How to Choose a Beauty College near Kirkwood New York
Once you have decided to train as a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Kirkwood NY, the task starts to locate and enroll in the right school. It’s imperative that the program you select not only furnishes the appropriate training for the specialty you have chosen, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your preliminary search, you may be a little bit confused about the contrast 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 discuss a bit more regarding that in the upcoming section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Kirkwood home. Tuition will also be a critical factor when reviewing prospective schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it’s not automatically the right choice. There are several other considerations that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask about the cosmetology schools you are considering later in this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of training programs are available.
Defining Cosmetology
Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human anatomy look more beautiful with the application of cosmetics. So naturally 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 actually a cosmetic may be almost anything that improves the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states require that you undergo some form of specialized training and then become licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only Kirkwood NY beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places 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 clients either in their own residences or will go to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many titles and work in a wide range of specializations including:
- Hairdressers
- Hairstylists
- Beauticians
- Barbers
- Manicurists
- Nail Technicians
- Makeup Artists
- Hair Coloring Specialists
- Estheticians
- Electrolysis Technicians
As formerly mentioned, in most states working cosmetologists have to be licensed. In a few states there is an exemption. Only those conducting more skilled services, for example hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people employed in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.
Cosmetologist Degrees and Certificates
There are primarily two pathways available to obtain cosmetology training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs typically take 12 to 18 months to finish, while an Associate’s degree ordinarily takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be trained in each of the major areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are offered if you prefer to focus on just one area, for instance hair coloring. A degree program will also most likely feature management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to operate a parlor or other Kirkwood NY 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 program you go with, it’s essential to make sure that it’s recognized by the New York Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded organizations, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the benefits of accreditation for the school you decide on in the next section.
Online Cosmetology Courses
Online cosmetology schools are advantageous for Kirkwood NY students who are employed full-time and have family obligations that make it challenging to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of online cosmetology school programs available that can be accessed by means of a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional beauty programs are frequently fast paced due to the fact that many courses are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a substantial amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you’re not spending numerous hours outside of your home or travelling back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it’s important that the training program you select can provide internship training in local salons and parlors to ensure that you also obtain the hands-on training needed for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s impossible to obtain the skills required to work in any facet of the cosmetology profession. So be sure if you decide to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.
What to Ask Cosmetologist Training Programs
Below is a series of questions that you should investigate for any cosmetology training school you are considering. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Kirkwood NY residence, as well as the expense of tuition, will most likely be your initial qualifiers. Whether you wish 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 preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have compiled several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final selection.
Is the Program Accredited? It’s essential to make sure that the cosmetology training program 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 important for securing student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not offered in 13795 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of Kirkwood NY businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Each cosmetology college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly regarded. Check rating companies for reviews in addition to the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Kirkwood NY salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. Finally, consult the New York school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Some beauty schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs often broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s imperative that you enroll in a school that specializes in your area of interest. If your goal is to be trained as an esthetician, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your desire is to open a hair salon in Kirkwood NY, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly regarded school with a weak program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you need.
Is Any Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and mastering cosmetology skills and techniques involves plenty of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the beauty classes you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that allow students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a beauty program offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather depends mainly on using mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for developing your skills. So try to find other schools that offer this kind of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? As soon as a student graduates from a cosmetology academy, it’s important that he or she gets aid in landing that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer assistance develope relationships with Kirkwood NY businesses that are looking for qualified graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and find out which salons and businesses they refer students to. Additionally, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Assistance Available? Most beauty schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are reviewing 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 option before you determine what financial assistance may be provided.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Kirkwood NY?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Kirkwood NY area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Kirkwood, New York
Kirkwood is a town in Broome County, New York, United States. The population was 5,857 at the 2010 census.[3] The town is named after James P. Kirkwood, who was an engineer responsible for constructing the local railroad.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 31.2 square miles (80.8 km2), of which 30.8 square miles (79.8 km2) is land and 0.39 square miles (1.0 km2), or 1.27%, is water.[3]
The Susquehanna River forms the western border. U.S. Route 11 and Interstate 81 pass through the town, following the course of the Susquehanna. Interstate 86/New York State Route 17 passes across the north part of the town.
Choose the Right Beauty Training Program near Kirkwood NY
Picking and enrolling in the right cosmetology school is essential to obtain the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel confident about your decision. Be sure to consolidate all of the information you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that information to compare schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the school and program you pick are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and address the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are qualified to begin your career as a professional cosmetologist in Kirkwood NY.
Other Beautiful Locations in New York
Business Results 1 - 10 of 1
5 Reviews 