How to Find the Right Cosmetology College near Livingston Illinois

Now that you have decided to become a cosmetologist and attend a beauty school near Livingston IL, the task begins to search for and enroll in the best school. It’s important that the school you choose not only furnishes the appropriate training for the specialty you have selected, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your initial search, you may be rather confused 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 kind of school. We’ll discuss a little bit further about that in the upcoming segment. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Livingston home. Tuition will also be a critical factor when reviewing potential schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it’s not automatically the ideal choice. There are a number of other qualifications that you should evaluate when comparing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are thinking about later within this article. Before we do, let’s talk a bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of courses are offered.

Defining Cosmetology

Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human body look more attractive through the application of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are referred to as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but really a cosmetic may be anything that enhances the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, the majority of states mandate that you undergo some form of specialized training and then become licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only Livingston IL beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have acquired experience and a customer base, open their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing customers either in their own residences or will travel to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by many names and work in a wide variety of specializations including:

• Hairdressers
• Hairstylists
• Beauticians
• Barbers
• Manicurists
• Nail Technicians
• Makeup Artists
• Hair Coloring Specialists
• Estheticians
• Electrolysis Technicians

As already stated, in the majority of states working cosmetologists must be licensed. In certain states there is an exception. Only those performing more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others working in cosmetology and less skilled, such as shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.

Cosmetology Certificates and Degrees

There are primarily two avenues offered to receive cosmetology training and a credential upon 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 commonly takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be instructed in each of the major areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you want to concentrate on just one area, for instance hair coloring. A degree program will also likely include management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to operate a parlor or other Livingston IL business. More advanced degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such areas as salon or spa management. Whatever type of training program you go with, it’s important to make sure that it’s approved by the Illinois Board of Cosmetology. Many states only recognize 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 select in the next section.

Online Cosmetologist Courses

Online cosmetology classes are convenient for Livingston IL students who are employed full-time and have family responsibilities that make it challenging to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of online beauty school programs available that can be attended via a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional beauty programs are often fast paced due to the fact that many programs are as short as six or eight months. This means that a large amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you’re not spending numerous hours away from your home or driving back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it’s imperative that the training program you pick can provide internship training in area salons and parlors in order that you also obtain the hands-on training needed for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s impossible to obtain the skills required to work in any area of the cosmetology field. So don’t forget if you choose to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is provided in your area.

Questions to Ask Cosmetologist Degree Programs

Below is a list of questions that you should investigate for any beauty training school you are considering. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Livingston IL home, together with the cost of tuition, will most likely be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have put together some of those supplemental questions that you should ask each school before making a final determination.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s important to make certain that the cosmetology school you enroll in is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not obtainable in 62058 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many Livingston IL businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Great Reputation?  Any beauty institute that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly sought after. Check rating services for reviews as well as the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Livingston IL salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to suggest others that you had not thought of. And last, check with the Illinois school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus?  A number of beauty schools offer programs that are expansive 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 frequently expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you decide on 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 aspiration is to launch a hair salon in Livingston IL, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing 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 perfecting cosmetology skills and techniques involves plenty of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the beauty courses 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 predominantly on the use of mannequins, it may not be the most effective option for cultivating your skills. So look for other schools that offer this type of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance?  Once 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 aid develope relationships with Livingston IL businesses that are seeking trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and find out which salons and organizations they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Assistance Available?  Almost all cosmetology schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are considering have a financial aid department. Talk to a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students too. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not omit it as an alternative before you learn what financial help may be offered.

Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Livingston IL?

If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Livingston IL area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.

Enroll in the Right Cosmetology Vocational School near Livingston IL

Picking and enrolling in the right cosmetologist college is important to obtain the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel confident about your decision. Don’t forget to organize all of the information you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that information to compare schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the institution and program you choose are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and answer the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the right selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to start your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Livingston IL.

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