How to Select a Cosmetology College near Orkney Springs Virginia
Now that you have decided to become a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Orkney Springs VA, the process begins to locate and enroll in the best school. It’s essential that the school you pick not only provides the appropriate education for the specialty you have chosen, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your initial search, you may be somewhat unclear about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. We’ll talk a little bit further about that in the following section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Orkney Springs home. Tuition will additionally be a critical consideration when assessing possible schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it’s not always the best choice. There are a number of other considerations that you should evaluate when comparing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are thinking about later in this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of programs are available.
What is Cosmetology
Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human anatomy look more attractive with the application of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that many 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 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 undergo some type of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work environments include not only Orkney Springs VA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have acquired experience and a client base, launch their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing clients either in their own homes or will travel to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many titles and are employed in a wide range of specialties including:
- Hairdressers
- Hairstylists
- Beauticians
- Barbers
- Manicurists
- Nail Technicians
- Makeup Artists
- Hair Coloring Specialists
- Estheticians
- Electrolysis Technicians
As formerly mentioned, in the majority of states practicing cosmetologists must be licensed. In some states there is an exception. Only those conducting more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others employed in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.
Cosmetologist Certificates and Degrees
There are basically two pathways offered to receive cosmetology training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs normally 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 instructed in each of the main areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you wish to focus on just one area, such as 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 Orkney Springs VA business. Higher degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whatever type of course you opt for, it’s essential to make certain that it’s approved by the Virginia Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded organizations, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the advantages of accreditation for the school you select in the following section.
Online Cosmetologist Schools
Online beauty schools are convenient for Orkney Springs 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 available that can be accessed through a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional beauty schools are often fast paced since many courses are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a large portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are covering the same amount of material, but you are not devoting many hours outside of your home or driving back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it’s important that the school you select can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors so that you also obtain the hands-on training necessary for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s impossible to obtain the skills needed to work in any facet of the cosmetology profession. So make sure if you decide to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.
Questions to Ask Beauty Trade Schools
Following is a series of questions that you will want to investigate for any cosmetologist training school you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school in relation to your Orkney Springs VA residence, in addition to the expense of tuition, will probably be your first 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 preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have collected several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final determination.
Is the School Accredited? It’s important to make sure that the cosmetology training program you choose 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 comply with their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for getting student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not offered in 22845 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous Orkney Springs 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 an Excellent Reputation? Each cosmetology institute that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating services for reviews in addition to the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Orkney Springs VA salon owners or managers, or someone working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. And last, contact the Virginia 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? Some beauty schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs often broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you enroll in 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 well regarded for that program. If your aspiration is to start a hair salon in Orkney Springs VA, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly regarded school with a weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you need.
Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and mastering cosmetology techniques and abilities requires lots of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the cosmetology classes you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that enable students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a beauty school furnishes minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead relies mainly on the use of mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for cultivating your skills. Therefore try to find other schools that furnish this kind of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from a beauty academy, it’s imperative that she or he gets support in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide assistance maintain relationships with Orkney Springs VA employers that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and ask which salons and establishments they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Available? Many beauty schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid office. Talk to 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 accessible to students also. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not drop it as an option before you determine what financial assistance may be provided.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Orkney Springs VA?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Orkney Springs VA area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Orkney Springs, Virginia
Orkney Springs is an unincorporated community in western Shenandoah County, Virginia, United States. The reason for the name "Orkney" is unknown, but believed to be tied to either the Orkney Islands off the coast of Scotland or to the Earl of Orkney, since one of the earliest European landowners was Dr. John McDonald, a Scottish physician. The "Springs" part of the name comes from the numerous underground mineral springs in the area. Major Peter Higgins laid out the town in 1808, with a common area surrounded by lots; later archeological research found relics of prior Native American use of the site.
The first public hotel was built in the early 19th century, as tourists arrived to sample the healing waters. Those private hotels on the former common green consolidated into the Orkney Springs Hotel. Most of the original buildings still stand, have been restored, and are in use today. The Orkney Springs Hotel was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976, and its most current restoration finished in 1987.[1] The Virginia House is believed to be the largest wooden structure in Virginia. It dates to the 1870s and is on the National Historical Register. The Maryland House dates to the mid-1850s, but collapsed and was rebuilt after the Civil War. The Orkney Springs Hotel was owned privately until 1979 when it was purchased by the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia and became part of their retreat center Shrine Mont.[2]
The Episcopal Church had offered services in the town since the 19th century, and it had been a favorite retreat of Bishop Robert Atkinson Gibson from 1876 until his death in 1919. Bishop Gibson purchased a cottage in town which he called Tanglewood, and refitted an abandoned schoolhouse as a chapel. They became the heart of Shrine Mont, after his son-in-law, Rev. Edmund Lee Woodward, M.D. (a former medical missionary to China), built another cottage and what became the diocese's Cathedral Shrine of the Transfiguration and donated them to the diocese. This open-air outdoor worship space, built of native stone, was consecrated on August 6, 1925, by Bishop William Cabell Brown. The retreat center continued to purchase buildings in the town, including the hotel in 1979. Shrine Mont now hosts conferences and retreats, especially from March–November, as well as many family reunions, summer camps for children and teenagers. Multiple worship services are held in the cathedral on Sundays. Shrine Mont also hosts the annual Shenandoah Valley Music Festival, from July until Labor Day.
Enroll in the Right Beauty Vocational School near Orkney Springs VA
Picking and enrolling in the ideal beauty school is important to get the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel confident about your decision. Be sure to consolidate all of the responses you get from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to compare schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the institution and program you choose are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the profession. If you begin with that foundation, and address the additional questions supplied in this post, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the right selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are ready to launch your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Orkney Springs VA.
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