How to Enroll In a Cosmetology School near London Kentucky
Now that you have made a decision to become a cosmetologist and attend a beauty school near London KY, the process begins to search for and enroll in the best school. It’s essential that the school you pick not only provides the appropriate instruction for the specialty you have decided on, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. 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 names are basically interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind of school. We’ll speak a little bit further concerning 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 London residence. Tuition will additionally be a critical consideration when evaluating potential schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it’s not always the ideal option. There are many other qualifications that you should weigh when comparing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask about 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 programs are offered.
What is Cosmetology
Cosmetology is a profession that is all about making the human body look more beautiful with the application of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are referred to as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but really a cosmetic may be anything that improves the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states mandate that you undergo some form of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only London KY beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have gained experience and a customer base, establish their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing 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 variety of specialties including:
- Hairdressers
- Hairstylists
- Beauticians
- Barbers
- Manicurists
- Nail Technicians
- Makeup Artists
- Hair Coloring Specialists
- Estheticians
- Electrolysis Technicians
As already mentioned, in most states practicing cosmetologists must be licensed. In a few states there is an exemption. Only those offering more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people working in cosmetology and less skilled, such as shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.
Cosmetologist Degrees
There are basically two options available to get cosmetology training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs normally 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 trained in all of the main areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are offered if you want to specialize in just one area, such as hair coloring. A degree program will also probably include management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to run a salon or other London KY business. More advanced degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whichever type of course you go with, it’s important to make certain that it’s approved by the Kentucky Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only certify schools that are accredited by certain reputable agencies, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the advantages of accreditation for the school you select in the following segment.
Online Cosmetologist Schools
Online cosmetology classes are accommodating for London KY students who are employed full time and have family obligations that make it hard to enroll in a more traditional school. There are a large number of web-based beauty school programs offered that can be accessed by means of a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional cosmetology programs are typically fast paced since many programs are as short as six or eight months. This means that a significant portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are covering the same volume of material, but you’re not spending many hours outside of your home or travelling back and forth from classes. However, it’s important that the training program you select can provide internship training in area salons and parlors so that you also obtain 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 don’t forget if you choose to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.
Questions to Ask Beauty Trade Schools
Following is a series of questions that you need to investigate for any cosmetology training school you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school in relation to your London KY residence, together with the price of tuition, will most likely be your primary qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have compiled some of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final selection.
Is the Program Accredited? It’s necessary to make certain that the cosmetology training program you enroll in is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified 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 ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which often are not obtainable in 40741 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous London KY employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Any cosmetology college that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating companies for reviews as well as the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with London KY salon owners or managers, or any person working in the industry, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. And last, check with the Kentucky school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? A number of beauty schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific 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 enroll in a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your objective is to be trained as an esthetician, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and well regarded for that program. If your aspiration is to start a hair salon in London KY, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly rated school with a weak program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you require.
Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and perfecting cosmetology techniques and abilities demands lots of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the cosmetology classes you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that allow students to practice their developing talents on volunteers. If a beauty academy furnishes limited or no scheduled live training, but rather depends heavily on using mannequins, it may not be the most effective option for acquiring your skills. So look for other schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from a beauty program, it’s crucial that she or he receives assistance in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer aid develope relationships with London KY employers that are searching for skilled graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which salons and businesses they refer students to. In addition, ask 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 Assistance Offered? Almost all beauty schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid office. Consult with a counselor and learn 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 available to students too. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not drop it as an option until you learn what financial aid may be provided.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near London KY?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater London KY area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
London, Kentucky
London is a home rule-class city[2] in Laurel County, Kentucky, in the United States. It is the seat of its county.[3] The population was 7,993 at the time of the 2010 U.S. census. London, Kentucky, is the second-largest city named London in the United States and the fourth-largest in the world. It is part of the London, Kentucky micropolitan area. Of the seventeen micropolitan areas in Kentucky, London is the largest; the London micropolitan area's 2010 Census population was 126,369. London is also home to the annual World Chicken Festival that celebrates the life of Colonel Sanders and features the world's largest skillet.
Upon the establishment of Laurel County in 1825, a vote was held to provide for the new area's seat of government. The land offered by John and Jarvis Jackson was selected, along with their suggested name of London, honoring their English heritage.[4][5] The town was founded the next year; its post office established in 1831;[4] and its city rights granted in 1836.[6]
During the late 1930s and early 1940s, London served as a central collection agency for books donated to the Pack Horse Library Project.[7] It also had a pack horse library which delivered books to rural residents in the mountains.[8]
Pick the Right Cosmetologist Vocational School near London KY
Choosing and enrolling in the right cosmetologist program is imperative to obtain the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel certain about your decision. Make sure to consolidate all of the responses you get from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that information to compare schools. A sensible start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the institution and program you choose are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. If you begin with that foundation, and address the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to start your career as a professional cosmetologist in London KY.
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