How to Pick a Beauty School near Aurora South Dakota
Once you have made a decision to train as a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Aurora SD, the process starts to search for and enroll in the best school. It’s imperative that the school you select not only furnishes the necessary education for the specialty you have chosen, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your preliminary search, you may be rather unclear about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both refer to the same kind of school. We’ll discuss a bit further concerning that in the upcoming segment. If you intend on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Aurora home. Tuition will also be a critical factor when reviewing potential schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it’s not necessarily the right option. There are many other qualifications that you should evaluate when comparing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are looking at later in this article. Before we do, let’s talk a bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of training programs are available.
Definition of Cosmetology
Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human body look more beautiful through the use of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic may be almost anything that enhances the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, the majority of states require that you go through some form of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Aurora SD 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 begin seeing clients 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 range of specializations including:
- Hairdressers
- Hairstylists
- Beauticians
- Barbers
- Manicurists
- Nail Technicians
- Makeup Artists
- Hair Coloring Specialists
- Estheticians
- Electrolysis Technicians
As earlier mentioned, in the majority of states working cosmetologists must be licensed. In certain states there is an exception. Only those offering more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others employed in cosmetology and less skilled, such as shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.
Cosmetology Degrees and Certificates
There are essentially two pathways offered 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 normally call for 12 to 18 months to complete, while an Associate’s degree commonly takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be instructed in all of the main areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are offered if you want to focus on just one area, for example hair coloring. A degree program will also probably include management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to manage a parlor or other Aurora SD business. Higher degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such areas as salon or spa management. Whichever type of training program you opt for, it’s imperative to make certain that it’s certified by the South Dakota Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only certify schools that are accredited by certain reputable agencies, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the advantages of accreditation for the school you decide on in the upcoming segment.
Online Cosmetologist Schools
Online cosmetology classes are advantageous for Aurora SD students who are employed full time and have family responsibilities that make it hard to attend a more traditional school. There are many online beauty school programs available that can be attended via a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional beauty schools are often fast paced because many courses are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a considerable portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you are not devoting many hours away from your home or commuting back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it’s important that the school you pick can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors to ensure that you also obtain the hands-on training required for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s difficult to obtain the skills required to work in any area of the cosmetology industry. So be sure if you choose to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is available in your area.
Questions to Ask Cosmetologist Trade Schools
Following is a series of questions that you need to look into for any cosmetology training school you are contemplating. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Aurora SD residence, in addition to the cost of tuition, will undoubtedly be your initial qualifiers. Whether you wish to earn 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 must research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Following we have collected some of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final determination.
Is the School Accredited? It’s necessary to make certain that the cosmetology college you select 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 ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not offered in 57002 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous Aurora SD employers 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? Any beauty school that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for references 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 sought after. Visit rating companies for reviews as well as the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Aurora SD salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the business, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. Finally, contact the South Dakota school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Many cosmetology schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently expand 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 intention is to be trained as an esthetician, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and well regarded for that program. If your desire is to start a hair salon in Aurora SD, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly ranked school with a weak program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you require.
Is Any Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and mastering cosmetology skills and techniques involves lots of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is provided in the cosmetology courses you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that make it possible for students to practice their developing skills on volunteers. If a beauty academy furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but rather relies mainly on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the most effective alternative for developing your skills. So look for alternate schools that offer this kind of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from a cosmetology program, it’s imperative that she or he receives support in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish aid maintain relationships with Aurora SD businesses that are seeking trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and inquire which salons and organizations they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Offered? Many 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 office. Consult with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you might get approved for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students as well. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not eliminate it as an option until you learn what financial help may be provided.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Aurora SD?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Aurora SD area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Aurora, South Dakota
As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 532 people, 233 households, and 144 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,156.5 inhabitants per square mile (446.5/km2). There were 256 housing units at an average density of 556.5 per square mile (214.9/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 95.5% White, 2.6% Native American, 0.2% Asian, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.9% of the population.
There were 233 households of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.5% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.2% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.88.
The median age in the town was 33.8 years. 23.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 32.4% were from 25 to 44; 26.6% were from 45 to 64; and 7.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 53.0% male and 47.0% female.
Select the Right Cosmetology School near Aurora SD
Finding and enrolling in the ideal beauty college is important to receive the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel confident about your decision. Make certain to compile all of the responses you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that information to compare schools. A good beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the school and program you decide on are accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and answer the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are prepared to launch your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Aurora SD.
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