How to Find the Right Cosmetologist College near Montrose West Virginia
Now that you have made a decision to train as a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Montrose WV, the process begins to find and enroll in the right school. It’s important that the school you choose not only provides the necessary instruction for the specialty you have decided on, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you might be somewhat confused about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. We’ll talk a bit more concerning that in the next segment. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Montrose residence. Tuition will likewise be a critical consideration when evaluating prospective schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it’s not automatically the right option. There are a number of other qualifications that you should evaluate when comparing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask about the cosmetology schools you are looking at later within this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of programs are available.
Definition of Cosmetology
Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human body look more attractive with the use 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 term cosmetics, but really a cosmetic may be anything that enhances the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, the majority of states require that you go through some kind of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only Montrose WV beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have acquired experience and a customer base, establish their own shops or salons. Others will begin seeing customers either in their own homes or will go to the client’s house, 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 previously mentioned, in most states practicing cosmetologists must be licensed. In some states there is an exemption. Only those conducting more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others employed in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.
Cosmetologist Degrees and Certificates
There are basically two options offered to get cosmetology training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs typically take 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 trained in all of the major areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you want to specialize in just one area, for example hair coloring. A degree program will also most likely incorporate management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to run a parlor or other Montrose WV business. Higher degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whatever type of course you decide on, it’s important to make sure that it’s certified by the West Virginia Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only certify schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded organizations, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the benefits of accreditation for the school you choose in the following segment.
Online Cosmetologist Training
Online cosmetology schools are convenient for Montrose WV students who are working full time and have family commitments that make it challenging to enroll in 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 conventional cosmetology schools are typically fast paced due to the fact that many courses are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a large portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are covering the same volume of material, but you’re not spending numerous hours outside of your home or travelling to and from classes. However, it’s essential that the school you choose can provide internship training in local salons and parlors so that you also receive the hands-on training necessary for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s impossible to obtain the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology profession. So be sure if you decide to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is provided in your area.
Questions to Ask Cosmetologist Programs
Below is a series of questions that you should look into for any cosmetology training program you are contemplating. As we have already covered, the location of the school in relation to your Montrose WV home, in addition to the expense of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have compiled some of those supplemental questions that you should ask every school before making a final decision.
Is the School Accredited? It’s essential to make certain that the cosmetology training program you select is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized 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 quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for securing student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not available in 26283 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of Montrose WV 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 Great Reputation? Any cosmetologist college that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. 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, attesting that their students are highly regarded. Check rating services for reviews along with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Montrose WV salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the industry, 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. And finally, consult the West Virginia school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Some beauty schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s imperative that you pick a school that specializes in your area of interest. If your ambition is to be trained as an esthetician, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your vision is to start a hair salon in Montrose WV, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly ranked school with a weak program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you require.
Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and perfecting cosmetology techniques and abilities involves lots of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is provided in the cosmetology classes you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that allow students to practice their developing skills on volunteers. If a beauty program furnishes minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather relies mainly on using mannequins, it might not be the best option for developing your skills. Therefore try to find other schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from a beauty school, it’s important that she or he receives support in landing that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide assistance maintain relationships with Montrose WV businesses that are seeking trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which salons and businesses they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Aid Available? The majority of beauty schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are considering have a financial aid department. Talk to a counselor and identify 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 offered to students also. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications except for expense, do not drop it as an alternative before you determine what financial help may be provided.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Montrose WV?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Montrose WV area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Montrose, West Virginia
As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 156 people, 74 households, and 47 families residing in the town. The population density was 247.6 inhabitants per square mile (95.6/km2). There were 79 housing units at an average density of 125.4 per square mile (48.4/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 100.0% White.
There were 74 households of which 20.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% were married couples living together, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.5% were non-families. 32.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.11 and the average family size was 2.68.
The median age in the town was 49.3 years. 17.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 18.6% were from 25 to 44; 43.6% were from 45 to 64; and 16% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 51.3% male and 48.7% female.
Enroll in the Right Cosmetology School near Montrose WV
Locating and enrolling in the ideal cosmetologist college is important to receive the proper 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. Make certain to collect all of the information you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to compare schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the school and program you choose are accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and address the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the ideal choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are qualified to begin your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Montrose WV.
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