Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Villa Park IL

How to Find the Right Cosmetology School near Villa Park Illinois

nail technicians training at Villa Park IL beauty school Once you have made a decision to become a cosmetologist and attend a beauty school near Villa Park IL, the process begins to locate and enroll in the ideal school. It’s imperative that the program you choose not only furnishes the proper training for the specialty you have chosen, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your initial search, you may be a little bit puzzled about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are essentially interchangeable and both refer to the same type of school. We’ll talk a bit more about that in the upcoming section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Villa Park residence. Tuition will also be a critical aspect when reviewing potential schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it’s not necessarily the best option. There are many other qualifications that you should weigh when analyzing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask concerning the cosmetology schools you are looking at later within this article. Before we do, let’s talk a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of training programs are offered.

Definition of Cosmetology

Villa Park IL makeup ar4tist applying makeup Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human body look more beautiful with the use of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic can be anything that improves the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states require that you take some form of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Villa Park IL beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have acquired experience and a clientele, launch their own shops or salons. Others will start seeing clients either in their own homes or will travel to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many titles and work in a wide variety of specialties including:

Hairdressers
Hairstylists
Beauticians
Barbers
Manicurists
Nail Technicians
Makeup Artists
Hair Coloring Specialists
Estheticians
Electrolysis Technicians

As already stated, in the majority of states practicing cosmetologists have to be licensed. In certain states there is an exception. Only those conducting more skilled services, for example 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

Villa Park IL hairdresser cutting hair There are primarily two avenues offered to get cosmetology training and a credential after 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 ordinarily takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be trained in each of the main areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are available if you prefer to focus on just one area, for instance hair coloring. A degree program will also likely feature management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to operate a salon or other Villa Park IL business. Higher degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whichever type of program you opt for, it’s imperative to make sure that it’s certified by the Illinois Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only approve schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded agencies, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the benefits of accreditation for the school you select in the upcoming section.

Online Beauty Classes

student attending cosmetology school online in Villa Park IL Online cosmetology classes are accommodating for Villa Park IL students who are employed full-time and have family responsibilities that make it difficult to enroll in a more traditional school. There are a large number of web-based beauty school programs available that can be attended by means of a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional cosmetology schools are typically fast paced due to the fact that many programs are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a large amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are covering the same volume of material, but you are not devoting numerous hours outside of your home or commuting to and from classes. However, it’s essential that the school you choose can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors to ensure that you also receive the hands-on training necessary for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s impossible to obtain the skills needed to work in any facet of the cosmetology profession. So don’t forget if you decide to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is available in your area.

Questions to Ask Cosmetology Training Programs

Questions to ask Villa Park IL beauty schools Below is a list of questions that you will want to investigate for any beauty training program you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Villa Park IL home, as well as the cost of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have collected some of those supplemental questions that you should ask every school before making a final selection.

Is the School Accredited? It’s important 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not offered in 60181 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 Villa Park IL businesses will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation? Each cosmetology college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating services for reviews together with the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Villa Park IL salon owners or managers, or any person working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to propose others that you had not looked into. And finally, check with the Illinois school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in total compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus? Many cosmetology schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you pick 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 dream is to start a hair salon in Villa Park IL, then you want 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 provide the training you require.

Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and perfecting cosmetology skills and techniques requires lots of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is provided in the beauty courses you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that allow students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a beauty program furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but instead relies heavily on using mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for acquiring your skills. Therefore look for other schools that provide this kind of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from a cosmetology program, it’s important that she or he receives support in securing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish aid maintain relationships with Villa Park IL employers that are seeking trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and inquire which salons and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Assistance Offered? The majority of beauty schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Consult with a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you may qualify 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 discard it as an option until you determine what financial assistance may be available.

Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Villa Park IL?

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

Villa Park, Illinois

Villa Park is a village in DuPage County, Illinois, United States, within the Chicago metropolitan area. The current population is 21,800. The Village of Villa Park is an inner western suburb of Chicago near the hub of eastern DuPage County’s busiest transportation corridor, just five miles from O’Hare International Airport and within 25 miles of Midway International Airport.

Villa Park lays 19.7 miles directly west of Chicago’s Loop (Downtown), Villa Park provides direct access to downtown Chicago by car or Metra train and is very convenient to both O’Hare and Midway Airports and the rest of the western suburbs due to its proximity to Interstate 290 (Illinois), Interstate 355, Interstate 294, Illinois Route 53, Illinois Route 83, Interstate 88 (Illinois), Illinois Route 38, and famous North Avenue (Chicago)

When Ovaltine established its factory, it needed a way to make sure that its employees could get to and from work safely regardless of the weather, terrain or other issues. Villa Park was built originally for that reason.

Enroll in the Right Cosmetology School near Villa Park IL

Villa Park IL barber blow drying client's hair Choosing and enrolling in the right beauty college is important to get the necessary 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 consolidate all of the responses you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that information to compare schools. A sensible start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the academy and program you pick are accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and address the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to launch your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Villa Park IL.