How to Pick a Beauty School near Lenzburg Illinois
Now that you have made a decision to train as a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Lenzburg IL, the task starts to find and enroll in the right school. It’s imperative that the school you choose not only furnishes the necessary training for the specialty you have decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your preliminary search, you might be a little bit puzzled about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are basically interchangeable and both relate to the same type of school. We’ll talk a little bit more about that in the following section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Lenzburg home. Tuition will also be an important factor when reviewing possible schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it’s not necessarily the right option. There are various other factors that you should evaluate when comparing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask concerning 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 programs are available.
What is Cosmetology
Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human body look more attractive through the use of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are referred to 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 appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, most states mandate that you undergo some type of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Lenzburg IL beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gotten experience and a customer base, launch their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing clients either in their own residences or will travel to the client’s house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known 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 formerly stated, in most states practicing cosmetologists must be licensed. In a few states there is an exception. Only those conducting more skilled services, for instance hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people employed in cosmetology and less skilled, such as shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.
Cosmetology Certificates and Degrees
There are essentially two avenues offered to obtain cosmetology training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs generally take 12 to 18 months to finish, while an Associate’s degree ordinarily takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be trained in all of the major areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you wish to specialize in just one area, such as hair coloring. A degree program will also probably feature management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to run a salon or other Lenzburg IL business. Higher degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whatever type of program you choose, it’s imperative to make certain that it’s recognized by the Illinois Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only certify schools that are accredited by certain respected organizations, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the benefits of accreditation for the school you decide on in the following segment.
Online Cosmetology Classes
Online beauty schools are advantageous for Lenzburg IL students who are working full-time and have family responsibilities that make it challenging to attend a more traditional school. There are numerous web-based beauty school programs offered that can be attended via a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional beauty programs are typically fast paced because many programs are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a large portion 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 outside of your home or commuting to and from classes. However, it’s vital that the school you pick can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors to ensure 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 area of the cosmetology industry. So don’t forget if you decide to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is available in your area.
What to Ask Beauty Training Courses
Below is a list of questions that you should research for any cosmetologist training school you are considering. As we have previously covered, the location of the school in relation to your Lenzburg IL residence, as well as the expense of tuition, will most likely be your primary qualifiers. Whether you want 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 take into consideration 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 determination.
Is the School Accredited? It’s necessary to make sure that the cosmetology school you select 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for securing student loans or financial aid, which often are not obtainable in 62255 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous Lenzburg IL employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Every cosmetology college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly demanded. Check rating services for reviews in addition to the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Lenzburg IL salon owners or managers, or someone working in the field, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to suggest others that you had not considered. And finally, check with the Illinois school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Some beauty schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s imperative that you decide on a school that specializes in your area of interest. If your intention 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 dream is to launch a hair salon in Lenzburg IL, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly ranked school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you need.
Is Enough Live Training Provided? Learning and perfecting cosmetology skills and techniques involves plenty of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the beauty classes you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that allow students to practice their developing skills on volunteers. If a beauty program provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead depends mainly on using mannequins, it may not be the best option for cultivating your skills. Therefore search for alternate schools that furnish this kind of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from a cosmetology academy, it’s important that she or he receives aid in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide assistance maintain relationships with Lenzburg IL employers that are seeking skilled graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which salons and establishments they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Aid Offered? Almost all beauty schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are considering have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and learn 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 also. If a school meets each of your other qualifications except for cost, do not omit it as an alternative until you find out what financial aid may be available.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Lenzburg IL?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Lenzburg IL area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Lenzburg, Illinois
According to the 2010 census, Lenzburg has a total area of 1.296 square miles (3.36 km2), of which 1.19 square miles (3.08 km2) (or 91.82%) is land and 0.106 square miles (0.27 km2) (or 8.18%) is water.[4]
As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 577 people, 217 households, and 169 families residing in the village. The population density was 467.2 people per square mile (179.7/km²). There were 235 housing units at an average density of 190.3 per square mile (73.2/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 99.13% White, 0.17% Native American, 0.17% Asian, and 0.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.69% of the population.
There were 217 households out of which 36.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.5% were married couples living together, 18.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.7% were non-families. 17.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 2.91.
Choose the Right Beauty Training Program near Lenzburg IL
Finding and enrolling in the right beauty school is important to obtain the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel confident about your decision. Be sure to consolidate all of the responses you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that information to contrast schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the institution and program you decide on are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and address the additional questions supplied in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the proper selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are ready to start your career as a professional cosmetologist in Lenzburg IL.
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