How to Pick a Cosmetologist College near Covington Oklahoma
Now that you have made a decision to train as a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Covington OK, the process begins to find and enroll in the best school. It’s imperative that the program you select not only furnishes the necessary training for the specialty you have decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your preliminary search, you might be somewhat puzzled about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. We’ll discuss a little bit more regarding that in the following segment. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Covington residence. Tuition will likewise be an important aspect when evaluating potential schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it’s not automatically the ideal choice. There are a number of other factors that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask about the cosmetology schools you are considering later within this article. Before we do, let’s talk a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of courses are offered.
Definition of Cosmetology
Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human anatomy look more attractive with the application of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are regarded 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. In order to work as a cosmetologist, the majority of states mandate that you go through some type of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only Covington OK 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, establish their own shops or salons. Others will begin seeing customers either in their own residences or will travel to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by many professional names and work in a wide variety of specialties including:
- Hairdressers
- Hairstylists
- Beauticians
- Barbers
- Manicurists
- Nail Technicians
- Makeup Artists
- Hair Coloring Specialists
- Estheticians
- Electrolysis Technicians
As formerly mentioned, in the majority of states working cosmetologists must be licensed. In some states there is an exemption. Only those offering more skilled services, for instance hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others working in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.
Cosmetologist Certificates and Degrees
There are primarily two avenues offered to get 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 generally require 12 to 18 months to complete, while an Associate’s degree ordinarily takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be instructed in all of the major areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are offered if you want to concentrate on just one area, for example hair coloring. A degree program will also most likely incorporate management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to run a salon or other Covington OK business. Higher degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such areas as salon or spa management. Whatever type of training program you go with, it’s imperative to make sure that it’s certified by the Oklahoma Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only recognize 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 choose in the following segment.
Online Cosmetology Classes
Online cosmetology programs are convenient for Covington OK students who are employed full-time and have family commitments that make it difficult to enroll in a more traditional school. There are a large number of web-based beauty school programs available that can be accessed by means of a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional beauty schools are frequently fast paced given that many programs are as short as six or eight months. This means that a considerable amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are dealing with the same volume of material, but you’re not spending numerous hours away from your home or commuting to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s imperative that the school you choose can provide internship training in local salons and parlors in order that you also receive the hands-on training needed for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s difficult to gain the skills necessary to work in any facet of the cosmetology industry. So make sure if you decide to enroll in an online school to confirm that internship training is available in your area.
Questions to Ask Cosmetologist Training Courses
Below is a list of questions that you should research for any cosmetology training program you are contemplating. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Covington OK residence, in addition to the cost of tuition, will most likely be your primary qualifiers. Whether you wish to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have compiled some of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final determination.
Is the School Accredited? It’s important to make sure that the cosmetology college you pick 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 comply with their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for getting student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not offered in 73730 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of Covington OK businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Any cosmetology school that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating services for reviews as well as the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Covington OK salon owners or managers, or any person working in the industry, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to propose others that you had not considered. And finally, check with the Oklahoma school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Some beauty schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing 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 commonly 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 intention 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 desire is to launch a hair salon in Covington OK, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly rated school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you require.
Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and mastering cosmetology skills and techniques demands lots of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is provided in the beauty classes you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that allow students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a beauty school furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but rather depends predominantly on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the best option for cultivating your skills. So search for alternate schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from a cosmetology school, it’s essential that she or he receives aid in landing that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer aid maintain relationships with Covington OK businesses that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and find out 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 wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Available? Almost all beauty schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are considering have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and identify 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 too. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not discard it as an option before you learn what financial help may be offered.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Covington OK?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Covington OK area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Covington, Oklahoma
Covington is located in southeastern Garfield County at 36°18′27″N 97°35′18″W / 36.30750°N 97.58833°W / 36.30750; -97.58833 (36.307490, -97.588379).[4]Oklahoma State Highway 74 passes through the center of town as First Street, leading north 9 miles (14 km) to Garber and south 63 miles (101 km) to Oklahoma City. Enid, the Garfield County seat, is 23 miles (37 km) to the northwest via OK 74 and U.S. Route 412. Oklahoma State Highway 164 leads southeast, then east 18 miles (29 km) to Perry.
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 553 people, 224 households, and 159 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,373.1 people per square mile (533.8/km²). There were 259 housing units at an average density of 643.1 per square mile (250.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 93.49% White, 3.98% Native American, 0.18% Pacific Islander, 0.18% from other races, and 2.17% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.27% of the population.
There were 224 households out of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.6% were married couples living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.01.
Choose the Right Cosmetologist Program near Covington OK
Choosing and enrolling in the right beauty college is imperative to obtain the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel positive about your decision. Make sure to collect all of the information you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that data to compare schools. A good start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the academy and program you select are accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and address the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the right selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are ready to start your career as a professional cosmetologist in Covington OK.
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