How to Select a Cosmetologist College near Elkhart Illinois
Once you have made a decision to become a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Elkhart IL, the task begins to search for and enroll in the right school. It’s essential that the school you choose not only provides the appropriate education for the specialty you have decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you may be rather puzzled about the contrast 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 speak a bit more about that in the next section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Elkhart residence. Tuition will also be an important factor when evaluating prospective schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it’s not necessarily the right choice. There are various other qualifications that you should weigh when analyzing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask about the cosmetology schools you are considering later within this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of courses are available.
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 basically a cosmetic can be anything that enhances the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states mandate that you undergo some form of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Elkhart IL beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have gained experience and a clientele, open their own shops or salons. Others will begin servicing customers either in their own homes or will travel to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by 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 already mentioned, in most states practicing cosmetologists have to be licensed. In a few states there is an exemption. 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.
Cosmetologist Certificates and Degrees
There are essentially two pathways offered 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 take 12 to 18 months to finish, while an Associate’s degree usually 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 example hair coloring. A degree program will also probably incorporate management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to operate a parlor or other Elkhart IL business. More advanced degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whichever type of course you go with, it’s essential to make sure that it’s approved by the Illinois Board of Cosmetology. Many states only certify schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded agencies, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the advantages of accreditation for the school you choose in the upcoming segment.
Online Beauty Classes
Online cosmetology programs are advantageous for Elkhart IL students who are employed full time and have family commitments that make it hard to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of online cosmetology school programs offered that can be attended through a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional cosmetology schools are frequently fast paced since many courses 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 dealing with the same volume of material, but you are not devoting many hours away from your home or commuting to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s important that the program you pick can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors in order that you also receive the hands-on training needed for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s impossible to acquire the skills necessary to work in any facet of the cosmetology field. So make sure if you decide to enroll in an online school to confirm that internship training is available in your area.
What to Ask Cosmetologist Degree Programs
Following is a list of questions that you will want to investigate for any cosmetologist training school you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Elkhart IL residence, as well as the expense of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have compiled several of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final decision.
Is the School Accredited? It’s necessary to make certain that the cosmetology school 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which typically are not offered in 62634 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous Elkhart IL employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Each cosmetologist college that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating companies for reviews along with the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Elkhart IL salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the field, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not thought of. And last, check with the Illinois 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 beauty schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s essential that you select a school that focuses on 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 respected for that program. If your aspiration is to launch a hair salon in Elkhart IL, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly ranked school with a weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you require.
Is Any Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and refining cosmetology techniques and abilities involves lots of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is provided in the beauty classes you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that allow students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a beauty program offers limited or no scheduled live training, but instead relies predominantly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the best option for developing your skills. Therefore look for other schools that offer this kind of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from a beauty program, it’s imperative that he or she receives help in landing that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer help develope relationships with Elkhart IL businesses that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and ask which salons and organizations they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Aid Offered? Most beauty schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are considering have a financial aid department. Talk to a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you might get approved for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students as well. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not eliminate it as an option until you find out what financial aid may be available.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Elkhart IL?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Elkhart IL area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Elkhart, Illinois
According to the 2010 census, Elkhart has a total area of 1.459 square miles (3.78 km2), of which 1.45 square miles (3.76 km2) (or 99.38%) is land and 0.009 square miles (0.02 km2) (or 0.62%) is water.[4]
Per the 2010 United States Census, Elkhart had 405 people. Among non-Hispanics this includes 387 White (95.6%), 2 Asian (0.5%), 2 Native Hawaiian & 1 from two or more races. The Hispanic or Latino population included 13 people (3.2%).
There were 176 households out of which 19.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.1% were married couples living together, 2.8% had a female householder with children & no husband present, and 38.6% were non-families. 33.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 34.1% had someone who was 65 years of age or older.
Select the Right Cosmetologist College near Elkhart IL
Locating and enrolling in the ideal cosmetology school is essential to obtain the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel confident about your decision. Make sure to consolidate all of the information you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that data to compare schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the academy and program you select are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. If you begin with that foundation, and address the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the ideal choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to launch your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Elkhart IL.
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