How to Choose a Cosmetology College near Elwin Illinois
Once you have made a decision to train as a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Elwin IL, the process starts to search for and enroll in the right school. It’s imperative that the school you select not only provides the necessary education for the specialty you have selected, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your preliminary search, you might be rather unclear about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are essentially interchangeable and both refer to the same type of school. We’ll talk a little bit more about that in the next segment. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Elwin residence. Tuition will also be a critical factor when assessing prospective schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it’s not automatically the right option. There are many other factors that you should evaluate when comparing schools, such as 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 talk a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of programs are offered.
What is Cosmetology
Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human body look more beautiful through the use of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but really a cosmetic may be almost anything that enhances the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, most states require that you take some type of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only Elwin IL beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have acquired experience and a customer base, open their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing clients either in their own homes or will go to the client’s house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many professional names and are employed in a wide variety of specialties including:
- Hairdressers
- Hairstylists
- Beauticians
- Barbers
- Manicurists
- Nail Technicians
- Makeup Artists
- Hair Coloring Specialists
- Estheticians
- Electrolysis Technicians
As already mentioned, in most states working cosmetologists must be licensed. In a few states there is an exemption. Only those conducting more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others employed in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.
Cosmetologist Degrees and Certificates
There are basically two avenues available to obtain 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 typically take 12 to 18 months to finish, while an Associate’s degree commonly takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be instructed in all of the major areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are offered if you prefer to specialize in just one area, for instance hair coloring. A degree program will also likely incorporate management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to operate a salon or other Elwin IL business. Higher degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such areas as salon or spa management. Whichever type of course you go with, it’s important to make sure that it’s certified by the Illinois Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only certify schools that are accredited by certain reputable agencies, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the benefits of accreditation for the school you choose in the next section.
Online Cosmetology Programs
Online cosmetology classes are convenient for Elwin IL students who are working full time and have family obligations that make it difficult to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of web-based cosmetology school programs offered that can be accessed by means of a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional cosmetology programs are often fast paced due to the fact that many courses are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a considerable portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are dealing with the same volume of material, but you’re not spending many hours away from your home or driving back and forth from classes. However, it’s imperative that the school you select can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors in order that you also get the hands-on training required for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s difficult to obtain the skills necessary to work in any facet 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.
What to Ask Beauty Training Courses
Following is a series of questions that you will want to look into for any beauty training program you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Elwin IL residence, together with the cost 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 reduced your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you should research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have put together some of those additional questions that you need to ask every school before making a final selection.
Is the Program Accredited? It’s essential to make certain that the cosmetology training program you select 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 measure up to their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which often are not obtainable in 62532 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of Elwin IL businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Every cosmetologist college that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly regarded. Check rating services for reviews together with the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Elwin IL salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the field, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. Finally, check with the Illinois school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Many beauty schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing 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 important that you enroll in 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 respected for that program. If your aspiration is to launch a hair salon in Elwin IL, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly regarded school with a weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you need.
Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Practicing and refining cosmetology skills and techniques requires lots of practice on volunteers. 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 growing talents on real people. If a beauty program offers little or no scheduled live training, but instead relies heavily on using mannequins, it may not be the best option for acquiring your skills. So search for alternate schools that furnish this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from a cosmetology academy, it’s essential that he or she gets aid in securing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer assistance develope relationships with Elwin IL businesses that are seeking skilled graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and inquire 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 extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Aid Available? Almost all cosmetology schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Consult with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you may qualify for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students too. If a school meets all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not discard it as an alternative before you find out what financial assistance may be available.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Elwin IL?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Elwin IL area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Elwin, Illinois
Elwin is located at 39°51′6″N 88°56′39″W / 39.85167°N 88.94417°W / 39.85167; -88.94417 (39.851636, -88.944228).[1] Centrally located within its township, it was once known as S. Wheatland.
Enroll in the Right Cosmetologist College near Elwin IL
Locating and enrolling in the right cosmetologist college is important to receive the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel confident about your decision. Make sure to organize all of the information you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that data to contrast schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the institution and program you pick are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and address the additional questions supplied in this article, 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 prepared to begin your career as a professional cosmetologist in Elwin IL.
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