How to Choose a Cosmetologist School near Aurora Indiana
Once you have decided to become a cosmetologist and attend a beauty school near Aurora IN, the process begins to find and enroll in the right school. It’s essential that the school you pick not only provides the proper instruction for the specialty you have chosen, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your initial search, you may be rather confused about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. We’ll discuss a bit further about that in the next segment. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Aurora residence. Tuition will also be a critical aspect when reviewing possible schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it’s not always the right choice. There are a number of other considerations that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask concerning the cosmetology schools you are considering later within this article. Before we do, let’s talk a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of training programs are offered.
What is Cosmetology
Cosmetology is a profession that is all about making the human body look more attractive with the application of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic can be 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 be licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only Aurora IN beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have gained experience and a clientele, launch their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing customers either in their own residences or will travel to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many titles 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 stated, in most states practicing cosmetologists must be licensed. In certain states there is an exemption. Only those conducting more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others working in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.
Cosmetology Degrees and Certificates
There are basically two avenues 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 trained in all of the main areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are offered if you want to specialize in just one area, for example hair coloring. A degree program will also most likely incorporate management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to operate a salon or other Aurora IN 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 go with, it’s essential to make certain that it’s certified by the Indiana 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 examine the benefits of accreditation for the school you choose in the upcoming segment.
Online Cosmetology Training
Online beauty schools are accommodating for Aurora IN students who are employed full time and have family obligations that make it difficult to attend a more traditional school. There are numerous web-based cosmetology school programs available that can be accessed through a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional cosmetology schools are frequently fast paced due to the fact that many programs are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a large amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you are not spending many hours away from your home or driving to and from classes. However, it’s important that the training program you select can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors in order that you also receive the hands-on training needed for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s difficult to obtain the skills necessary to work in any facet of the cosmetology industry. So make sure if you choose to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is provided in your area.
What to Ask Beauty Training Programs
Following is a series of questions that you should research for any beauty training program you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Aurora IN home, in addition to the price of tuition, will most likely be your initial qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue 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 even more factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Following we have put together some of those additional questions that you need to ask every school before making a final determination.
Is the Program Accredited? It’s important to make sure that the cosmetology school you choose is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized 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 assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which often are not offered in 47001 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous Aurora IN employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Every cosmetology school that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional 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 referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating services for reviews as well as the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Aurora IN salon owners or managers, or someone working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not thought of. And last, contact the Indiana school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? A number of beauty schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you enroll in a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your intention 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 desire is to start a hair salon in Aurora IN, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly ranked school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you need.
Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and refining cosmetology skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is provided in the beauty lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that allow students to practice their growing talents on volunteers. If a beauty academy provides limited or no scheduled live training, but instead relies mainly on the use of mannequins, it may not be the most effective alternative for cultivating your skills. So search for other schools that offer this kind of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from a beauty academy, it’s imperative that she or he gets help in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide aid maintain relationships with Aurora IN employers that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and find out which salons and businesses they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Aid Available? Many beauty schools provide 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 may get approved for. If the school is a member of 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 except for expense, do not drop it as an option before you learn what financial assistance may be offered.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Aurora IN?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Aurora IN area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Aurora
An aurora (plural: auroras or aurorae),[a] sometimes referred to as polar lights, northern lights (aurora borealis) or southern lights (aurora australis), is a natural light display in the Earth's sky, predominantly seen in the high-latitude regions (around the Arctic and Antarctic).
Auroras are produced when the magnetosphere is sufficiently disturbed by the solar wind that the trajectories of charged particles in both solar wind and magnetospheric plasma, mainly in the form of electrons and protons, precipitate them into the upper atmosphere (thermosphere/exosphere) due to Earth's magnetic field, where their energy is lost.
The resulting ionization and excitation of atmospheric constituents emits light of varying color and complexity. The form of the aurora, occurring within bands around both polar regions, is also dependent on the amount of acceleration imparted to the precipitating particles. Precipitating protons generally produce optical emissions as incident hydrogen atoms after gaining electrons from the atmosphere. Proton auroras are usually observed at lower latitudes.[2]
Choose the Right Cosmetologist Program near Aurora IN
Selecting and enrolling in the ideal cosmetology school is imperative 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 positive about your decision. Make certain to compile all of the information you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that information to compare schools. A good start in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the institution and program you select are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. If you begin with that foundation, and address the additional questions presented in this post, 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 test, you will be self-assured that you are ready to start your career as a professional cosmetologist in Aurora IN.
Other Beautiful Locations in Indiana
Business Results 1 - 10 of 1
3 Reviews 