How to Select a Cosmetologist College near East Blue Hill Maine
Once you have decided to train as a cosmetologist and attend a beauty school near East Blue Hill ME, the process starts to locate and enroll in the ideal school. It’s imperative that the school you select not only provides the appropriate training for the specialty you have decided on, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your preliminary search, you might be somewhat puzzled about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both refer to the same type of school. We’ll speak a little bit more regarding that in the next section. If you intend on commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your East Blue Hill home. Tuition will likewise be an important consideration when evaluating possible schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it’s not necessarily the right choice. There are a number of other considerations that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for instance 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 talk a bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of training programs are offered.
Defining Cosmetology
Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human body look more beautiful through the use of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are referred to as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but really a cosmetic can be almost anything that enhances the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, the majority of states require that you take some form of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only East Blue Hill ME beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have acquired experience and a clientele, establish their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing customers either in their own residences or will travel to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by many titles and work in a wide range of specializations including:
- Hairdressers
- Hairstylists
- Beauticians
- Barbers
- Manicurists
- Nail Technicians
- Makeup Artists
- Hair Coloring Specialists
- Estheticians
- Electrolysis Technicians
As earlier stated, in the majority of states practicing cosmetologists have to be licensed. In some states there is an exception. Only those offering more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others working in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.
Cosmetologist Degrees
There are basically two pathways available 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 usually call for 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 major areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are offered if you wish to specialize in just one area, for example hair coloring. A degree program will also likely include management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to manage a salon or other East Blue Hill ME business. Higher degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whichever type of training program you decide on, it’s important to make sure that it’s certified by the Maine Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only certify schools that are accredited by certain reputable agencies, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the benefits of accreditation for the school you choose in the upcoming section.
Online Cosmetologist Training
Online beauty schools are convenient for East Blue Hill ME students who are employed full-time and have family responsibilities that make it challenging to attend a more traditional school. There are numerous web-based beauty school programs available that can be accessed via a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional cosmetology programs are typically fast paced because many courses are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a substantial portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are dealing with the same volume of material, but you’re not spending many hours outside of your home or travelling to and from classes. However, it’s important that the program you pick can provide internship training in local salons and parlors to ensure that you also receive the hands-on training required for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s difficult to obtain the skills required to work in any facet of the cosmetology profession. So be sure if you decide to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is available in your area.
Questions to Ask Beauty Training Courses
Following is a series of questions that you should look into for any cosmetologist training program you are contemplating. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your East Blue Hill ME residence, in addition to the cost of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably 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 should research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Following we have compiled some of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final selection.
Is the School Accredited? It’s essential to make sure that the cosmetology school 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 meet their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for getting student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable in 04629 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 East Blue Hill ME businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Every cosmetologist institute that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly regarded. Check rating services for reviews as well as the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with East Blue Hill ME salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the industry, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to propose others that you had not looked into. Finally, check with the Maine school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Some cosmetology schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you choose a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your ambition is to be trained as an esthetician, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your vision is to open a hair salon in East Blue Hill ME, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly ranked school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you require.
Is Enough Live Training Provided? Studying and perfecting cosmetology skills and techniques demands lots of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is included in the cosmetology courses you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that make it possible for students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a beauty academy offers little or no scheduled live training, but rather depends mainly on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the best option for cultivating your skills. Therefore search for alternate schools that furnish this kind of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? As soon as a student graduates from a beauty academy, it’s essential that he or she gets support in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer assistance develope relationships with East Blue Hill ME employers that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and ask which salons and establishments they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Available? Most beauty schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you may get approved for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students also. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not omit it as an option until you find out what financial aid may be offered.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near East Blue Hill ME?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater East Blue Hill ME area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Blue Hill Historic District
The Blue Hill Historic District encompasses the historic village center of the town of Blue Hill, Maine. The village, established in 1762, is a well-preserved collection of buildings, many of them built before 1840. Most of the older buildings are residential in character; the modest collection of commercial and civic buildings were mostly built between 1880 and 1940. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.[1]
The village of Blue Hill is located on the east coast of the Blue Hill Peninsula, at the head of Blue Hill Harbor, where two streams empty into the bay. Main Street runs roughly east-west, forming the spine of the village, with Union Street, Pleasant Street, Parker Point Road, and Ellsworth Street radiating away. The district includings properties on Main Street from west of High Street as far east as Ellsworth Street, along Union Street northwest to the area of the 1794 cemetery, and along Bucksport Road to High Street. There are more than 70 historically significant buildings in an area covering 80 acres (32 ha).[2]
Although the village was settled in 1762, its oldest surviving element is the 1794 cemetery. The oldest buildings, dating to c. 1800, including the Daniel Spofford House and the Congregational Church Parsonage, the latter associated with the 1834 Greek Revival Congregational Church. The American Legion Hall was built in 1833 as the home to the Blue Hill Academy, which was founded in 1803 as the first school in Hancock County. The academy was later succeeded by the extant George Stevens Academy, whose main building, an 1898 Colonial Revival structure, stands in the district. George Stevens' 1814 Federal style house also still stands on Union Street.[2]
Enroll in the Right Cosmetologist Program near East Blue Hill ME
Selecting and enrolling in the right beauty school is essential 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 positive about your decision. Make certain to compile all of the information you get from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that information to compare schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the institution and program you pick are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. If you begin with that base, and answer the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the proper selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are ready to start your new career as a professional cosmetologist in East Blue Hill ME.
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