How to Enroll In a Cosmetology School near Burlington Iowa
Since you have made a decision to train as a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Burlington IA, the task starts to locate and enroll in the right school. It’s important that the program you choose not only provides the appropriate training for the specialty you have selected, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your initial search, you might be rather puzzled about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. We’ll talk a bit more concerning that in the upcoming section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Burlington residence. Tuition will likewise be a critical factor when assessing potential schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it’s not automatically the best choice. There are various other considerations 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 looking at later within this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of programs are available.
Definition of Cosmetology
Cosmetology is a profession that is all about making the human anatomy look more attractive with the use of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are referred to as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic may be almost anything that enhances the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, the majority of states mandate that you undergo some type of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only Burlington IA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have acquired experience and a customer base, open their own shops or salons. Others will begin seeing customers either in their own residences or will travel to the client’s house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many professional names and are employed in a wide variety of specializations including:
- Hairdressers
- Hairstylists
- Beauticians
- Barbers
- Manicurists
- Nail Technicians
- Makeup Artists
- Hair Coloring Specialists
- Estheticians
- Electrolysis Technicians
As earlier mentioned, in most states working cosmetologists have to be licensed. In some states there is an exemption. Only those offering more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others employed in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.
Cosmetologist Certificates and Degrees
There are basically two options offered to get cosmetology training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs normally call for 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 instructed in each of the major areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are offered if you wish to focus on just one area, for example hair coloring. A degree program will also most likely include management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to run a salon or other Burlington IA business. More advanced degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such areas as salon or spa management. Whatever type of training program you opt for, it’s imperative to make sure that it’s approved by the Iowa Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only approve schools that are accredited by certain respected agencies, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the advantages of accreditation for the school you choose in the following section.
Online Beauty Training
Online cosmetology schools are advantageous for Burlington IA students who are employed full time and have family commitments that make it hard to attend a more traditional school. There are numerous web-based beauty school programs available that can be accessed through a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional beauty programs are frequently fast paced due to the fact that many programs are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a large amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are covering the same volume of material, but you’re not devoting numerous hours away from your home or commuting back and forth from classes. However, it’s imperative that the program you pick can provide internship training in local salons and parlors in order that you also obtain the hands-on training required for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s difficult to acquire the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology field. So don’t forget if you choose to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is available in your area.
Questions to Ask Cosmetologist Schools
Following is a series of questions that you should look into for any cosmetology training school you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school in relation to your Burlington IA residence, together with the expense of tuition, will probably be your initial 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 preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Following we have collected several of those supplemental questions that you should ask every school before making a final selection.
Is the School Accredited? It’s essential to make sure that the cosmetology college you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which often are not obtainable in 52601 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many Burlington IA employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably 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 excellent reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly sought after. Check rating services for reviews in addition to the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Burlington IA salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not thought of. Finally, consult the Iowa school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Many cosmetology schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing 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 important that you decide on a school that focuses on 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 desire is to launch a hair salon in Burlington IA, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly ranked school with a weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you require.
Is Any Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and refining cosmetology skills and techniques requires lots of practice on people. Ask 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 talents on volunteers. If a beauty school offers limited or no scheduled live training, but rather depends predominantly on the use of mannequins, it may not be the best option for developing your skills. Therefore search for alternate schools that furnish this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from a beauty school, it’s imperative that he or she gets assistance in landing that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish assistance maintain relationships with Burlington IA employers that are searching for skilled graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and find out which salons and establishments they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Assistance Available? Most beauty schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students also. If a school meets all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not discard it as an alternative before you learn what financial help may be provided.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Burlington IA?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Burlington IA area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Burlington, Iowa
Burlington is a city and the county seat of Des Moines County, Iowa, United States.[4] The population was 25,663 in the 2010 census, a decline from the 26,839 population in the 2000 census.[5][6] Burlington is the center of a micropolitan area including West Burlington, Iowa, and Middletown, Iowa, and Gulfport, Illinois. Burlington is the home of Snake Alley, once labelled the crookedest alley in the world.
In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson organized two parties of explorers to map the Louisiana Purchase. The Lewis and Clark Expedition followed the Missouri River, while Lt. Zebulon Pike followed the Mississippi River. In 1805, Pike landed at the bluffs below Burlington and raised the United States Flag for the first time on what would become Iowa soil and recommended construction of a fort. The recommendation went unheeded.
The American Fur Company of John Jacob Astor established a post in the area in 1829. Settlement began in 1833, shortly after the Black Hawk Purchase, when Samuel (aka Simpson) White, Amzi Doolitle, and Morton M. McCarver crossed the Mississippi River from Big Island and staked claims there.[8][9][10] According to an account A.T. Andreas wrote in 1875,[citation needed] White erected a cabin in the area later platted to be Front Street between Court and High streets. Andreas called White and Doolittle the Romulus and Remus of their settlement, referring to the mythic heroes who founded Rome, a city surrounded by hills. A few weeks later, William R. Ross joined them and established a general store. In November and December, he surveyed the settlement for White and Doolittle.[11]:145
Find the Right Cosmetology College near Burlington IA
Picking and enrolling in the right cosmetologist school is imperative to receive the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel confident about your decision. Make sure to consolidate all of the information you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that data to compare schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the college and program you choose are accredited and have impressive reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and answer the additional questions supplied in this post, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the proper selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are qualified to begin your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Burlington IA.
Other Beautiful Locations in Iowa
Business Results 1 - 10 of 0
