How to Find the Right Cosmetology College near Limestone Maine
Now that you have decided to train as a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Limestone ME, the task starts to locate and enroll in the ideal school. It’s imperative that the program you select not only provides the proper education for the specialty you have decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you may be a little bit confused about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are basically interchangeable and both refer to the same type of school. We’ll discuss a little bit more concerning that in the next section. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Limestone residence. Tuition will likewise be a critical factor when evaluating potential schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it’s not always the right option. There are a number of other considerations that you should evaluate when comparing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask regarding 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 types of programs are available.
Defining 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 many cosmetology schools are regarded 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. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states require that you undergo some type of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work environments include not only Limestone ME beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have gained experience and a customer base, launch their own shops or salons. Others will start seeing customers either in their own homes or will go to the client’s house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by many names and work in a wide range of specialties including:
- Hairdressers
- Hairstylists
- Beauticians
- Barbers
- Manicurists
- Nail Technicians
- Makeup Artists
- Hair Coloring Specialists
- Estheticians
- Electrolysis Technicians
As already mentioned, in the majority of states working cosmetologists must be licensed. In certain states there is an exception. Only those conducting 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 and Certificates
There are basically two pathways available to obtain cosmetology training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs generally 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 instructed in each of the major areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are offered if you prefer to specialize in just one area, for instance hair coloring. A degree program will also probably feature management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to run a parlor or other Limestone ME business. More advanced degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whichever type of program you decide on, it’s important to make certain that it’s certified by the Maine Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only approve schools that are accredited by certain respected organizations, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the advantages of accreditation for the school you select in the next section.
Online Cosmetology Training
Online beauty classes are convenient for Limestone ME students who are employed full time and have family responsibilities that make it challenging to enroll in a more traditional school. There are numerous web-based cosmetology school programs offered that can be accessed through a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional 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 internet courses, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you are not devoting many hours outside of your home or driving back and forth from classes. However, it’s essential that the program you choose can provide internship training in local salons and parlors so that you also receive the hands-on training needed for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s difficult to obtain the skills needed to work in any area of the cosmetology profession. So make sure if you decide to enroll in an online program 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 investigate for any cosmetology training school you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Limestone ME residence, together with the cost of tuition, will probably be your initial qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Following we have collected several of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final decision.
Is the Program Accredited? It’s important to make sure that the cosmetology school you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized 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 assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for getting student loans or financial aid, which typically are not available in 04750 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many Limestone ME employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Each cosmetology institute that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly regarded. Check rating services for reviews in addition to the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Limestone ME salon owners or managers, or someone working in the industry, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. And last, contact the Maine school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? A number of cosmetology schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s essential that you enroll in a school that specializes in your area of interest. If your intention is to be trained as an esthetician, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your aspiration is to open a hair salon in Limestone ME, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly rated school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you require.
Is Enough Live Training Provided? Studying and refining cosmetology techniques and abilities demands lots of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is included in the beauty classes you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that enable students to practice their developing talents on volunteers. If a beauty school provides limited or no scheduled live training, but rather relies heavily on using mannequins, it might not be the most effective option for acquiring your skills. Therefore try to find alternate schools that offer this kind of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? As soon as a student graduates from a cosmetology academy, it’s essential that he or she receives support in finding that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish help develope relationships with Limestone ME businesses that are searching for skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and inquire which salons and establishments they refer students to. Also, 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 regarded as well.
Is Financial Aid 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 department. Talk to a counselor and identify 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 available to students as well. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not eliminate it as an option before you learn what financial help may be offered.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Limestone ME?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Limestone ME area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Limestone, Maine
The town is best known for being the home of the Loring Commerce Centre (formerly Loring Air Force Base; also lying on its former territory is the Aroostook National Wildlife Refuge) and Maine School of Science and Math (MSSM) which in 2017 was ranked the #1 High School in Maine, #10 STEM School in the USA and #19 Best School in the USA.
General Mark Trafton is known as one of the founders of the town of Limestone. Trafton was born July 4, 1785, in York County, Maine. He was educated in public schools and became a leading citizen in Bangor, prominent in civil and military affairs. When a young man, he was commissioned captain of cavalry and served in the War of 1812. He was afterward brigadier-general of the state militia. He was a land agent for the eastern and northern sections of Maine before the office was opened in Bangor.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 40.79 square miles (105.65 km2), of which 40.49 square miles (104.87 km2) is land and 0.30 square miles (0.78 km2) is water.[2]
Pick the Right Beauty College near Limestone ME
Finding and enrolling in the ideal cosmetology school is important to receive the proper 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. Be sure to collect all of the responses you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to contrast schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the college and program you choose are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. If you start 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 ideal selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are ready to begin your career as a professional cosmetologist in Limestone ME.
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