How to Pick a Cosmetology College near Pulaski Georgia
Once you have made a decision to become a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Pulaski GA, the process begins to search for and enroll in the best school. It’s important that the program you pick not only furnishes the proper instruction for the specialty you have chosen, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your preliminary search, you may be rather confused about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are essentially interchangeable and both relate to the same type of school. We’ll speak a bit further about that in the upcoming segment. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Pulaski residence. Tuition will additionally be an important aspect when reviewing potential schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it’s not automatically the ideal choice. There are many other factors that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will review 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 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 naturally it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are referred to as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic can be almost anything that improves the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, the majority of states mandate that you undergo some form of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only Pulaski GA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gained experience and a client base, establish their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing customers either in their own residences or will go to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by 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 previously stated, in most states working cosmetologists have to be licensed. In a few states there is an exception. Only those offering more skilled services, for instance hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people employed in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.
Cosmetologist Degrees
There are essentially two options available to receive 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 generally call for 12 to 18 months to complete, while an Associate’s degree usually takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be trained in each of the main areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are offered if you prefer to focus on just one area, for example hair coloring. A degree program will also likely feature management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to run a parlor or other Pulaski GA business. Higher degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whichever type of course you go with, it’s important to make certain that it’s certified by the Georgia Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only approve schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded agencies, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the benefits of accreditation for the school you decide on in the upcoming section.
Online Cosmetology Training
Online cosmetology programs are convenient for Pulaski GA students who are working full time and have family responsibilities that make it difficult to enroll in a more traditional school. There are a large number of web-based beauty school programs available that can be attended through a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional beauty schools are often fast paced since many programs are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a significant portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are dealing with the same volume of material, but you’re not spending numerous hours outside of your home or commuting to and from classes. However, it’s imperative that the school you select can provide internship training in area salons and parlors to ensure that you also get 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 area of the cosmetology profession. So be sure if you decide to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is available in your area.
Questions to Ask Cosmetologist Degree Programs
Following is a list of questions that you will want to investigate for any cosmetology training school you are considering. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Pulaski GA residence, in addition to the cost of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you want 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 initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have compiled several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each school before making a final decision.
Is the Program Accredited? It’s important 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 agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not available in 30451 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many Pulaski GA 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 Great Reputation? Each cosmetologist college 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 endorsements from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly demanded. Check rating services for reviews in addition to the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Pulaski GA salon owners or managers, or any person working in the field, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. Finally, check with the Georgia school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Many cosmetology schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs commonly broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s imperative that you choose a school that focuses on 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 respected for that program. If your desire is to open a hair salon in Pulaski GA, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly rated school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you need.
Is Enough Live Training Provided? Learning and perfecting cosmetology skills and techniques requires lots of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is included in the cosmetology classes you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that enable students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a beauty academy provides limited or no scheduled live training, but instead relies mainly on the use of mannequins, it may not be the best option for developing your skills. Therefore look for alternate schools that offer this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from a beauty academy, it’s essential that he or she receives help in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish aid develope relationships with Pulaski GA businesses that are seeking qualified graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and find out which salons and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, 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 regarded as well.
Is Financial Aid Offered? The majority of cosmetology schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and learn 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 as well. If a school meets each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not omit it as an alternative until you find out what financial aid may be provided.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Pulaski GA?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Pulaski GA area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Fort Pulaski National Monument
Fort Pulaski National Monument is located on Cockspur Island between Savannah and Tybee Island, Georgia. It preserves Fort Pulaski, where in 1862 during the American Civil War, the Union Army successfully tested rifled cannon in combat, the success of which rendered brick fortifications obsolete. The fort was also used as a prisoner-of-war camp. The National Monument includes most of Cockspur Island (containing the fort) and all of adjacent McQueens Island.
Following the War of 1812, U.S. President James Madison ordered a new system of coastal fortifications to protect the United States against foreign invasion. Construction of a fort to protect the port of Savannah began in 1829 under the direction of Major General Babcock, and later Second Lieutenant Robert E. Lee, a recent graduate of West Point. The new fort would be located on Cockspur Island at the mouth of the Savannah River. In 1833, the facility was named Fort Pulaski in honor of Kazimierz Pulaski, a Polish soldier and military commander who fought in the American Revolution under the command of George Washington. Pulaski was a noted cavalryman and played a large role in training Revolutionary troops. He took part in the sieges of Charleston and of Savannah.
Fort Pulaski belonged to what is known as the Third System of coastal fortifications, which were characterized by greater structural durability than the earlier works. Most of the nearly thirty Third System forts built after 1816 still exist along either the Atlantic or Gulf coasts.[4]
Enroll in the Right Cosmetology Program near Pulaski GA
Locating and enrolling in the right beauty school is imperative to receive the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel positive about your decision. Be sure to consolidate all of the information you receive 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 academy and program you select are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. If you begin with that foundation, and address the additional questions supplied in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the proper selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are ready to start your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Pulaski GA.
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