How to Find the Right Cosmetologist College near Locust Grove Arkansas
Now that you have made a decision to become a cosmetologist and attend a beauty school near Locust Grove AR, the process starts to search for and enroll in the ideal school. It’s imperative that the program you pick not only provides the appropriate education for the specialty you have chosen, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your preliminary search, you might be rather confused about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are basically interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind of school. We’ll speak a little bit more about that in the next section. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Locust Grove home. Tuition will likewise be a critical aspect when reviewing potential schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it’s not always the right choice. There are several other considerations that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask concerning the cosmetology schools you are thinking about later within this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of courses are available.
Defining Cosmetology
Cosmetology is a profession that is all about making the human body look more attractive through the application of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but really 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 take some type of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Locust Grove AR beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have gained experience and a clientele, launch their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing customers either in their own homes or will travel to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many names and work in a wide range of specializations including:
- Hairdressers
- Hairstylists
- Beauticians
- Barbers
- Manicurists
- Nail Technicians
- Makeup Artists
- Hair Coloring Specialists
- Estheticians
- Electrolysis Technicians
As formerly stated, in the majority of states practicing cosmetologists must be licensed. In certain states there is an exemption. Only those conducting more skilled services, for instance hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others employed in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.
Cosmetologist Certificates and Degrees
There are basically two pathways offered to receive cosmetology training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs generally call for 12 to 18 months to complete, 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 main areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are available if you prefer to concentrate on just one area, for instance hair coloring. A degree program will also most likely incorporate management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to operate a salon or other Locust Grove AR business. Higher degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whatever type of training program you choose, it’s important to make sure that it’s approved by the Arkansas Board of Cosmetology. Many states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded organizations, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the benefits of accreditation for the school you decide on in the next section.
Online Cosmetologist Programs
Online beauty programs are convenient for Locust Grove AR students who are employed full-time and have family obligations that make it hard to enroll in a more traditional school. There are many web-based cosmetology school programs available that can be attended through a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional cosmetology schools are frequently fast paced since many programs are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a large amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are covering the same volume of material, but you are not devoting numerous hours away from your home or commuting back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it’s important that the program you pick can provide internship training in area salons and parlors in order that you also receive the hands-on training required for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s difficult to gain the skills needed to work in any area of the cosmetology profession. So make sure if you choose to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is available in your area.
Questions to Ask Cosmetologist Programs
Below is a list of questions that you should research for any beauty training school you are contemplating. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Locust Grove AR residence, together with the price of tuition, will most likely be your first qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have put together some of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each school before making a final selection.
Is the School Accredited? It’s important to make certain that the cosmetology school you pick 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 measure up to their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not obtainable in 72550 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of Locust Grove AR employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Each cosmetology college that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating services for reviews as well as the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Locust Grove AR salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the trade, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. And last, contact the Arkansas school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? A number of cosmetology schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating 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 frequently expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you decide on a school that specializes in your area of interest. If your intention 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 aspiration is to launch a hair salon in Locust Grove AR, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly ranked school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you require.
Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and perfecting cosmetology skills and techniques requires plenty 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 campus that enable students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a beauty school furnishes minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather relies predominantly on using mannequins, it might not be the best option for developing your skills. Therefore try to find other schools that provide this kind of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from a cosmetology school, it’s crucial that he or she receives aid in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish help develope relationships with Locust Grove AR employers that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and ask which salons and establishments they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Offered? Many beauty schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid department. Consult with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you may 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 meets each of your other qualifications except for cost, do not eliminate it as an alternative before you determine what financial help may be available.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Locust Grove AR?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Locust Grove AR area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Arkansas Highway 230
Highway 230 (AR 230, Ark. 230, and Hwy. 230) is a designation for four state highways in Arkansas. One route of 8.15 miles (13.12 km) begins at Highway 14/Highway 25 at Locust Grove and runs east to US Highway 167 (US 167) in Southside. A second route of 13.80 miles (22.21 km) begins at US 167 in Cave City and runs east to Highway 25 in Strawberry. A third route of 16.25 miles (26.15 km) begins at Highway 367 in Alicia and runs east to US 63 Business (US 63B) in Bono. A fourth route of 7.04 miles (11.33 km) begins at US 49B and runs east to Highway 135 at Dixie. All routes are maintained by the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD).
AR 230 begins in Alicia at Arkansas Highway 367 (Former US 67).The route runs east to meet the new U.S. Route 67 Freeway and AR 91 in rural Lawrence County. AR 230 continues east to cross US 63 outside of Bono, terminating at US 63 BUS.
Highway 230 was first authorized by the Arkansas State Highway Commission (ASHC) on July 10, 1957 between Cave City and Strawberry.[2][3] A second route was designated between Alicia and Bono on June 23, 1965,[4] with a third highway created between Brookland and Dixie on January 12, 1966.[5] The final section was created on April 26, 1978 when Highway 14 was rerouted onto Highway 25 toward Batesville. Highway 230 replaced the Highway 14 designation between Locust Grove and Southside.[6]
Find the Right Cosmetologist Vocational School near Locust Grove AR
Selecting and enrolling in the right beauty college is essential to get the appropriate 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. Don’t forget to collect all of the responses you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to contrast schools. A reasonable 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 foundation, and answer the additional questions supplied in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the proper selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are qualified to begin your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Locust Grove AR.
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