.48750°W / 39.04361; -77.48750 (39.0437192, −77.4874899) and its average elevation is 295 feet (90 m) above sea level.[1] According to the 2010 United States Census, the CDP has a total area of 17.287 square miles (44.77 km2), of which 17.025 square miles (44.09 km2) is land and 0.262 square miles (0.68 km2) is water.[2] Ashburn is located between Washington Dulles International Airport and Leesburg, the county seat of Loudoun County.
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