How to Enroll In a Cosmetology College near Chatsworth Illinois
Once you have made a decision to become a cosmetologist and attend a beauty school near Chatsworth IL, the task begins to locate and enroll in the right school. It’s imperative that the program you choose not only provides the appropriate instruction 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 unclear about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. We’ll speak a little bit more about that in the following segment. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Chatsworth home. Tuition will additionally be an important factor when assessing prospective schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it’s not always the right choice. There are various other considerations that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are looking at later in this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of training programs are available.
Defining Cosmetology
Cosmetology is a profession that is all about making the human anatomy look more attractive with the use of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are referred to as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but really a cosmetic may be anything that enhances the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, most states require that you take some kind of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Chatsworth IL beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gotten experience and a client base, open their own shops or salons. Others will start seeing customers either in their own residences or will go 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 earlier stated, in the majority of states practicing cosmetologists have to be licensed. In certain states there is an exception. Only those performing more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others working in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.
Cosmetology Certificates and Degrees
There are primarily two options available 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 take 12 to 18 months to complete, 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. Briefer programs are offered if you prefer to specialize in just one area, for example hair coloring. A degree program will also likely incorporate management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to manage a salon or other Chatsworth IL business. Higher degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered 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 recognized by the Illinois Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only certify schools that are accredited by certain respected agencies, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the benefits of accreditation for the school you select in the upcoming section.
Online Cosmetologist Training
Online beauty schools are convenient for Chatsworth IL students who are working full-time and have family obligations that make it hard to enroll in a more traditional school. There are numerous web-based beauty school programs offered that can be accessed via a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional cosmetology schools are often fast paced because many programs are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a significant portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are covering the same volume of material, but you’re not devoting numerous hours away from your home or commuting back and forth from classes. However, it’s important that the school you pick can provide internship training in area salons and parlors so that you also receive the hands-on training required for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s difficult to obtain the skills needed to work in any facet of the cosmetology field. So make sure if you choose to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is provided in your area.
Questions to Ask Beauty Programs
Below is a list of questions that you should look into for any beauty training school you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school relative to your Chatsworth IL home, together with the expense of tuition, will undoubtedly be your primary qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you should research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have collected some of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final selection.
Is the School Accredited? It’s essential to make certain that the cosmetology school you enroll in 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 measure up to their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for securing student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not offered in 60921 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous Chatsworth IL businesses will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Each beauty college that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly sought after. Check rating services for reviews in addition to the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Chatsworth IL salon owners or managers, or any person working in the trade, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not considered. And last, consult the Illinois school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Some beauty schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs commonly expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you choose a school that focuses on 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 well regarded for that program. If your desire is to launch a hair salon in Chatsworth IL, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly regarded school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you need.
Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and refining cosmetology techniques and abilities demands lots of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the beauty lessons you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that make it possible for students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a beauty school provides little or no scheduled live training, but rather relies predominantly on the use of mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for cultivating your skills. So try to find other schools that offer this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? As soon as a student graduates from a beauty academy, it’s important that she or he gets support in finding that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer assistance develope relationships with Chatsworth IL businesses that are searching for skilled graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and inquire which salons and establishments they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected 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 office. Speak with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you may qualify for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students also. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not discard it as an alternative before you determine what financial assistance may be offered.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Chatsworth IL?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Chatsworth IL area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Chatsworth, Illinois
Chatsworth was laid out by Zeno Secor (1809 – 25 October 1875)[6] and Cornelia Gilman on 8 June 1859. Both founders were from New York. Secor was a member of the Board of Directors of the company that was building the Peoria and Oquawka Railroad.[7] He was a noted civil engineer and marine engine designer, who was involved with a number of railroads. Secor was later president of the Toledo Peoria and Western Railroad. Secor is best known for building a number of ironclad warships for the Union Navy. Cornelia Gilman was perhaps the person of that name who was the wife of Samuel Gilman, another director of the firm, and the man who gave his name to the nearby town of Gilman, Illinois.[8] The town of Chatsworth is perhaps named for Chatsworth House, the home of the Duke of Devonshire.[9] Trains were running along the Peoria and Oquawka Railroad before the town was platted. The railroad soon became the Toledo, Peoria and Western.
Chatsworth was surveyed by Nelson Buck, the County Surveyor of Livingston County.[10] However the plan used was virtually identical to that used at Fairbury, including the street names, and very similar to that used at Gridley, El Paso and other places along the Peoria and Oquawka Railroad. This suggests that the railroad supplied the plan from which Buck worked. Like these other towns, Chatsworth was centered a long narrow depot grounds rather than a public square. The plat of the Original Town was exceptionally large, covering 160 acres (0.65 km2) and consisting of forty-two blocks, most located north of the railroad. The early depot was on the south side of the tracks.[11] Block 16 of the plat was not divided into lots and 1878 was being called the City Park. It was eventually planted with over 500 maple trees and a pavilion was added in 1962.[12]
The first building was a story and a half frame structure used as both a residence and story, which was built by Charles D. Brooks and Truman Brockway of New York. Brooks was also the first postmaster and the first grain dealer. Early growth of the town was very rapid and by 1870 Chatsworth had 1,493 people. The first hotel was the Cottage House built by Samuel Patton. Soon a newspaper, the Plaindealer, was being published.[13] In 1879 a second railroad, the Kankakee and Southwestern, passed through the town and was given a right of way down Second Street. In 1887 the town rendered aid in the train accident known as the Great Chatsworth Train Wreck. Telephone service came in 1883 and an electric light plant was built in 1894. In March 1924 seventy to one hundred men arrived in town to work on a paved highway, at first known as the Corn Belt Trail, which soon became Route 24 and formed an important east-west route across Illinois.[14]
Enroll in the Right Beauty Training Program near Chatsworth IL
Selecting and enrolling in the ideal cosmetologist college is imperative to receive the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel certain about your decision. Make certain to organize all of the information you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to compare schools. A good beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the school and program you choose are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. If you begin with that foundation, and address the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to begin your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Chatsworth IL.
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