How to Pick a Beauty College near West Frankfort Illinois

Since you have made a decision to become a cosmetologist and attend a beauty school near West Frankfort IL, the process starts to search for and enroll in the best school. It’s imperative that the program you choose not only furnishes the necessary instruction for the specialty you have decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your preliminary search, you may be a little bit confused about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both refer to the same type of school. We’ll discuss a little bit more concerning that in the upcoming section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to choose a school that is within driving distance of your West Frankfort residence. Tuition will also be a critical aspect when assessing possible schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it’s not necessarily the right choice. There are several other factors that you should weigh when analyzing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask about 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 courses are offered.

Definition of Cosmetology

Cosmetology is a profession that is all about making the human body look more beautiful through the application 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 term cosmetics, but really a cosmetic can be anything that enhances the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states require that you go through some type of specialized training and then become licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only West Frankfort IL beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have acquired experience and a client base, open their own shops or salons. Others will begin servicing clients either in their own homes or will travel to the client’s house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many professional 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 must be licensed. In some states there is an exception. Only those performing more skilled services, for example hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others employed in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.

Cosmetologist Degrees

There are basically two pathways offered to get 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 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 offered if you want to specialize in just one area, for instance hair coloring. A degree program will also likely feature management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to manage a parlor or other West Frankfort IL business. More advanced degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whichever type of course you go with, it’s essential to make sure that it’s recognized by the Illinois Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only certify schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded agencies, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the benefits of accreditation for the school you choose in the following section.

Online Cosmetology Schools

Online beauty programs are advantageous for West Frankfort IL students who are employed full-time and have family obligations that make it challenging to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of web-based cosmetology school programs available that can be attended through a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional cosmetology schools are frequently fast paced because many programs are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a large portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are covering the same amount of material, but you’re not devoting numerous hours outside of your home or commuting to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s vital that the school you select can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors so that you also receive the hands-on training necessary for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s difficult to acquire the skills required to work in any area of the cosmetology field. So don’t forget if you choose to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.

Questions to Ask Cosmetologist Degree Programs

Below is a series of questions that you need to investigate for any cosmetology training school you are considering. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your West Frankfort IL residence, together with the cost of tuition, will probably be your primary 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 reduced your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you should research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have collected some of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final determination.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s important to make certain that the cosmetology training program you choose 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 measure up to their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which often are not offered in 62896 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous West Frankfort IL employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Great Reputation?  Every beauty college that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating services for reviews along with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with West Frankfort IL salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. And last, contact the Illinois school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty?  A number of 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, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs often expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you select a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your intention is to be trained as an esthetician, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and well regarded for that program. If your dream is to launch a hair salon in West Frankfort IL, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly regarded school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you need.

Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided?  Learning and refining cosmetology skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is included in the beauty classes you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that allow students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a beauty school furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but rather relies mainly on the use of mannequins, it might not be the most effective option for acquiring your skills. So look for other schools that furnish this type of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance?  Once a student graduates from a cosmetology school, it’s imperative that he or she gets support in finding that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish assistance maintain relationships with West Frankfort IL businesses that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and ask which salons and businesses they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered?  Many cosmetology schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid office. Speak with 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 available to students as well. If a school meets each of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not eliminate it as an option until you determine what financial aid may be offered.

Enrolled in Cosmetology School near West Frankfort IL?

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

Choose the Right Cosmetologist School near West Frankfort IL

Finding and enrolling in the right cosmetologist college is imperative to get the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel confident about your decision. Be sure to compile all of the information you get from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that data to compare schools. A good start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the school and program you pick are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. If you start with that foundation, and address the additional questions supplied in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the proper selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are ready to begin your new career as a professional cosmetologist in West Frankfort IL.

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