How to Choose a Beauty School near Boody Illinois
Once you have decided to become a cosmetologist and attend a beauty school near Boody IL, the process starts to locate and enroll in the best school. It’s imperative that the school you pick not only furnishes the proper instruction for the specialty you have selected, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your initial search, you might be a little bit puzzled about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. We’ll talk a little bit more regarding that in the next segment. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Boody home. Tuition will likewise be a critical aspect when evaluating prospective schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it’s not necessarily the best choice. There are various other considerations that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask about the cosmetology schools you are considering later in this article. Before we do, let’s talk a bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of training programs are offered.
Defining Cosmetology
Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human body look more beautiful with the use of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic can be almost anything that improves the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states mandate that you take some type of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Boody IL beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gained experience and a customer base, open their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing clients either in their own homes or will travel to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many names and work in a wide range of specialties including:
- Hairdressers
- Hairstylists
- Beauticians
- Barbers
- Manicurists
- Nail Technicians
- Makeup Artists
- Hair Coloring Specialists
- Estheticians
- Electrolysis Technicians
As earlier mentioned, in most states working cosmetologists have to be licensed. In some states there is an exception. Only those offering more skilled services, for instance hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others working in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.
Cosmetologist Certificates and Degrees
There are primarily two options offered 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 take 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 each of the major areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are available if you want to specialize in just one area, such as hair coloring. A degree program will also likely incorporate management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to manage a parlor or other Boody IL business. More advanced degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whatever type of course you go with, it’s important to make sure that it’s certified by the Illinois Board of Cosmetology. Many states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain reputable organizations, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the benefits of accreditation for the school you select in the upcoming segment.
Online Cosmetologist Programs
Online cosmetology programs are convenient for Boody IL students who are working full time and have family obligations that make it hard to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of web-based beauty school programs offered that can be accessed via a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional beauty schools are typically fast paced due to the fact that 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 courses, you are covering the same volume of material, but you’re not devoting numerous hours outside of your home or driving to and from classes. However, it’s important that the training program you pick can provide internship training in area salons and parlors in order that you also get the hands-on training necessary for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s impossible to gain the skills required to work in any area of the cosmetology profession. So don’t forget if you choose to enroll in an online school to confirm that internship training is available in your area.
Questions to Ask Cosmetology Training Courses
Following is a series of questions that you should investigate for any cosmetologist training school you are considering. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Boody IL residence, in addition to the cost of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you wish to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Following we have collected some of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each school before making a final selection.
Is the Program Accredited? It’s important to make sure that the cosmetology college you choose is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for getting student loans or financial aid, which typically are not available in 62514 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous Boody IL employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Any cosmetology school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating companies for reviews as well as the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Boody IL salon owners or managers, or any person working in the field, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not thought of. Finally, contact the Illinois school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Some beauty schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you pick a school that specializes in your area of interest. If your ambition 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 desire is to start a hair salon in Boody IL, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly ranked school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you require.
Is Enough Live Training Provided? Learning and perfecting cosmetology techniques and abilities involves lots of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is included in the beauty lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that enable students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a beauty academy provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather relies heavily on the use of mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for cultivating your skills. So try to find other schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from a cosmetology program, it’s imperative that she or he gets support in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer assistance develope relationships with Boody IL businesses that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and find out which salons and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have wide 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. Check if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid department. Consult with 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 available to students also. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not drop it as an option until you learn what financial aid may be available.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Boody IL?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Boody IL area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Macon County, Illinois
Macon County was formed on January 19, 1829 out of Shelby County. It was named for Nathaniel Macon, who served as a Colonel in the Revolutionary War.[3] Macon later served as senator from North Carolina until his resignation in 1828. In 1830, future President Abraham Lincoln and his family moved to Macon County.
Macon County is primarily flat, as is most of the state and all of the surrounding counties, the result of geological activity during the Pleistocene epoch. During the Illinoian Stage of the Pleistocene, the Laurentide ice sheet covered roughly 85 percent of Illinois, including all of present-day Macon County. The subsequent thaw of the region and retreat of the ice sheet left central Illinois with the characteristic flat topography which it is known for today.[5]
In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Decatur have ranged from a low of 17 °F (−8 °C) in January to a high of 88 °F (31 °C) in July, although a record low of −25 °F (−32 °C) was recorded in February 1905 and a record high of 113 °F (45 °C) was recorded in July 1954. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.95 inches (50 mm) in February to 4.54 inches (115 mm) in July.[7]
Enroll in the Right Cosmetologist School near Boody IL
Selecting and enrolling in the ideal beauty school is imperative to get the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel certain about your decision. Be sure to consolidate all of the responses you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that information to compare schools. A good start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the school and program you choose are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you start with that foundation, and answer the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to launch your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Boody IL.
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