How to Pick a Cosmetology College near Keyes Oklahoma
Now that you have decided to train as a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Keyes OK, the process starts to find and enroll in the ideal school. It’s imperative that the school you choose not only furnishes the proper instruction for the specialty you have chosen, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your initial search, you might be a little bit confused about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both refer to the same type of school. We’ll discuss a bit further about 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 Keyes residence. Tuition will likewise be a critical factor when assessing potential schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it’s not automatically the ideal option. There are many other qualifications that you should weigh when comparing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask concerning the cosmetology schools you are thinking about later within this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of courses are available.
Definition of Cosmetology
Cosmetology is a profession that is all about making the human anatomy look more attractive through the use of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic can be almost anything that enhances the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, most states mandate that you undergo some kind of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work environments include not only Keyes OK beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have acquired experience and a customer base, establish their own shops or salons. Others will begin servicing clients either in their own homes or will travel to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known 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 already mentioned, in the majority of states working cosmetologists have to be licensed. In some states there is an exception. Only those offering more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people working in cosmetology and less skilled, such as shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.
Cosmetology Degrees and Certificates
There are essentially two pathways 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 complete, 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. Briefer programs are offered if you prefer to specialize in just one area, such as hair coloring. A degree program will also likely include management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to run a parlor or other Keyes OK business. More advanced 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 decide on, it’s imperative to make certain that it’s certified by the Oklahoma Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only certify schools that are accredited by certain reputable agencies, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the advantages of accreditation for the school you decide on in the next section.
Online Beauty Training
Online beauty schools are convenient for Keyes OK students who are working full-time and have family responsibilities that make it challenging to attend a more traditional school. There are many web-based beauty school programs available that can be accessed by means of a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional beauty programs are often fast paced because many programs are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a large amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are dealing with the same volume of material, but you are not devoting many hours away from your home or travelling to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s imperative that the program you pick can provide internship training in area salons and parlors to ensure that you also get the hands-on training required for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s impossible to obtain the skills needed to work in any facet of the cosmetology field. So make sure if you decide to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is available in your area.
Questions to Ask Beauty Programs
Following is a series of questions that you will want to research for any cosmetology training program you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Keyes OK residence, in addition to the expense of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you should research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have collected some of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final decision.
Is the Program 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 agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for getting student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not offered in 73947 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 Keyes OK businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Each cosmetologist school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials 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 demanded. Visit rating companies for reviews along with the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Keyes OK salon owners or managers, or any person working in the business, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not thought of. And finally, contact the Oklahoma school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? A number of beauty schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for instance hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs commonly expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you select a school that focuses on 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 respected for that program. If your desire is to start a hair salon in Keyes OK, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly rated school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you require.
Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Practicing and refining cosmetology skills and techniques involves lots of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is provided in the cosmetology classes you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that make it possible for students to practice their growing talents on volunteers. If a beauty school furnishes limited or no scheduled live training, but rather relies predominantly on using mannequins, it might not be the best option for cultivating your skills. Therefore look for other schools that furnish this kind of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from a beauty school, it’s important that she or he receives assistance in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer aid maintain relationships with Keyes OK employers that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are considering 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 wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Aid Offered? Most beauty schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid department. Talk to a counselor and identify 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 offered to students too. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications except for expense, do not discard it as an alternative until you determine what financial aid may be provided.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Keyes OK?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Keyes OK area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Keyes, Oklahoma
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 324 people, 131 households, and 88 families residing in the town.[6] There were 234 housing units.[6] The racial makeup of the town was 94.1% White, 0.6% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 2.8% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races.[6]Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.2% of the population.[6]
There were 131 households out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.2% were married couples living together, 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families.[6] 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[6] The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.08.[6]
In the town, the population was spread out with 26.2% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 19.8% from 25 to 44, 26.5% from 45 to 64, and 20.7% who were 65 years of age or older.[7] The median age was 43.0 years.[7] For every 100 females, there were 101.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.2 males.[7]
Find the Right Cosmetology College near Keyes OK
Choosing and enrolling in the right cosmetology college is important to get the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel confident about your decision. Be sure to compile all of the information you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that information to contrast schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the academy and program you choose are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you begin with that base, and answer the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to start your career as a professional cosmetologist in Keyes OK.
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