How to Select a Cosmetology School near Becket Massachusetts
Since you have decided to become a cosmetologist and attend a beauty school near Becket MA, the process starts to locate and enroll in the right school. It’s essential that the program you choose not only furnishes the necessary education for the specialty you have decided on, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your preliminary search, you may be somewhat unclear about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are essentially interchangeable and both refer to the same kind of school. We’ll discuss a little bit more concerning that in the upcoming segment. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Becket home. Tuition will additionally be a critical consideration when evaluating potential schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it’s not automatically the ideal choice. There are a number of other qualifications that you should weigh when analyzing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are considering later in this article. Before we do, let’s talk a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of programs are available.
Defining Cosmetology
Cosmetology is a profession that is all 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. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic can be almost anything that improves the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, the majority of states mandate that you undergo some form of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work environments include not only Becket MA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have gotten experience and a client base, launch their own shops or salons. Others will start seeing customers either in their own residences or will go to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many professional names 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 already mentioned, in most states working cosmetologists must be licensed. In some states there is an exception. Only those conducting more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others employed in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.
Cosmetologist Degrees
There are primarily two pathways offered to obtain 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 normally call for 12 to 18 months to complete, while an Associate’s degree usually takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be trained in all of the major areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you prefer to concentrate on just one area, for example hair coloring. A degree program will also probably feature management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to operate a salon or other Becket MA business. Higher degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whichever type of training program you go with, it’s important to make sure that it’s approved by the Massachusetts Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only certify schools that are accredited by certain respected organizations, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the benefits of accreditation for the school you decide on in the next segment.
Online Cosmetology Training
Online beauty schools are convenient for Becket MA students who are working full time and have family commitments that make it challenging to enroll in a more traditional school. There are a large number of online beauty school programs available that can be attended via a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional cosmetology programs are typically fast paced due to the fact that many courses are as short as six or eight months. This means that a substantial portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you are not spending numerous hours outside of your home or driving to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s vital that the training program you select can provide internship training in area salons and parlors in order that you also obtain the hands-on training needed for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s impossible to gain the skills necessary to work in any facet of the cosmetology industry. So be sure if you choose to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is available in your area.
Questions to Ask Cosmetologist Training Classes
Below is a series of questions that you should investigate for any cosmetology training school you are contemplating. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Becket MA residence, in addition to the expense of tuition, will undoubtedly be your initial qualifiers. Whether you want 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 initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have collected some of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final selection.
Is the School Accredited? It’s essential to make sure that the cosmetology training program you choose 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not available in 01223 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous Becket MA employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Each cosmetologist school that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating services for reviews in addition to the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Becket MA salon owners or managers, or someone working in the field, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to suggest others that you had not considered. And last, contact the Massachusetts school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? A number of beauty schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, for instance hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s essential that you decide on a school that specializes in your area of interest. If your ambition 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 Becket MA, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly rated school with a weak program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you require.
Is Enough Live Training Provided? Practicing and refining cosmetology skills and techniques demands lots of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is provided in the cosmetology courses you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that make it possible for students to practice their developing skills on volunteers. If a beauty program provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead relies mainly on using mannequins, it may not be the best option for cultivating your skills. Therefore try to find other schools that offer this kind of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from a beauty school, it’s essential that she or he receives assistance in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide help develope relationships with Becket MA businesses that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which salons and establishments they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Aid Available? 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. Talk to a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you may get approved for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students as well. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not omit it as an option until you determine what financial aid may be available.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Becket MA?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Becket MA area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Becket, Massachusetts
The original "Beckett" for which the town of Becket was named is an estate or "tithing" that once belonged to the Admiral Lord Barrington (the namesake of "Great Barrington, Massachusetts"). It is located in Shrivenham, formerly in Berkshire, England, about five miles east of the important railroad town of Swindon.
Sir Francis Bernard, the Royal Governor of Massachusetts in 1765, was a close friend of Lord Barrington and was himself a native of Berkshire, England. It is said[by whom?] that he often went on holiday in the beautiful surroundings of Beckett, and that these pleasant memories influenced him in 1765 to give the name Becket to Township Number Four when he approved its incorporation.
The early town was the site of an experiment in the late eighteenth century involving the local church. Seeing the problems involved with communities who supported congregational churches, the town established its own church society, where local citizens supported the church without any tax monies. It was one of the first frontier communities to employ this model of supporting churches.[2]
Choose the Right Cosmetologist School near Becket MA
Finding and enrolling in the ideal cosmetology school is important to get the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel certain about your decision. Make certain to collect all of the responses you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that information to contrast schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the college and program you decide on are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the profession. If you start with that foundation, and address the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are qualified to launch your career as a professional cosmetologist in Becket MA.
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