Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Palos Hills IL

How to Select a Beauty College near Palos Hills Illinois

nail technicians training at Palos Hills IL beauty school Now that you have decided to become a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Palos Hills IL, the task begins to locate and enroll in the ideal school. It’s important that the program you choose not only furnishes the necessary training for the specialty you have selected, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your initial search, you may be rather puzzled about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind of school. We’ll talk a little bit further regarding that in the next section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Palos Hills residence. Tuition will also be an important factor when reviewing potential schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it’s not always the right option. There are many other factors that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are considering later in this article. Before we do, let’s talk a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of training programs are available.

What is Cosmetology

Palos Hills IL makeup ar4tist applying makeup Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human anatomy look more attractive with the use of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are referred to as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but really a cosmetic may be almost anything that enhances the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states require that you take some type of specialized training and then become licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only Palos Hills IL beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have acquired experience and a customer base, open their own shops or salons. Others will begin servicing customers either in their own homes or will go to the client’s house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known 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 formerly mentioned, in the majority of states working cosmetologists have to be licensed. In a few states there is an exception. Only those conducting more skilled services, for example 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 Certificates and Degrees

Palos Hills IL hairdresser cutting hair There are basically two pathways available to get cosmetology training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs normally call for 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 all of the major areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you prefer to focus on just one area, for instance hair coloring. A degree program will also probably feature management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to manage a parlor or other Palos Hills IL business. Higher degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whichever type of program you go with, it’s imperative to make sure that it’s certified by the Illinois Board of Cosmetology. Many states only certify schools that are accredited by certain reputable organizations, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the advantages of accreditation for the school you decide on in the next section.

Online Cosmetologist Schools

student attending cosmetology school online in Palos Hills IL Online cosmetology programs are convenient for Palos Hills IL students who are employed full-time and have family commitments that make it hard to attend a more traditional school. There are many online cosmetology school programs available that can be attended via a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional beauty schools are often fast paced since many programs are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a large portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are covering the same amount of material, but you’re not devoting numerous hours outside of your home or driving to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s important that the program you pick can provide internship training in local salons and parlors in order that you also receive the hands-on training necessary for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s impossible to gain the skills required to work in any facet of the cosmetology field. So be sure if you decide to enroll in an online school to confirm that internship training is available in your area.

What to Ask Cosmetologist Trade Schools

Questions to ask Palos Hills IL beauty schools Following is a list of questions that you need to investigate for any cosmetologist training school you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Palos Hills IL residence, as well as the expense of tuition, will most likely be your initial qualifiers. Whether you would like 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 must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have collected several of those additional questions that you need to ask every school before making a final selection.

Is the School Accredited? It’s necessary to make sure that the cosmetology training program you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which typically are not available in 60465 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many Palos Hills IL employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Any cosmetology institute that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating companies for reviews along with the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Palos Hills IL salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the business, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not considered. And last, contact the Illinois school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in total compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty? Many beauty schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, for instance hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs commonly broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s imperative that you select 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 aspiration is to open a hair salon in Palos Hills IL, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly rated 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 cosmetology techniques and abilities demands lots of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the beauty courses you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that allow students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a beauty school offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead relies mainly on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the best option for cultivating your skills. So try to find other schools that provide this kind of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from a cosmetology program, it’s crucial that he or she gets support in finding that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer aid develope relationships with Palos Hills IL businesses that are seeking trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and inquire which salons and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Aid Available? Many beauty schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are considering have a financial aid office. Talk to 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 accessible to students as well. If a school meets each of your other qualifications except for cost, do not omit it as an option before you learn what financial assistance may be offered.

Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Palos Hills IL?

If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Palos Hills IL area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.

Palos Hills, Illinois

Palos Hills is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is a southwest suburb of Chicago. The city was established in 1958 and had reached a population of 17,484 in the 2010 census.[3] It is the home of Moraine Valley Community College as well as Amos Alonzo Stagg High School.

According to the 2010 census, Palos Hills has a total area of 4.292 square miles (11.12 km2), of which 4.25 square miles (11.01 km2) (or 99.02%) is land and 0.042 square miles (0.11 km2) (or 0.98%) is water.[4]

As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 17,665 people, 7,320 households, and 4,772 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,239.7 people per square mile (1,635.6/km²). There were 7,492 housing units at an average density of 1,798.1 per square mile (693.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.18% White, 5.48% African American, 0.11% Native American, 2.67% Asian, 1.11% Pacific Islander, 1.57% from other races, and 2.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.83% of the population.

Find the Right Beauty Vocational School near Palos Hills IL

Palos Hills IL barber blow drying client's hair Finding and enrolling in the right beauty program is essential to obtain the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel confident about your decision. Be sure to organize all of the information you get from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that information to compare schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the institution and program you pick are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the field. If you start with that base, and answer the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to start your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Palos Hills IL.