How to Pick a Cosmetologist College near Redmond Oregon
Once you have decided to train as a cosmetologist and attend a beauty school near Redmond OR, the task begins to find and enroll in the right school. It’s imperative that the program you select not only provides the proper training for the specialty you have selected, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your initial search, you might be a little bit unclear about the difference 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 more regarding that in the following section. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Redmond residence. Tuition will likewise be an important aspect when reviewing potential schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it’s not automatically the right choice. There are a number of other factors that you should weigh when analyzing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are considering later within this article. Before we do, let’s talk a bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of courses are offered.
What is Cosmetology
Cosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human body look more beautiful through the application of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are referred to as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic can be anything that improves the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, most states mandate that you take some kind of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only Redmond OR beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have gained experience and a client base, launch their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing customers either in their own homes or will travel to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many names and work in a wide range 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 certain states there is an exemption. Only those offering more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others employed in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.
Cosmetologist Certificates and Degrees
There are basically two pathways offered to obtain 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 usually call for 12 to 18 months to finish, while an Associate’s degree commonly 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 want to focus on just one area, such as hair coloring. A degree program will also likely include management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to manage a parlor or other Redmond OR business. Higher degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whichever type of program you opt for, it’s imperative to make sure that it’s recognized by the Oregon 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 select in the following segment.
Online Beauty Training
Online beauty classes are advantageous for Redmond OR students who are employed full time and have family commitments that make it hard to enroll in a more traditional school. There are many online cosmetology school programs available that can be accessed through a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional cosmetology schools are often fast paced due to the fact that 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 programs, you are dealing with the same volume of material, but you are not spending numerous hours outside of your home or driving to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s imperative that the program you select can provide internship training in local salons and parlors so that you also obtain the hands-on training needed for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s difficult to gain the skills required to work in any facet of the cosmetology industry. So be sure if you decide to enroll in an online school to confirm that internship training is available in your area.
What to Ask Cosmetology Training Courses
Following is a series of questions that you need to look into for any cosmetologist training school you are contemplating. As we have already covered, the location of the school in relation to your Redmond OR residence, together with the cost of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly 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 compiled several of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final selection.
Is the Program Accredited? It’s important to make certain that the cosmetology school you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified 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 ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which often are not offered in 97756 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of Redmond OR 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 Good Reputation? Every beauty college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating companies for reviews along with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Redmond OR salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to propose others that you had not looked into. And last, check with the Oregon school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? A number of cosmetology schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs often broaden 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 certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and well regarded for that program. If your aspiration is to open a hair salon in Redmond OR, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach 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 require.
Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Studying and refining cosmetology skills and techniques requires lots of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is included in the beauty classes you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that allow students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a beauty program provides little or no scheduled live training, but instead relies heavily on using mannequins, it may not be the most effective alternative for developing your skills. Therefore search for alternate schools that furnish this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from a beauty academy, it’s important that she or he receives assistance in landing that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer assistance develope relationships with Redmond OR businesses that are searching for qualified graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and inquire which salons and organizations they refer students to. Also, 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 Aid Offered? Many beauty schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are considering have a financial aid office. 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 available to students too. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications except for cost, do not discard it as an option before you determine what financial help may be offered.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Redmond OR?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Redmond OR area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Redmond, Washington
Redmond is a city in King County, Washington, United States, located 16 miles (26 km) east of Seattle. The population was 64,291 in a 2017 census estimate. Redmond is commonly recognized as the home of Microsoft and Nintendo of America. With an annual bike race on city streets and the state's only velodrome, Redmond is also known as the "Bicycle Capital of the Northwest".[4][5]
Native Americans have lived in the Redmond area for over 10,000 years, based on artifacts discovered at the Redmond Town Center archaeological site and Marymoor Prehistoric Indian Site.[6][7] The first European settlers arrived in the 1870s. Luke McRedmond filed a Homestead Act claim for land next to the Sammamish Slough on September 9, 1870, and the following year Warren Perrigo took up land adjacent to him. The rivers and streams had so many salmon that the settlement was initially named Salmonberg. More settlers came, and with the establishment of the first post office in 1881, the name of the community was changed to Melrose. The new name was derived from the Perrigos' successful inn, Melrose House, which upset McRedmond. After becoming postmaster, he successfully petitioned to have the name changed to Redmond in 1883.[8]
The abundant forests and fish of Redmond provided jobs for loggers and fishermen and with those jobs came demand for goods and services, bringing in merchants. The logging industry expanded significantly in 1889 when Seattle Lake Shore & Eastern Railway built a station in the center of town. The first plat for Redmond was filed on May 11, 1891, encompassing much of the area now known as downtown. After reaching the necessary population of 300, Redmond was incorporated on December 31, 1912.[8]
Pick the Right Cosmetology School near Redmond OR
Selecting and enrolling in the right cosmetology college is essential to obtain the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel confident about your decision. Make certain to compile all of the information you get from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that information to compare schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the school and program you choose are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you start with that base, and answer the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to filter 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 ready to start your career as a professional cosmetologist in Redmond OR.
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