How to Pick a Cosmetologist College near Hummelstown Pennsylvania
Now that you have decided to become a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Hummelstown PA, the task begins to find and enroll in the ideal school. It’s important that the program you pick not only furnishes the proper education for the specialty you have selected, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your preliminary search, you may be a little bit puzzled about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both refer to the same kind of school. We’ll talk a bit more regarding that in the next section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Hummelstown home. Tuition will additionally be an important factor when evaluating possible schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it’s not automatically the ideal option. There are several other considerations that you should weigh 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 within this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of training programs are offered.
Defining Cosmetology
Cosmetology is a profession that is all about making the human body look more beautiful with the use of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic can be anything that enhances the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, the majority of states require that you go through some type of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only Hummelstown PA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have gotten experience and a client base, launch their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing clients either in their own residences or will go to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many 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 previously stated, in most states working cosmetologists must be licensed. In a few states there is an exception. Only those performing more skilled services, for example hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others employed 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 upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs typically 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 instructed in all of the main areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are offered if you wish 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 manage a salon or other Hummelstown PA business. More advanced degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such areas as salon or spa management. Whichever type of training program you opt for, it’s imperative to make sure that it’s recognized by the Pennsylvania Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only certify schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded agencies, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the benefits of accreditation for the school you select in the following segment.
Online Beauty Schools
Online cosmetology schools are accommodating for Hummelstown PA students who are working full time and have family commitments that make it challenging to attend a more traditional school. There are many web-based cosmetology school programs offered that can be attended through a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional cosmetology schools are frequently fast paced given that many courses are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a significant amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are covering the same volume of material, but you’re not spending numerous hours outside of your home or driving back and forth from classes. However, it’s essential that the training program you choose can provide internship training in area salons and parlors to ensure that you also obtain the hands-on training necessary for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s difficult to acquire the skills needed to work in any area of the cosmetology field. So make sure if you choose to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is available in your area.
What to Ask Beauty Programs
Following is a list of questions that you should research for any beauty training program you are contemplating. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Hummelstown PA residence, together with the price of tuition, will probably be your primary qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Following we have compiled some of those supplemental questions that you should ask each school before making a final determination.
Is the School Accredited? It’s necessary to make sure that the cosmetology college you select 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not available in 17036 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of Hummelstown PA businesses 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? Every beauty school that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly sought after. Check rating services for reviews in addition to the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Hummelstown PA salon owners or managers, or any person working in the field, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to suggest others that you had not looked into. And finally, check with the Pennsylvania school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? A number of beauty schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, for instance hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs commonly 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 vision is to launch a hair salon in Hummelstown PA, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly rated school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you need.
Is Enough Live Training Provided? Learning and perfecting cosmetology skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is included in the cosmetology courses you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that enable students to practice their growing talents on volunteers. If a beauty academy provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead relies heavily on the use of mannequins, it might not be the best option for cultivating your skills. So look for alternate schools that offer this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? As soon as a student graduates from a beauty program, it’s crucial that she or he gets assistance in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer aid maintain relationships with Hummelstown PA employers that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and find out which salons and businesses they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Assistance Available? Most cosmetology schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are considering have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and learn 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 available to students too. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not drop it as an alternative before you find out what financial help may be available.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Hummelstown PA?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Hummelstown PA area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Hummelstown, Pennsylvania
Originally named "Fredrickstown", the village was established in 1762.[6] The borough's mayor is Bradley Koulfman . Hummelstown is a Tree City and is located in District 15 of the Pennsylvania State Senate, centrally located between Harrisburg and Hershey, making it a common tourist drive-through. It has several businesses and shops designed to capitalize on the amount of tourist travel through the small town.[7]
Hummelstown was founded as "Fredrickstown" in 1762 by two Germans, Frederick and Rosina Hummel.[6] They purchased the land for 200 pounds sterling, then divided the area into building lots, which were sold to German settlers. During the mid 19th century, the Union Canal along Swatara Creek was an important factor in the development of the local economy, promoting trade and transportation.
The town was located on the Berks-Dauphin Turnpike, and later it was served by the Union Canal[8] which paralleled Swatara Creek bordering the north and the west sides of the town, and was opened in 1827. The Lebanon Valley Railroad arrived in 1858. This brought about many jobs of stone cutting and shipyard work and helped facilitate the Hummelstown Brownstone Company which became the leading employer of Hummelstown residents.[8] The company mined Hummelstown brownstone at its quarries from 1867 until 1929. The company was the largest producer of brownstone on the East Coast.
Pick the Right Cosmetology College near Hummelstown PA
Locating and enrolling in the ideal cosmetology college is essential to get the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel positive about your decision. Make sure to collect all of the responses you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that information to contrast schools. A good start in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the college and program you pick are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. If you begin with that foundation, and answer the additional questions supplied in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the ideal choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to start your career as a professional cosmetologist in Hummelstown PA.
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