Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools West Memphis AR

How to Choose a Beauty College near West Memphis Arkansas

nail technicians training at West Memphis AR beauty schoolNow that you have made a decision to become a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near West Memphis AR, the task begins to search for and enroll in the ideal school. It’s imperative that the program you choose not only provides the proper instruction for the specialty you have chosen, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your initial search, you may be rather confused about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind of school. We’ll discuss a little bit further about that in the following section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your West Memphis home. Tuition will likewise be a critical consideration when reviewing possible schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it’s not automatically the right option. There are various other considerations that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask about 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 training programs are offered.

What is Cosmetology

West Memphis AR makeup ar4tist applying makeupCosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human anatomy look more attractive with the application of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but really a cosmetic can be almost anything that improves the appearance 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 form of specialized training and then become licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only West Memphis AR beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have gained experience and a clientele, establish their own shops or salons. Others will begin servicing clients either in their own homes or will go to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many professional names and are employed in a wide range of specialties 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 have to be licensed. In some states there is an exception. Only those offering more skilled services, for instance hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people employed in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.

Cosmetologist Certificates and Degrees

West Memphis AR hairdresser cutting hairThere are basically two avenues available to obtain cosmetology training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs usually call for 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 instructed in each of the major areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you prefer to specialize in just one area, for example hair coloring. A degree program will also probably incorporate management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to operate a salon or other West Memphis AR business. Higher degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whichever type of training program you decide on, it’s imperative to make sure that it’s certified by the Arkansas Board of Cosmetology. Many states only approve schools that are accredited by certain reputable organizations, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the benefits of accreditation for the school you decide on in the next section.

Online Cosmetology Courses

student attending cosmetology school online in West Memphis AROnline beauty programs are advantageous for West Memphis AR students who are employed full time and have family commitments that make it difficult to enroll in a more traditional school. There are numerous online cosmetology school programs available that can be accessed via a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional cosmetology programs are frequently fast paced due to the fact that many courses are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a substantial 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 numerous hours outside of your home or driving to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s important that the training program you select can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors to ensure that you also obtain the hands-on training needed for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s impossible to gain the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology profession. So be sure if you decide to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is provided in your area.

Questions to Ask Cosmetologist Training Courses

Questions to ask West Memphis AR beauty schoolsBelow is a list 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 West Memphis AR home, in addition to the cost of tuition, will most likely be your initial qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Following we have compiled some of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final decision.

Is the School Accredited? It’s important to make sure that the cosmetology school 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which typically are not available in 72301 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous West Memphis AR businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation?  Every beauty college that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating companies for reviews together with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with West Memphis 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 looked into. Finally, consult the Arkansas school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus?  A number of beauty schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs commonly 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 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 open a hair salon in West Memphis AR, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly regarded school with a weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you need.

Is Any Live Training Provided?  Practicing and mastering cosmetology skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on people. 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 growing skills on volunteers. If a beauty program furnishes minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead depends predominantly on using mannequins, it may not be the most effective option for cultivating your skills. Therefore look for other schools that offer this type of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance?  When a student graduates from a beauty academy, it’s essential that she or he receives help in landing that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer aid develope relationships with West Memphis AR businesses that are seeking qualified graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are looking at 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 verify that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered?  Many cosmetology schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid department. Consult with a counselor and learn 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 also. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not discard it as an option before you learn what financial assistance may be offered.

Enrolled in Cosmetology School near West Memphis AR?

If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater West Memphis AR area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.

West Memphis, Arkansas

West Memphis is the largest city in Crittenden County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 26,245 at the 2010 census,[3] ranking it as the state's 18th largest city, behind Bella Vista. It is part of the Memphis metropolitan area, and is located directly across the Mississippi River from Memphis, Tennessee.

Native Americans lived in the Mississippi River Valley for at least 10,000 years, although much of the evidence of their presence has been buried or destroyed. The Indians of the Mississippian Period were the last native inhabitants of the West Memphis area. Mound City Road, located within the eastern portion of the West Memphis city limits, has a marker indicating that the villages of Aquixo (Aquijo) or Pacaha were in the area. Several mounds are still visible.

Explorers from both Spain and France visited the area near West Memphis. Among those explorers were Hernando de Soto and his men from Spain and Father Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet from France. By the time French hunters and explorers entered the region, the Mississippian towns and other settlements had been abandoned. The original site of West Memphis came from Spanish land grants issued during the 1790s. Grants were given to Benjamin Fooy, John Henry Fooy, and Isaac Fooy in the Hopefield (Crittenden County) area and to William McKenney in the Bridgeport-West Memphis area.

Find the Right Cosmetology Training Program near West Memphis AR

West Memphis AR barber blow drying client's hairFinding and enrolling in the right cosmetology college is important to get the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel positive about your decision. Be sure to compile all of the responses you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that information to compare schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the college and program you select are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you start with that foundation, and address the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the right selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are prepared to launch your career as a professional cosmetologist in West Memphis AR.

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