How to Pick a Cosmetologist College near Shaftsbury Vermont
Now that you have made a decision to become a cosmetologist and attend a beauty school near Shaftsbury VT, the process starts to find and enroll in the ideal school. It’s imperative that the school you pick not only furnishes the proper instruction for the specialty you have decided on, but also preps 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 titles are basically interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind of school. We’ll speak a little bit further regarding that in the following segment. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Shaftsbury residence. Tuition will also be an important consideration when assessing potential schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it’s not always the best option. There are many other qualifications that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, for example 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 talk a bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of training programs are available.
Definition of Cosmetology
Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human body look more beautiful through the application of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are referred to as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but really a cosmetic can be 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 type of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only Shaftsbury VT 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 start seeing clients either in their own residences or will go to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by many names 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 previously stated, in most states practicing cosmetologists must be licensed. In a few states there is an exemption. Only those performing more skilled services, for instance hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others employed in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.
Cosmetologist Degrees
There are basically two options available to obtain 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 normally require 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 instructed in all of the major areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you want to concentrate on just one area, such as hair coloring. A degree program will also most likely include management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to manage a parlor or other Shaftsbury VT business. More advanced degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such areas as salon or spa management. Whatever type of program you choose, it’s important to make sure that it’s certified by the Vermont Board of Cosmetology. Many states only approve schools that are accredited by certain reputable agencies, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the benefits of accreditation for the school you choose in the next segment.
Online Cosmetologist Schools
Online beauty classes are convenient for Shaftsbury VT students who are working full time and have family commitments that make it challenging to enroll in a more traditional school. There are numerous online cosmetology school programs available that can be accessed by means of a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional cosmetology schools are typically 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 programs, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you are not spending numerous hours away from your home or driving to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s essential that the program you choose can provide internship training in local salons and parlors in order that you also get the hands-on training required for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s impossible to gain the skills needed to work in any area of the cosmetology field. So be sure if you decide to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is available in your area.
Questions to Ask Beauty Degree Programs
Below is a series of questions that you should look into for any cosmetology training school you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school relative to your Shaftsbury VT residence, together with the expense of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and take into consideration 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 selection.
Is the School Accredited? It’s essential to make sure that the cosmetology training program you enroll in 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 meet their high standards guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for getting student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable in 05262 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many Shaftsbury VT employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Any cosmetologist institute that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements 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 sought after. Visit rating companies for reviews together with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Shaftsbury VT salon owners or managers, or someone working in the trade, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not considered. Finally, contact the Vermont school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? A number of cosmetology schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, for instance hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you enroll in a school that specializes in your area of interest. If your ambition 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 launch a hair salon in Shaftsbury VT, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly regarded school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you require.
Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and refining cosmetology techniques and abilities demands lots of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is included in the cosmetology lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that allow students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a beauty school provides little or no scheduled live training, but rather relies heavily on the use of mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for developing your skills. So look for other schools that furnish this kind of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from a cosmetology school, it’s important that he or she gets aid in landing that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish assistance maintain relationships with Shaftsbury VT employers that are searching for skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and ask which salons and businesses they refer students to. Additionally, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Available? Many beauty schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Consult with a counselor and identify 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 accessible to students as well. If a school meets all of your other qualifications except for expense, do not discard it as an option before you determine what financial assistance may be available.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Shaftsbury VT?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Shaftsbury VT area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
South Shaftsbury, Vermont
South Shaftsbury is located along the southern border of the town of Shaftsbury. It is the largest settlement in the town. The CDP includes the village of South Shaftsbury as well as rural land extending east to U.S. Route 7, a super two freeway. The closest access from US 7 is 1 mile (1.6 km) south of the village in northern Bennington. Vermont Route 7A (the old alignment of US 7) and Vermont Route 67 intersect in the village, with VT 7A leading north to Arlington and Manchester and south into Bennington, while VT 67 leads west to North Bennington and the New York state line.
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 772 people, 306 households, and 230 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 131.3/km² (339.4/mi²). There were 319 housing units at an average density of 54.3/km² (140.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 98.70% White, 0.52% Asian, and 0.78% from two or more races.
There were 306 households out of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.5% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.8% were non-families. 21.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.91.
Pick the Right Cosmetology School near Shaftsbury VT
Finding and enrolling in the right cosmetologist school is imperative to get the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel confident about your decision. Make sure to organize all of the responses you get from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to compare schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the academy and program you decide on are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. If you begin with that base, and address the additional questions supplied in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the ideal choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to start your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Shaftsbury VT.
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