How to Choose a Cosmetologist School near New Milford Connecticut
Now that you have decided to train as a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near New Milford CT, the task begins to search for and enroll in the ideal school. It’s imperative that the school you select not only furnishes the necessary education for the specialty you have selected, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your initial search, you may be a little bit unclear about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both refer to the same kind of school. We’ll talk a bit more regarding that in the following segment. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your New Milford residence. Tuition will likewise be a critical aspect when assessing prospective schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it’s not necessarily the best option. There are various other qualifications that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask concerning the cosmetology schools you are considering later within this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of courses are offered.
Defining Cosmetology
Cosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human anatomy look more attractive through the use of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are referred to as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic can be almost anything that enhances the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states mandate that you go through some type of specialized training and then become licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only New Milford CT beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gained experience and a customer base, establish their own shops or salons. Others will begin servicing clients either in their own residences or will travel to the client’s house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many titles 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 the majority of states working cosmetologists must be licensed. In certain 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 be licensed in those states.
Cosmetologist Certificates and Degrees
There are basically two options available to receive 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 usually require 12 to 18 months to complete, 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 major areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you wish to focus on just one area, for instance hair coloring. A degree program will also likely feature management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to manage a salon or other New Milford CT business. Higher degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whatever type of program you go with, it’s essential to make sure that it’s approved by the Connecticut Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only approve schools that are accredited by certain reputable organizations, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the benefits of accreditation for the school you choose in the next segment.
Online Cosmetology Training
Online cosmetology schools are convenient for New Milford CT students who are working full time and have family commitments that make it hard to attend a more traditional school. There are numerous web-based beauty school programs offered that can be attended through a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional cosmetology programs are typically fast paced since many programs are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a considerable amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are covering the same volume of material, but you are not spending numerous hours outside of your home or travelling to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s vital 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 part of the training, it’s impossible to gain the skills required to work in any facet of the cosmetology industry. 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 Cosmetology Trade Schools
Following is a list of questions that you will want to investigate for any cosmetology training program you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school relative to your New Milford CT home, as well as the expense of tuition, will undoubtedly be your primary 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 choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have put together several of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final selection.
Is the Program Accredited? It’s necessary to make certain that the cosmetology school you pick 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 measure up to their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for getting student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not offered in 06776 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous New Milford CT businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Every cosmetology 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. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly regarded. Check rating companies for reviews together with the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with New Milford CT salon owners or managers, or any person working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to propose others that you had not considered. And last, contact the Connecticut school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Many cosmetology schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs often broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you select a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your intention is to be trained as an esthetician, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your dream is to launch a hair salon in New Milford CT, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly regarded school with a weak program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you need.
Is Any Live Training Provided? Practicing and perfecting cosmetology techniques and abilities demands plenty of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the cosmetology courses you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that make it possible for students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a beauty school furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but instead relies heavily on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for developing your skills. Therefore try to find alternate schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from a beauty program, it’s essential that he or she gets aid in finding that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer aid develope relationships with New Milford CT businesses that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and ask which salons and organizations they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have broad 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. Ask if the schools you are considering have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you might get approved for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students as well. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not omit it as an alternative before you determine what financial assistance may be provided.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near New Milford CT?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater New Milford CT area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
New Milford, Connecticut
New Milford is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States, located in Western Connecticut. The town is located 14 miles (23 km) north of Danbury, on the banks of the Housatonic River. It is the largest town in the state in terms of land area at nearly 62 square miles (161 km2). The population was 28,671 according to the Census Bureau's 2006 estimates.[6] Male residents are commonly referred to as "woodchucks." The town center is also listed as a census-designated place (CDP). The northern portion of the town is situated in the region considered Northwestern CT and the far eastern portions are part of the Litchfield Hills region.
New Milford is home to the Canterbury School, a well-known Roman Catholic boarding school. The school's Chapel of Our Lady features the Jose M. Ferrer Memorial Carillon. The house that inspired the 1946 novel and 1948 film, Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House, still stands in the Merryall section of town.
Weantinock were a sub-group of the Paugussett Nation who lived the area of modern New Milford both before and during the colonial era. They were a farming and fishing culture, cultivating corn, squash, beans and tobacco, and fishing in freshwater areas. They may have also travelled to the coast to fish in summer months.[7]
Select the Right Beauty Vocational School near New Milford CT
Picking and enrolling in the right cosmetology school is essential to obtain the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel confident about your decision. Don’t forget to compile all of the responses you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to contrast schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the school and program you decide on are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you begin with that foundation, and answer the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the right selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are qualified to launch your career as a professional cosmetologist in New Milford CT.
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