How to Pick a Cosmetology School near Kansas Illinois
Since you have decided to become a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Kansas IL, the process starts to locate and enroll in the right school. It’s important that the school you choose not only furnishes the appropriate instruction for the specialty you have selected, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your initial search, you might be a little bit puzzled about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. We’ll talk a little bit more regarding that in the following section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Kansas home. Tuition will additionally be a critical consideration when evaluating potential schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it’s not automatically the best choice. There are many other factors that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask about the cosmetology schools you are looking at later in this article. Before we do, let’s talk a bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of courses are offered.
Defining Cosmetology
Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human body look more attractive through the use of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic may be anything that enhances the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, most states mandate that you take some form of specialized training and then become licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only Kansas IL beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have gained experience and a client base, launch their own shops or salons. Others will start seeing clients either in their own homes or will go to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go 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 earlier mentioned, in the majority of states working cosmetologists have to be licensed. In some states there is an exemption. Only those conducting more skilled services, for example 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
There are primarily two pathways available to get cosmetology training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs usually 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 each of the main areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are offered if you prefer to concentrate on 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 manage a parlor or other Kansas IL business. More advanced degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whichever type of program you opt for, it’s essential to make certain that it’s certified by the Illinois Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only certify schools that are accredited by certain respected organizations, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the advantages of accreditation for the school you select in the next segment.
Online Beauty Programs
Online beauty schools are advantageous for Kansas IL students who are employed full-time and have family commitments that make it challenging to attend a more traditional school. There are many online beauty school programs available that can be attended by means of a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional cosmetology schools are often fast paced because many courses are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a large portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are dealing with the same volume of material, but you are not spending many hours away from your home or travelling back and forth from classes. However, it’s essential that the training program you choose can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors so that you also receive the hands-on training required for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s impossible to gain the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology field. 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 Training Programs
Below is a list of questions that you should look into for any cosmetology training school you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Kansas IL home, together with the price of tuition, will undoubtedly be your initial qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have put together some of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final decision.
Is the School 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 comply with their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for securing student loans or financial aid, which typically are not offered in 61933 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 Kansas IL employers will not hire 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 institute that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating companies for reviews along with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Kansas IL salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the industry, 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 looked into. And last, check with the Illinois school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Some cosmetology schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs often broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s essential that you pick a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your ambition 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 start a hair salon in Kansas IL, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly regarded school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you need.
Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and refining cosmetology skills and techniques involves plenty of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is provided in the cosmetology courses you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that allow students to practice their developing skills on volunteers. If a beauty school provides limited or no scheduled live training, but rather relies predominantly on the use of mannequins, it may not be the best option for developing your skills. So look for alternate schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from a cosmetology school, it’s imperative that she or he gets assistance in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish aid develope relationships with Kansas IL employers that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and ask which salons and establishments they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Available? Most cosmetology schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid department. Consult with a counselor and find out 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 offered to students as well. If a school meets each of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not eliminate it as an alternative until you find out what financial assistance may be offered.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Kansas IL?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Kansas IL area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Chicago–Kansas City Expressway
The Chicago–Kansas City Expressway is a highway that runs between Chicago, Illinois, and Claycomo, Missouri. The road is known as Route 110 in Missouri and Illinois Route 110 (IL 110) in Illinois. IL 110 was created through legislation on May 27, 2010, as the designated route for the Illinois portion of the Chicago–Kansas City Expressway.
The Expressway starts in downtown Claycomo, Missouri on Interstate 35 and leaves the city in a northeast direction. In Cameron, Missouri, the route turns east on U.S. 36 and crosses the state including driving through Chillicothe, Missouri and Macon, Missouri. East of Hannibal, Missouri, the route continues east on I-72 through Hannibal and across the Mississippi River.[3] U.S. 36 and Interstate 35 in Missouri are now in the process to have the comprehensive sign package similar to Illinois along the Chicago–Kansas City Expressway, including the Route 110 designation and the C-KC logo on every route marker between Hannibal and Kansas City.[4]
IL 110 crosses into Illinois from the Mark Twain Memorial Bridge east of Hannibal. It follows Interstate 72 (I-72) east to I-172, then runs north with I-172 to IL 336 around the city of Quincy. Both routes run north to Carthage, where IL 110 and IL 336 join with U.S. Route 136 (US 136). All three routes run east to Macomb, where IL 110 then continues north with US 67 to Monmouth. There is a two-mile (3.2 km) stretch of the route in Good Hope, Illinois, where it is reduced from a four-lane divided highway to a three-lane undivided street with a center turn lane.
Pick the Right Beauty College near Kansas IL
Choosing and enrolling in the ideal cosmetology college is important to receive the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel positive about your decision. Don’t forget to compile all of the responses you get from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to compare schools. A sensible start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the college and program you select are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you start with that base, and address the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are prepared to start your career as a professional cosmetologist in Kansas IL.
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