Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Kittery ME

How to Pick a Cosmetology College near Kittery Maine

nail technicians training at Kittery ME beauty school Now that you have made a decision to train as a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Kittery ME, the task starts to find and enroll in the right school. It’s essential that the program you pick not only provides the proper education for the specialty you have selected, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your preliminary search, you might be rather puzzled about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind of school. We’ll speak a little bit more about that in the upcoming segment. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Kittery home. Tuition will also be a critical factor when reviewing potential schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it’s not necessarily the ideal option. There are several other qualifications that you should evaluate when analyzing 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 talk a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of programs are offered.

Definition of Cosmetology

Kittery ME makeup ar4tist applying makeup Cosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human body look more beautiful with the application of cosmetics. So of course 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 may be almost anything that improves the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states require that you take some type of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only Kittery ME beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have acquired experience and a clientele, open their own shops or salons. Others will begin seeing customers either in their own homes or will go to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many names and are employed in a wide variety of specialties including:

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

As previously stated, in most states working cosmetologists have to be licensed. In some states there is an exemption. Only those performing more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people working in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.

Cosmetologist Certificates and Degrees

Kittery ME hairdresser cutting hair There are primarily two pathways available to receive 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 typically require 12 to 18 months to complete, while an Associate’s degree usually takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be trained in all 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 probably include management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to run a parlor or other Kittery ME business. More advanced degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such areas as salon or spa management. Whichever type of program you decide on, it’s important to make certain that it’s recognized by the Maine Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only certify schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded organizations, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the advantages of accreditation for the school you decide on in the next segment.

Online Cosmetologist Schools

student attending cosmetology school online in Kittery ME Online beauty classes are accommodating for Kittery ME students who are employed full-time and have family commitments that make it difficult to enroll in a more traditional school. There are numerous online beauty school programs offered that can be attended via a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional cosmetology programs are often fast paced since many courses are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a large amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are covering the same volume of material, but you’re not spending numerous hours away from your home or travelling back and forth from classes. However, it’s vital that the school you select can provide internship training in area salons and parlors so that you also obtain the hands-on training needed for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s difficult to obtain the skills required to work in any facet of the cosmetology industry. So make sure if you decide to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is provided in your area.

What to Ask Cosmetology Degree Programs

Questions to ask Kittery ME beauty schools Below is a series of questions that you need to investigate for any cosmetology training school you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school in relation to your Kittery ME home, together with the cost of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you must 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 each school before making a final decision.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s necessary to make certain that the cosmetology college you pick 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for securing student loans or financial aid, which often are not available in 03904 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of Kittery ME businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Any cosmetologist college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent 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 placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly demanded. Check rating services for reviews along with the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Kittery ME salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to suggest others that you had not looked into. Finally, check with the Maine school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty? Some beauty schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs commonly broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s imperative that you decide on a school that specializes in your area of interest. If your goal is to be trained as an esthetician, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your aspiration is to launch a hair salon in Kittery ME, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly regarded school with a weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you require.

Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and perfecting cosmetology skills and techniques involves plenty of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the beauty lessons you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that make it possible for students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a beauty academy offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead depends heavily on the use of mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for acquiring your skills. Therefore try to find other schools that offer this type of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from a cosmetology program, it’s essential that she or he receives help in finding that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer aid develope relationships with Kittery ME employers that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and inquire which salons and businesses they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Assistance Offered? Many beauty schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are considering have a financial aid office. Speak with a counselor and find out 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 available to students also. If a school meets each of your other qualifications except for cost, do not omit it as an alternative before you determine what financial help may be available.

Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Kittery ME?

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

Kittery, Maine

Kittery is a town in York County, Maine, United States. Home to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on Seavey's Island, Kittery includes Badger's Island, the seaside district of Kittery Point, and part of the Isles of Shoals. The town is a tourist destination known for its many outlet stores.

Kittery is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine metropolitan statistical area. The town's population was 9,490 at the 2010 census. Kittery may be the namesake of William Billings 1783 anthem "Kittery", which is printed in the Shenandoah Harmony and Missouri Harmony shape note tunebooks, but because the song was published after the incorporation of the town, this is debated.

English settlement around the natural harbor of the Piscataqua River estuary began about 1623. By 1632 it was protected by Fort William and Mary on today's New Hampshire side of the river; in 1689 defensive works that later became Fort McClary in Kittery Point were added on today's Maine side to the north.

Enroll in the Right Cosmetology Vocational School near Kittery ME

Kittery ME barber blow drying client's hair Locating and enrolling in the right cosmetology program is essential to get the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel positive about your decision. Make certain to consolidate all of the responses you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to compare schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the school and program you select are accredited and have impressive reputations within the profession. If you begin with that foundation, and answer the additional questions supplied in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to launch your career as a professional cosmetologist in Kittery ME.