How to Enroll In a Beauty College near Hannastown Pennsylvania
Now that you have made a decision to become a cosmetologist and attend a beauty school near Hannastown PA, the process begins to search for and enroll in the best school. It’s imperative that the program you select not only furnishes the necessary training for the specialty you have decided on, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your initial search, you might be a little bit confused about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. We’ll speak a little bit more concerning that in the following segment. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Hannastown residence. Tuition will additionally be an important aspect when assessing potential schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it’s not necessarily the ideal option. There are a number of other factors that you should weigh when analyzing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are looking at later in this article. Before we do, let’s talk a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of courses are available.
What is Cosmetology
Cosmetology is a profession that is all about making the human anatomy look more beautiful through the use of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic can be anything that enhances the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states mandate that you take some type of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work environments include not only Hannastown PA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have acquired experience and a client base, establish their own shops or salons. Others will begin seeing customers either in their own residences or will travel to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many 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 already mentioned, in most states working cosmetologists have to be licensed. In some states there is an exception. Only those performing more skilled services, for instance hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people working in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.
Cosmetology Degrees and Certificates
There are essentially two options available to obtain cosmetology training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs generally call for 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 main areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are offered if you wish to concentrate on just one area, for example hair coloring. A degree program will also likely feature management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to run a salon or other Hannastown PA business. Higher degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whichever type of course you go with, it’s important to make sure that it’s approved by the Pennsylvania Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded organizations, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the advantages of accreditation for the school you decide on in the upcoming section.
Online Beauty Programs
Online beauty classes are advantageous for Hannastown PA students who are working full-time and have family commitments that make it challenging to enroll in a more traditional school. There are a large number of web-based cosmetology school programs available that can be attended through a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional cosmetology programs are typically fast paced given that many courses are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a significant portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are covering the same amount of material, but you are not spending numerous hours outside of your home or driving to and from classes. However, it’s vital that the school you pick can provide internship training in local salons and parlors to ensure that you also get the hands-on training needed for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s impossible to gain the skills needed to work in any facet of the cosmetology industry. So be sure if you choose to enroll in an online school to confirm that internship training is available in your area.
What to Ask Cosmetologist Training Courses
Below is a list of questions that you will want to research for any cosmetologist training school you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school in relation to your Hannastown PA home, as well as the expense of tuition, will probably be your primary 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 choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have put together several of those additional questions that you need to ask every 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 certified local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which often are not obtainable in 15635 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous Hannastown PA employers 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 college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating companies for reviews in addition to the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Hannastown PA salon owners or managers, or someone working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not thought of. Finally, consult the Pennsylvania school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances 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, providing training in a particular specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s essential that you choose a school that specializes in your area of interest. If your goal is to be trained as an esthetician, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your vision is to start a hair salon in Hannastown 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 weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you need.
Is Any Live Training Provided? Studying and perfecting cosmetology techniques and abilities demands plenty of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the beauty classes you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that make it possible for students to practice their developing skills on volunteers. If a beauty academy furnishes minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather depends heavily on the use of mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for developing your skills. Therefore look for other schools that furnish this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from a cosmetology program, it’s crucial that she or he receives support in landing that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide aid develope relationships with Hannastown PA businesses that are searching for skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which salons and establishments they refer students to. In addition, ask 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? Most cosmetology schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Talk to 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 as well. If a school meets all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not eliminate it as an option until you determine what financial assistance may be provided.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Hannastown PA?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Hannastown PA area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
Westmoreland County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. At the 2010 census, the population was 365,169.[1] The county seat is Greensburg.[2] Formed from, successively, Lancaster, Northumberland, and later Bedford Counties, Westmoreland County was founded on February 26, 1773, and was the first county in the colony of Pennsylvania whose entire territorial boundary was located west of the Allegheny Mountains. Westmoreland County originally included the present-day counties of Fayette, Washington, Greene, and parts of Beaver, Allegheny, Indiana, and Armstrong counties. It is named after Westmorland, a historic county of England.
At the 2010 census,[9] there were 365,169 people, 153,650 households and 101,928 families residing in the county. The population density was 355.4 per square mile (137.2/km²). There were 168,199 housing units at an average density of 163.7 per square mile (63.2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.3% White, 2.3% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.2% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. 0.9% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 153,650 households of which 24.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.2% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.7% were non-families. 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.86.
Pick the Right Beauty Training Program near Hannastown PA
Picking and enrolling in the right cosmetology college is imperative to get the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel positive about your decision. Be sure to compile all of the information you get from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to contrast schools. A good start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the academy and program you choose are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the field. If you start 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. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are qualified to launch your career as a professional cosmetologist in Hannastown PA.
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