Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Schiller Park IL

How to Select a Cosmetology School near Schiller Park Illinois

nail technicians training at Schiller Park IL beauty school Since you have made a decision to train as a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Schiller Park IL, the process starts to locate and enroll in the ideal school. It’s essential that the school you choose not only furnishes the necessary instruction for the specialty you have selected, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin 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 pretty much interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind of school. We’ll talk a little bit further regarding that in the upcoming segment. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Schiller Park home. Tuition will likewise be an important aspect when reviewing prospective schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it’s not always the best choice. There are a number of other factors that you should evaluate 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 programs are offered.

Definition of Cosmetology

Schiller Park IL makeup ar4tist applying makeup Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human anatomy look more attractive through the use of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but really a cosmetic may be 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 go through some form of specialized training and then become licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only Schiller Park IL beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have acquired experience and a clientele, launch their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing clients either in their own homes or will go to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many names and work in a wide variety of specialties including:

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

As earlier stated, in the majority of states practicing cosmetologists must be licensed. In certain states there is an exception. Only those offering more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others employed in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.

Cosmetology Degrees and Certificates

Schiller Park IL hairdresser cutting hair There are essentially two pathways available to get 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 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 main areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are offered if you prefer to focus on just one area, for example hair coloring. A degree program will also probably include management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to manage a parlor or other Schiller Park IL business. Higher degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such areas as salon or spa management. Whichever type of training program you decide on, it’s important to make certain that it’s certified by the Illinois Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only approve schools that are accredited by certain respected agencies, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the benefits of accreditation for the school you select in the upcoming segment.

Online Beauty Programs

student attending cosmetology school online in Schiller Park IL Online cosmetology programs are advantageous for Schiller Park IL students who are employed full-time and have family responsibilities that make it difficult to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of online beauty school programs available that can be attended via a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional cosmetology schools are often fast paced given that many programs are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a large portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are covering the same volume of material, but you are not devoting numerous hours outside of your home or driving to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s imperative that the school you choose 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 gain the skills necessary to work in any facet of the cosmetology industry. So don’t forget if you decide to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.

Questions to Ask Beauty Schools

Questions to ask Schiller Park IL beauty schools Below is a list of questions that you will want to look into for any cosmetologist training school you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school in relation to your Schiller Park IL home, as well as the price of tuition, will most likely be your initial qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have collected several of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final selection.

Is the School Accredited? It’s necessary to make certain that the cosmetology school you choose 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for getting student loans or financial aid, which often are not offered in 60176 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous Schiller Park IL businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Great Reputation? Every beauty school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly demanded. Check rating companies for reviews along with the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Schiller Park IL salon owners or managers, or any person working in the industry, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to propose others that you had not considered. And finally, consult the Illinois school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty? Many beauty schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, for instance hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs often expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s imperative that you decide on a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your goal is to be trained as an esthetician, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your dream is to start a hair salon in Schiller Park IL, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly rated school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you require.

Is Enough Live Training Provided? Practicing and perfecting cosmetology techniques and abilities requires plenty of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is provided in the cosmetology lessons you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that make it possible for students to practice their developing talents on volunteers. If a beauty program furnishes limited or no scheduled live training, but rather relies heavily on the use of mannequins, it may not be the most effective alternative for acquiring your skills. Therefore look for other schools that provide this kind of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from a cosmetology academy, it’s essential that she or he gets assistance in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer help maintain relationships with Schiller Park IL businesses that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and inquire which salons and businesses they refer students to. Additionally, 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 Aid Available? Almost all beauty schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid department. Talk to a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you may get approved 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 satisfies all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not drop it as an option until you determine what financial help may be offered.

Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Schiller Park IL?

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

Schiller Park, Illinois

As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 11,850 people, 4,244 households, and 3,045 families residing in the village. The population density was 4,283.5 people per square mile (1,451.7/km²). There were 4,335 housing units at an average density of 1,567.0 per square mile (604.2/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 80.98% White, 1.98% African American, 0.28% Native American, 5.14% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 8.11% from other races, and 3.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 21.92% of the population.

There were 4,244 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.7% were married couples living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.3% were non-families. 22.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 4.61.

In the village, the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 11.0% from 18 to 24, 33.4% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.3 males.

Enroll in the Right Cosmetology Vocational School near Schiller Park IL

Schiller Park IL barber blow drying client's hair Choosing and enrolling in the right cosmetologist school is essential to get the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel certain about your decision. Don’t forget to organize all of the responses you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that information to contrast schools. A good start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the institution and program you pick are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the field. If you start with that base, and address the additional questions provided in this article, 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 examination, you will be confident that you are prepared to start your career as a professional cosmetologist in Schiller Park IL.