How to Choose a Cosmetologist College near Parmele North Carolina
Once you have made a decision to train as a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Parmele NC, the task starts to find and enroll in the best school. It’s essential that the program you pick not only furnishes the appropriate training for the specialty you have decided on, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your initial search, you might be a little bit confused about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are essentially interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. We’ll discuss a bit more about that in the following segment. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Parmele residence. Tuition will also be a critical factor when assessing possible schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it’s not necessarily the right choice. There are many other qualifications that you should weigh when comparing 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 bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of training programs are available.
Defining Cosmetology
Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human anatomy look more attractive through the application of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but really 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, most states require that you undergo some type of specialized training and then become licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only Parmele NC 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, open their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing customers either in their own homes or will go to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by many titles and work in a wide variety of specializations including:
- Hairdressers
- Hairstylists
- Beauticians
- Barbers
- Manicurists
- Nail Technicians
- Makeup Artists
- Hair Coloring Specialists
- Estheticians
- Electrolysis Technicians
As already mentioned, in the majority of states working cosmetologists have to be licensed. In certain states there is an exemption. Only those performing more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people employed in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.
Cosmetologist Degrees
There are basically two pathways offered to receive cosmetology training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs typically require 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. Briefer programs are available if you prefer to specialize in just one area, such as hair coloring. A degree program will also likely incorporate management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to run a salon or other Parmele NC 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 go with, it’s imperative to make sure that it’s approved by the North Carolina Board of Cosmetology. Many states only approve schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded agencies, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the benefits of accreditation for the school you select in the following section.
Online Cosmetology Programs
Online cosmetology programs are advantageous for Parmele NC students who are working full-time and have family obligations that make it challenging to attend a more traditional school. There are numerous online cosmetology school programs offered that can be accessed via a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional cosmetology schools are frequently fast paced because many courses are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a significant amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you are not spending many hours outside of your home or travelling to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s imperative that the school you select can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors so that you also get the hands-on training necessary for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s impossible to acquire the skills needed to work in any area of the cosmetology profession. So make sure if you decide to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is available in your area.
What to Ask Cosmetologist Training Courses
Following is a list of questions that you need to look into for any beauty training program you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Parmele NC home, together with the cost of tuition, will probably be your primary qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have collected several of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final selection.
Is the School Accredited? It’s necessary to make sure that the cosmetology college you choose is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which often are not obtainable in 27861 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many Parmele NC businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Any beauty college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for references 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 along with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Parmele NC salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the industry, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to propose others that you had not considered. And last, consult the North Carolina school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Many beauty schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing 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 typically broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s imperative that you decide on 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 well regarded for that program. If your aspiration is to launch a hair salon in Parmele NC, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct 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 need.
Is Any Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and perfecting cosmetology skills and techniques requires lots of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the beauty courses you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that allow students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a beauty academy furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but rather depends heavily on the use of mannequins, it may not be the most effective option for acquiring your skills. Therefore search for other schools that furnish 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 support in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer help maintain relationships with Parmele NC businesses that are seeking trained 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. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only affirm that they have extensive 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. Check if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and identify 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 available to students as well. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not discard it as an option before you determine what financial assistance may be offered.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Parmele NC?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Parmele NC area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Parmele, North Carolina
The town was settled in 1890 when the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad was built through the area to provide transportation from nearby lumber mills. It was named for local lumber mill owner E. A. Parmele. Following the construction of the Albemarle and Raleigh Railroad, the population rapidly grew and it was incorporated as a town in 1893 by the North Carolina General Assembly. A fire that burned through much of the town on April 1, 1904 destroying many businesses and led to the decline of nearby lumber mills. In 1909, William C. Chance founded the Higgs Industrial School for African Americans (also known as the Parmele Industrial Institute) which at its peak occupied a six-building campus and merged with the town's public school. The school was closed following a fire at its main building in 1954.[4][5]
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 290 people, 114 households, and 73 families residing. The population density was 244.7 people per square mile (94.1/km²). There were 133 housing units at an average density of 112.2 per square mile (43.2/km²). The racial makeup was 10.69% White, 85.86% African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.34% Asian, and 2.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.69% of the population.
There were 114 households out of which 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.3% were married couples living together, 25.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.1% were non-families. 34.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.27.
Choose the Right Cosmetology Program near Parmele NC
Selecting and enrolling in the ideal cosmetologist program is imperative to obtain the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel certain about your decision. Make certain to collect 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 contrast schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the school and program you pick are accredited and have impressive reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and address the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the proper selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are ready to start your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Parmele NC.
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