How to Find the Right Cosmetology School near Dexter Missouri
Once you have made a decision to become a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Dexter MO, the task starts to find and enroll in the right school. It’s essential that the school you pick not only provides the necessary education for the specialty you have chosen, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your initial search, you might be rather confused about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both refer to the same type of school. We’ll speak a bit further regarding that in the next section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Dexter home. Tuition will likewise be a critical aspect when reviewing possible schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it’s not automatically the ideal option. There are a number of other factors that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are considering later within this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of programs are available.
Defining Cosmetology
Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human anatomy look more attractive through the use of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic can be anything that enhances the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, the majority of states require that you undergo some type of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only Dexter MO beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gotten experience and a client base, establish their own shops or salons. Others will begin seeing clients either in their own residences or will travel to the client’s home, 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 earlier stated, in most states working cosmetologists must be licensed. In certain states there is an exemption. Only those offering more skilled services, for example hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others employed in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.
Cosmetology Certificates and Degrees
There are basically two avenues available to get cosmetology training and a credential upon 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 usually takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be trained in each of the main areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are offered if you wish to concentrate on just one area, such as hair coloring. A degree program will also likely feature management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to run a salon or other Dexter MO business. Higher degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whichever type of course you choose, it’s imperative to make sure that it’s approved by the Missouri Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain respected agencies, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the advantages of accreditation for the school you choose in the following segment.
Online Cosmetology Programs
Online beauty schools are advantageous for Dexter MO students who are employed full-time and have family responsibilities that make it challenging to enroll in a more traditional school. There are a large number of online beauty school programs offered that can be accessed by means of a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional cosmetology schools are often fast paced because many courses are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a large amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are covering the same volume of material, but you are not devoting numerous hours outside of your home or commuting back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it’s important that the training program you choose can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors to ensure that you also receive the hands-on training required for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s impossible to acquire the skills necessary to work in any facet of the cosmetology field. So don’t forget if you decide to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is available in your area.
What to Ask Beauty Trade Schools
Below is a series of questions that you will want to look into for any beauty training school you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Dexter MO residence, together with the cost of tuition, will undoubtedly be your initial qualifiers. Whether you want to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Following we have compiled several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each school before making a final decision.
Is the Program Accredited? It’s important to make sure that the cosmetology college you choose is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for securing student loans or financial aid, which typically are not available in 63841 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many Dexter MO employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Any cosmetology school that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly demanded. Check rating companies for reviews along with the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Dexter MO salon owners or managers, or someone working in the trade, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not looked into. And last, consult the Missouri 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? A number of beauty schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s essential that you pick a school that specializes in your area of interest. If your objective 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 Dexter MO, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly regarded school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you need.
Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and perfecting cosmetology skills and techniques involves plenty of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the beauty courses you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that enable students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a beauty academy offers little or no scheduled live training, but rather relies mainly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the best option for developing your skills. Therefore look for other schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from a beauty school, it’s crucial that he or she gets support in finding that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide help develope relationships with Dexter MO employers that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and ask which salons and organizations they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only affirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Aid Available? The majority of beauty schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid department. 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 meets all of your other qualifications except for expense, do not discard it as an option before you learn what financial assistance may be offered.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Dexter MO?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Dexter MO area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Dexter, Missouri
Dexter was platted in 1873.[6] One Mr. Dex, an early settler, gave the community the name of his horse, Dexter.[7] Dexter experienced rapid growth with the arrival of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway.[8] A post office called Dexter City was established in 1873, and the name was changed to Dexter in 1887.[9]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.65 square miles (17.22 km2), of which 6.52 square miles (16.89 km2) is land and 0.13 square miles (0.34 km2) is water.[1]
As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 7,865 people, 3,359 households, and 2,108 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,206.1 inhabitants per square mile (465.7/km2). There were 3,666 housing units at an average density of 562.3 per square mile (217.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 97.1% White, 0.5% African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.9% of the population.
Select the Right Cosmetology Training Program near Dexter MO
Choosing and enrolling in the right cosmetology school is essential to get the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel confident about your decision. Make sure to compile all of the responses you get from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to compare schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the school and program you select are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you begin with that base, and address the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are prepared to start your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Dexter MO.
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