How to Find the Right Cosmetology College near Knightstown Indiana
Since you have decided to train as a cosmetologist and attend a beauty school near Knightstown IN, the process begins to search for and enroll in the right school. It’s essential that the program you choose not only furnishes the appropriate instruction for the specialty you have chosen, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your initial search, you may be a little bit unclear about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. We’ll discuss a bit further about that in the upcoming segment. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Knightstown home. Tuition will additionally be an important aspect when assessing possible schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it’s not always the ideal choice. There are a number of other factors that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask concerning the cosmetology schools you are considering later in this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a 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 anatomy look more attractive 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 actually a cosmetic may be almost anything that enhances the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, the majority of states require that you undergo some form of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only Knightstown IN beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have gained experience and a client base, open their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing clients either in their own residences or will travel to the client’s house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many titles and are employed in a wide variety of specialties including:
- Hairdressers
- Hairstylists
- Beauticians
- Barbers
- Manicurists
- Nail Technicians
- Makeup Artists
- Hair Coloring Specialists
- Estheticians
- Electrolysis Technicians
As previously mentioned, in most states practicing cosmetologists have to be licensed. In some states there is an exception. Only those offering more skilled services, for example hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people working in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.
Cosmetology Degrees and Certificates
There are basically two avenues offered to receive cosmetology training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs usually call for 12 to 18 months to complete, while an Associate’s degree commonly takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be trained in each of the major areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are offered if you wish to specialize in just one area, for instance hair coloring. A degree program will also likely feature management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to manage a salon or other Knightstown IN business. Higher degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such areas as salon or spa management. Whichever type of program you decide on, it’s important to make sure that it’s approved by the Indiana Board of Cosmetology. Many states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain respected organizations, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the benefits of accreditation for the school you select in the upcoming segment.
Online Beauty Schools
Online beauty programs are convenient for Knightstown IN students who are working full-time and have family obligations that make it difficult to enroll in a more traditional school. There are numerous web-based cosmetology school programs available that can be accessed by means of a desktop 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 6 or 8 months. This means that a large portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you are not devoting numerous hours away from your home or driving back and forth from classes. However, it’s essential that the school you pick can provide internship training in area salons and parlors so that you also get the hands-on training necessary for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s difficult to acquire the skills necessary to work in any facet of the cosmetology field. So don’t forget if you choose to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is provided in your area.
What to Ask Cosmetology Degree Programs
Following is a series of questions that you should research for any cosmetology training school you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Knightstown IN home, together with the cost of tuition, will probably be your initial qualifiers. Whether you wish to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have compiled some of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final decision.
Is the School Accredited? It’s important to make certain that the cosmetology college you select 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 measure up to their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for securing student loans or financial aid, which often are not available in 46148 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of Knightstown IN 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 considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating companies for reviews in addition to the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Knightstown IN salon owners or managers, or someone working in the field, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. Finally, contact the Indiana school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? A number of beauty schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs commonly expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you pick a school that specializes in 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 Knightstown IN, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly regarded school with a weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you require.
Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and refining cosmetology techniques and abilities requires plenty of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is included in the cosmetology courses you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that allow students to practice their growing talents on volunteers. If a beauty school furnishes minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead relies heavily on using mannequins, it might not be the most effective option for acquiring your skills. Therefore try to find alternate schools that offer this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from a beauty academy, it’s important that she or he receives assistance in securing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish aid develope relationships with Knightstown IN businesses that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and ask 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 Assistance Offered? Most cosmetology schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you might get approved for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students as well. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not discard it as an alternative until you determine what financial assistance may be provided.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Knightstown IN?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Knightstown IN area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Knightstown
Enroll in the Right Cosmetologist College near Knightstown IN
Selecting and enrolling in the right cosmetology college is imperative to get the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel certain about your decision. Make sure to consolidate all of the information you get from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that information to compare schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the college and program you pick are accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and answer the additional questions supplied in this post, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are ready to start your career as a professional cosmetologist in Knightstown IN.
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