How to Pick a Beauty College near Mount Vernon Maine
Since you have decided to train as a cosmetologist and attend a beauty school near Mount Vernon ME, the process begins to locate and enroll in the ideal school. It’s essential that the school you pick not only furnishes the appropriate education for the specialty you have selected, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your initial search, you may be somewhat puzzled about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind of school. We’ll talk a bit further about that in the following segment. If you intend on commuting to classes you will need to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Mount Vernon residence. Tuition will also be a critical aspect when reviewing prospective schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it’s not always the ideal choice. There are a number of other considerations that you should weigh when comparing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask concerning the cosmetology schools you are thinking about later within this article. Before we do, let’s talk a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of training programs are offered.
What is Cosmetology
Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human body look more beautiful with the use of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are described 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 look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, the majority of states mandate that you go through some form of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only Mount Vernon ME beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have gotten experience and a customer base, establish their own shops or salons. Others will begin seeing customers either in their own homes or will go to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known 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 practicing cosmetologists have to be licensed. In some states there is an exception. Only those conducting more skilled services, for example hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others working in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.
Cosmetologist Degrees
There are primarily two pathways offered to obtain cosmetology training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs usually 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 trained in all of the main areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are offered if you wish to focus on just one area, such as hair coloring. A degree program will also likely feature management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to operate a salon or other Mount Vernon ME business. Higher degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such areas as salon or spa management. Whichever type of program you decide on, it’s essential to make certain that it’s approved by the Maine Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only approve schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded agencies, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the benefits of accreditation for the school you decide on in the following section.
Online Beauty Schools
Online beauty schools are accommodating for Mount Vernon ME students who are working full time and have family commitments that make it challenging to attend a more traditional school. There are numerous web-based beauty school programs available that can be accessed by means of a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional cosmetology programs are often fast paced since many programs are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a substantial amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are covering the same volume of material, but you are not spending numerous hours outside of your home or commuting to and from classes. However, it’s imperative that the training program you choose can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors to ensure that you also obtain the hands-on training necessary for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s impossible to acquire the skills required to work in any facet of the cosmetology industry. So don’t forget if you choose to enroll in an online school to confirm that internship training is available in your area.
Questions to Ask Beauty Training Classes
Below is a list of questions that you will want to research for any cosmetology training school you are considering. As we have previously covered, the location of the school in relation to your Mount Vernon ME residence, in addition to the cost of tuition, will most likely be your initial qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have collected several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each school before making a final determination.
Is the School Accredited? It’s essential to make certain that the cosmetology training program you enroll in is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged 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 may also be necessary for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which often are not available in 04352 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of Mount Vernon ME businesses will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Every cosmetology college 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 testimonials from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating companies for reviews along with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Mount Vernon ME salon owners or managers, or any person working in the industry, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. And last, check with the Maine school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Some cosmetology schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s imperative that you pick 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 respected for that program. If your vision is to launch a hair salon in Mount Vernon ME, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly ranked school with a weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you need.
Is Enough Live Training Provided? Learning and perfecting cosmetology techniques and abilities demands lots of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is provided in the cosmetology lessons you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that make it possible for students to practice their developing talents on volunteers. If a beauty academy offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead depends heavily on using mannequins, it might not be the best option for cultivating your skills. Therefore look for other schools that provide this kind of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from a cosmetology program, it’s essential that he or she receives assistance in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish help develope relationships with Mount Vernon ME businesses that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and ask which salons and establishments they refer students to. Additionally, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Assistance Offered? Almost all cosmetology schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Speak with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you may qualify 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 except for expense, do not omit it as an alternative until you determine what financial help may be offered.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Mount Vernon ME?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Mount Vernon ME area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon was the plantation of George Washington, the first President of the United States, and his wife, Martha Dandridge Custis Washington. The estate is situated on the banks of the Potomac River in Fairfax County, Virginia, near Alexandria, across from Prince George's County, Maryland. The Washington family had owned land in the area since the time of Washington's great-grandfather in 1674. Around 1734 they embarked on an expansion of the estate that continued under George Washington, who began leasing the estate in 1754, but did not become its sole owner until 1761.[3]
The mansion was built of wood in a loose Palladian style, the original house was built by George Washington's father Augustine, around 1734.[4] George Washington expanded the house twice, once in the late 1750s and again in the 1770s.[5] It remained Washington's home for the rest of his life. Following his death in 1799, under the ownership of several successive generations of the family, the estate progressively declined as revenues were insufficient to maintain it adequately. In 1858, the house's historical importance was recognized and it was saved from ruin by the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association; this philanthropic organization acquired it together with part of the Washington property estate. Escaping the damage suffered by many plantation houses during the American Civil War, Mount Vernon was restored.
Mount Vernon was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1960 and is today listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is still owned and maintained in trust by the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association, and is open every day of the year, including Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.[6] Allowing the public to see the estate is not an innovation, but part of a 200-year-old tradition started by George Washington himself. In 1794 he wrote: "I have no objection to any sober or orderly person's gratifying their curiosity in viewing the buildings, Gardens, &ca. about Mount Vernon."[7]
Select the Right Cosmetologist Program near Mount Vernon ME
Picking and enrolling in the right beauty school is essential to receive the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel confident about your decision. Make sure to collect all of the responses you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to contrast schools. A sensible start in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the college and program you pick are accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and address the additional questions supplied in this post, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are ready to launch your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Mount Vernon ME.
Other Beautiful Locations in Maine
Business Results 1 - 10 of 1
3 Reviews 