How to Find the Right Beauty School near Concord Arkansas
Since you have made a decision to become a cosmetologist and attend a beauty school near Concord AR, the process starts to find and enroll in the best school. It’s imperative that the program you choose not only provides the proper training for the specialty you have chosen, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your initial search, you might be rather puzzled about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind of school. We’ll discuss a bit more concerning that in the following segment. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Concord residence. Tuition will additionally be an important aspect when assessing prospective schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it’s not automatically the best option. There are several other factors that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask concerning the cosmetology schools you are thinking about later in this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of training programs are offered.
Defining Cosmetology
Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human body look more beautiful through the application of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic can be anything that improves the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, most states mandate that you take some type of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Concord AR beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gained experience and a client base, open 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 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 stated, in the majority of states working cosmetologists must be licensed. In certain states there is an exception. Only those offering more skilled services, for instance hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others working in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.
Cosmetologist Degrees and Certificates
There are primarily 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 complete, while an Associate’s degree usually 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 concentrate on just one area, such as hair coloring. A degree program will also probably feature management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to operate a parlor or other Concord AR business. More advanced degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whatever type of course you choose, it’s imperative to make sure that it’s certified by the Arkansas Board of Cosmetology. Many states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain respected organizations, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the advantages of accreditation for the school you decide on in the following section.
Online Cosmetology Classes
Online cosmetology classes are accommodating for Concord AR students who are employed full time and have family commitments that make it challenging to enroll in a more traditional school. There are a large number of web-based beauty school programs available that can be attended via a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional beauty schools are frequently fast paced given that many courses are as short as six or eight months. This means that a significant portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are dealing with the same volume of material, but you are not spending many hours away from your home or travelling to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s important that the program you pick can provide internship training in area salons and parlors in order that you also get the hands-on training necessary for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s difficult to acquire the skills necessary to work in any facet of the cosmetology industry. So make sure if you choose to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.
What to Ask Cosmetology Degree Programs
Following is a list of questions that you should investigate for any cosmetologist training program you are contemplating. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Concord AR home, as well as the expense of tuition, will undoubtedly be your primary qualifiers. Whether you wish 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 initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have collected some of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final selection.
Is the School Accredited? It’s necessary to make certain that the cosmetology school you enroll in 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 meet their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for getting student loans or financial aid, which typically are not offered in 72523 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous Concord AR businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Every cosmetology school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating companies for reviews together with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Concord AR salon owners or managers, or someone working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not considered. And last, contact the Arkansas 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? Some 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 instance hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you select 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 well regarded for that program. If your vision is to start a hair salon in Concord AR, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly ranked school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you require.
Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and perfecting cosmetology techniques and abilities requires lots of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the beauty lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that make it possible for students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a beauty school offers limited or no scheduled live training, but instead depends mainly on using mannequins, it may not be the most effective option for acquiring your skills. So look for other schools that provide this kind of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from a beauty program, it’s imperative that he or she receives support in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish assistance develope relationships with Concord AR businesses that are seeking skilled graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and find out which salons and organizations they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only affirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Offered? Many beauty schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid department. Talk to a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you may qualify for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students too. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not discard it as an alternative until you find out what financial help may be provided.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Concord AR?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Concord AR area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Concord, Arkansas
Concord is located near the northeast corner of Cleburne County at 35°39′51″N 91°50′45″W / 35.66417°N 91.84583°W / 35.66417; -91.84583 (35.664263, -91.845948).[4]Arkansas Highway 25 passes through the town, leading southwest 22 miles (35 km) to Heber Springs, the county seat, and northeast 18 miles (29 km) to Batesville.
As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 255 people, 106 households, and 78 families residing in the town. The population density was 34.8/km² (90.1/mi²). There were 119 housing units at an average density of 16.2/km² (42.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.82% White, 0.78% Native American, and 0.39% from two or more races. 1.96% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 106 households out of which 30.2% had children from family members under the age of 18 living with them, 62.3% were living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.4% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.88.
Enroll in the Right Beauty Program near Concord AR
Choosing and enrolling in the right cosmetologist school is essential to get the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel confident about your decision. Make sure to compile all of the responses you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to compare schools. A good beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the school and program you decide on are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you start with that foundation, and address the additional questions supplied in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the proper selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are ready to launch your career as a professional cosmetologist in Concord AR.
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