How to Pick a Cosmetologist College near San Angelo Texas
Since you have decided to become a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near San Angelo TX, the process begins to search for and enroll in the best school. It’s imperative that the school you select not only furnishes the necessary instruction for the specialty you have chosen, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you may be somewhat confused about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. We’ll talk a little bit more concerning that in the upcoming section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your San Angelo home. Tuition will additionally be a critical factor when assessing prospective schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it’s not necessarily the ideal choice. There are various other considerations that you should weigh when comparing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask concerning the cosmetology schools you are looking at later in this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of courses are available.
Defining Cosmetology
Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human anatomy look more beautiful through the application of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are referred to as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic may be anything that enhances the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, most states require that you go through some form of specialized training and then become licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only San Angelo TX beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have gotten experience and a client base, establish their own shops or salons. Others will begin servicing clients either in their own residences or will go to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many names 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 formerly mentioned, in most states practicing cosmetologists must be licensed. In certain states there is an exception. Only those performing more skilled services, for instance hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people working in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.
Cosmetology Degrees
There are basically two options offered to obtain cosmetology training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs generally require 12 to 18 months to finish, while an Associate’s degree ordinarily takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be trained in all of the main areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are available if you wish to focus on just one area, for instance hair coloring. A degree program will also likely incorporate management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to manage a parlor or other San Angelo TX business. More advanced degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whatever type of course you opt for, it’s important to make sure that it’s recognized by the Texas Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only approve schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded organizations, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the advantages of accreditation for the school you decide on in the following section.
Online Cosmetologist Schools
Online beauty classes are advantageous for San Angelo TX students who are working full time and have family responsibilities that make it hard to attend a more traditional school. There are numerous online beauty school programs offered that can be accessed via a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional cosmetology schools are often fast paced because many programs are as short as six or eight months. This means that a substantial amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are covering the same amount 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 important that the program you pick can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors to ensure that you also get the hands-on training necessary for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s difficult to obtain the skills needed to work in any facet of the cosmetology field. So don’t forget if you decide to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.
What to Ask Cosmetologist Trade Schools
Following is a series of questions that you should investigate for any beauty training program you are contemplating. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your San Angelo TX residence, as well as the price of tuition, will most likely be your initial qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Following we have compiled several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each school before making a final decision.
Is the Program Accredited? It’s necessary to make certain that the cosmetology college you choose is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for securing student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable in 76901 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of San Angelo TX employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Any cosmetologist institute that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly regarded. Check rating services for reviews as well as the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with San Angelo TX salon owners or managers, or someone working in the trade, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not looked into. Finally, check with the Texas 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? Many beauty schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, for instance hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you decide on a school that specializes in 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 respected for that program. If your dream is to start a hair salon in San Angelo TX, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly rated school with a weak program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you need.
Is Enough Live Training Provided? Practicing and perfecting cosmetology techniques and abilities demands lots of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is provided in the beauty courses 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 provides limited or no scheduled live training, but instead relies heavily on using mannequins, it may not be the most effective option for cultivating your skills. So look for other schools that offer this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from a cosmetology program, it’s important that she or he receives aid in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish assistance maintain relationships with San Angelo TX businesses that are looking for qualified graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and inquire which salons and businesses they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Available? Almost all cosmetology schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid department. Consult with a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students too. If a school meets all of your other qualifications except for expense, do not discard it as an option until you learn what financial help may be provided.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near San Angelo TX?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater San Angelo TX area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
San Angelo, Texas
San Angelo /sæn ˈændʒəloʊ/[4] is a city in and the county seat of Tom Green County, Texas, United States.[5] Its location is in the Concho Valley, a region of West Texas between the Permian Basin to the northwest, Chihuahuan Desert to the southwest, Osage Plains to the northeast, and Central Texas to the southeast. According to a 2014 Census estimate, San Angelo has a total population of 100,450.[6] It is the principal city and center of the San Angelo metropolitan area, which has a population of 118,182.[7]
San Angelo is home to Angelo State University, historic Fort Concho, and Goodfellow Air Force Base. Common nicknames of the city include Angelo, Land of Sand and Jello, the Concho City, the Pearl of the Conchos, and the Oasis of West Texas.[8]
In 1632, a short-lived mission of Franciscans under Spanish auspices was founded in the area to serve the Indians.[9] The mission was led by the friars Juan de Salas and Juan de Ortega, with Ortega remaining for six months.[10] The area was visited by the Castillo-Martin expedition of 1650 and the Diego de Guadalajara expedition of 1654.[11]
Pick the Right Cosmetology College near San Angelo TX
Choosing and enrolling in the ideal cosmetology school is imperative to receive the appropriate 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. Don’t forget to collect all of the responses you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that information to compare schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the college and program you pick are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the field. If you start with that foundation, and answer the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the ideal choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are ready to begin your new career as a professional cosmetologist in San Angelo TX.
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