Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Wheeling IL

How to Pick a Cosmetologist School near Wheeling Illinois

nail technicians training at Wheeling IL beauty schoolOnce you have decided to become a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Wheeling IL, the task starts to search for and enroll in the right school. It’s essential that the school you pick not only furnishes the necessary education for the specialty you have chosen, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your preliminary search, you may be rather unclear about the distinction 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 little bit more regarding that in the following section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Wheeling residence. Tuition will additionally be a critical consideration when assessing prospective schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it’s not automatically the right option. There are several other considerations that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are looking at later within this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of programs are offered.

Definition of Cosmetology

Wheeling IL makeup ar4tist applying makeupCosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human anatomy look more beautiful through the use of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic may be almost anything that improves the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states mandate that you go through some type of specialized training and then become licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only Wheeling IL beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have acquired experience and a customer base, open their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing customers either in their own homes or will go to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many names and work in a wide range of specialties including:

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

As already mentioned, in the majority of states practicing cosmetologists have to 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, including shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.

Cosmetologist Certificates and Degrees

Wheeling IL hairdresser cutting hairThere are primarily two avenues available to get cosmetology training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can work toward 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 trained in all 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 probably feature management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to manage a salon or other Wheeling IL business. More advanced degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whichever type of program you opt for, it’s important to make sure that it’s approved by the Illinois Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded agencies, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the benefits of accreditation for the school you choose in the following section.

Online Cosmetologist Classes

student attending cosmetology school online in Wheeling ILOnline beauty classes are convenient for Wheeling IL students who are working full time and have family responsibilities that make it challenging to enroll in a more traditional school. There are a large number of online cosmetology school programs available that can be attended through a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional beauty schools are frequently fast paced since many programs are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a considerable amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are covering the same amount of material, but you are not devoting many hours away from your home or travelling to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s important that the program you select can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors so that you also receive the hands-on training required for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s impossible to gain the skills needed to work in any facet of the cosmetology industry. So make sure if you choose to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is available in your area.

What to Ask Cosmetologist Degree Programs

Questions to ask Wheeling IL beauty schoolsBelow is a list of questions that you need to investigate for any cosmetology training school you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school relative to your Wheeling IL residence, together with the expense of tuition, will probably be your initial qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn 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 must research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have collected several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final determination.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s necessary to make certain that the cosmetology college you pick 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for getting student loans or financial aid, which typically are not offered in 60090 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many Wheeling IL employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation?  Any cosmetologist institute 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 references from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly regarded. Check rating services for reviews along with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Wheeling IL salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not thought of. And last, consult the Illinois school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in total compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus?  Some cosmetology schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s imperative that you select a school that specializes in 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 aspiration is to start a hair salon in Wheeling 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 pursuing will not deliver the training you need.

Is Any Live Training Provided?  Studying and perfecting cosmetology techniques and abilities demands lots of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the beauty lessons you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that allow students to practice their developing talents on volunteers. If a beauty academy furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but rather depends predominantly on using mannequins, it may not be the most effective alternative for cultivating your skills. Therefore search for alternate schools that furnish this kind of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program?  When a student graduates from a beauty academy, it’s imperative that he or she receives help in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer assistance maintain relationships with Wheeling IL businesses that are seeking trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and ask which salons and organizations they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered?  Almost all beauty schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid office. Speak with a counselor and learn 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 too. If a school meets each of your other qualifications except for cost, do not discard it as an alternative until you learn what financial assistance may be provided.

Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Wheeling IL?

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

Wheeling, Illinois

Wheeling is a village in Cook and Lake counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. A suburb of Chicago, it is primarily in Cook County, approximately 23 miles northwest of downtown Chicago. The population was 37,648 at the 2010 census.[3] Wheeling is named for Wheeling, WV.[4]

According to the 2010 census, the village has a total area of 8.74 square miles (22.6 km2), of which 8.74 square miles (22.6 km2) (or 97.26%) is land and 0.24 square miles (0.62 km2) (or 2.74%) is water.[6]

As of the census[8] of 2010, there were 34,496 people, 13,280 households, and 8,459 families residing in the village. The population density was 4,106.5 people per square mile (1,585.6/km²). There were 13,697 housing units at an average density of 1,630.5 per square mile (629.6/km²). The racial make-up of the village was 76.68% White, 2.44% African American, 0.23% Native American, 9.26% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 9.18% from other races, and 2.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 20.68% of the population.

Select the Right Beauty School near Wheeling IL

Wheeling IL barber blow drying client's hairLocating and enrolling in the right beauty school is imperative to obtain the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel positive about your decision. Make sure to organize all of the responses you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to compare schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the academy and program you choose are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you start with that foundation, and answer the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the ideal choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to begin your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Wheeling IL.

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