How to Pick a Cosmetologist School near Wellington Illinois
Once you have made a decision to become a cosmetologist and attend a beauty school near Wellington IL, the task begins to find and enroll in the best school. It’s important that the school you pick not only furnishes the proper education for the specialty you have chosen, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your initial search, you may be rather unclear about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are pretty much interchangeable and both relate to the same type of school. We’ll talk a bit further regarding that in the following segment. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Wellington residence. Tuition will also be an important consideration when evaluating prospective schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it’s not necessarily the right choice. There are a number of other considerations that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask about the cosmetology schools you are looking at later in this article. Before we do, let’s talk a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of courses are offered.
Defining Cosmetology
Cosmetology is a profession that is all about making the human body look more beautiful with the application of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that many 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 almost anything that enhances the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states mandate that you take some kind of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only Wellington IL beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gotten experience and a customer base, establish their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing clients either in their own homes or will go to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many professional 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 working cosmetologists must be licensed. In some states there is an exception. Only those performing more skilled services, for instance hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others employed in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.
Cosmetology Degrees
There are essentially two pathways offered to get cosmetology training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs usually require 12 to 18 months to complete, while an Associate’s degree ordinarily takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be instructed in each of the major areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are available if you wish to focus on just one area, such as hair coloring. A degree program will also most likely feature management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to run a parlor or other Wellington IL business. Higher degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specializations 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. Numerous states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain respected organizations, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the advantages of accreditation for the school you select in the next segment.
Online Cosmetologist Training
Online cosmetology programs are advantageous for Wellington IL students who are employed full-time and have family obligations that make it hard to enroll in a more traditional school. There are numerous web-based cosmetology school programs offered that can be attended through a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional beauty programs are often fast paced because many programs are as short as six or eight months. This means that a significant amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are dealing with the same volume of material, but you are not spending numerous hours away from your home or travelling back and forth from classes. However, it’s important that the program you pick can provide internship training in local salons and parlors in order that you also receive the hands-on training required for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s impossible to gain the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology field. So be sure if you choose to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.
What to Ask Cosmetology Programs
Below is a series of questions that you should look into for any cosmetologist training school you are contemplating. As we have already discussed, the location of the school relative to your Wellington IL home, in addition to the price of tuition, will most likely be your initial qualifiers. Whether you want to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have compiled several of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final selection.
Is the School Accredited? It’s important to make certain that the cosmetology college you enroll in 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for securing student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not offered in 60973 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many Wellington IL employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Any cosmetology college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating services for reviews along with the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Wellington IL salon owners or managers, or any person working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to propose others that you had not looked into. Finally, contact the Illinois school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? A number of beauty schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs commonly expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s essential that you enroll in 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 Wellington IL, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly ranked school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you require.
Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and refining cosmetology techniques and abilities involves plenty of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is provided in the beauty courses you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that enable students to practice their developing skills on volunteers. If a beauty academy provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather relies mainly on the use of mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for acquiring your skills. Therefore look for other schools that furnish this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from a beauty program, it’s essential that he or she receives aid in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish assistance develope relationships with Wellington IL businesses that are seeking skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which salons and businesses they refer students to. In addition, ask 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 Offered? The majority of beauty schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are considering have a financial aid office. Speak with a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you may qualify for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students also. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not eliminate it as an option before you find out what financial help may be provided.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Wellington IL?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Wellington IL area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Wellington, Illinois
Wellington is located in southeastern Iroquois County at 40°32′29″N 87°40′51″W / 40.54139°N 87.68083°W / 40.54139; -87.68083 (40.541261, -87.680772).[4]Illinois Route 1 passes less than a mile west of the village, leading north 18 miles (29 km) to Watseka, the county seat, and south 5 miles (8 km) to Hoopeston.
As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 264 people, 111 households, and 82 families residing in the village. The population density was 954.0 people per square mile (364.0/km²). There were 118 housing units at an average density of 426.4 per square mile (162.7/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 99.62% White and 0.38% Native American. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.89% of the population.
There were 111 households out of which 25.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.2% were married couples living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.1% were non-families. 22.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.72.
Find the Right Cosmetologist College near Wellington IL
Selecting and enrolling in the right cosmetology school is important to obtain the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel confident about your decision. Make sure to consolidate all of the information you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that data to contrast schools. A good beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the academy and program you pick are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and address the additional questions supplied in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are ready to launch your career as a professional cosmetologist in Wellington IL.
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