How to Enroll In a Cosmetology College near Saint Albans Maine
Once you have decided to train as a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Saint Albans ME, the task starts to find and enroll in the right school. It’s important that the school you pick not only furnishes the proper instruction for the specialty you have decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your preliminary search, you may be somewhat puzzled about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both refer to the same kind of school. We’ll speak a little bit further regarding that in the next segment. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Saint Albans home. Tuition will also be an important factor when assessing prospective schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it’s not necessarily the ideal option. There are a number of other considerations that you should evaluate when comparing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are looking at later in 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 anatomy look more beautiful with the application of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that numerous 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 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 licensed, the work environments include not only Saint Albans 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, establish their own shops or salons. Others will start seeing customers either in their own residences or will travel to the client’s house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by many professional names and work in a wide variety of specializations including:
- Hairdressers
- Hairstylists
- Beauticians
- Barbers
- Manicurists
- Nail Technicians
- Makeup Artists
- Hair Coloring Specialists
- Estheticians
- Electrolysis Technicians
As previously mentioned, in the majority of states working cosmetologists must be licensed. In some states there is an exemption. Only those conducting more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people employed in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.
Cosmetologist Degrees and Certificates
There are primarily two pathways offered 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 generally take 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 instructed in all of the main areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you want to concentrate on 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 parlor or other Saint Albans ME business. More advanced degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whichever type of training program you decide on, it’s essential to make certain that it’s certified by the Maine Board of Cosmetology. Many states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain reputable agencies, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the benefits of accreditation for the school you select in the following segment.
Online Beauty Training
Online beauty classes are accommodating for Saint Albans ME students who are working full-time and have family obligations that make it challenging to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of web-based beauty school programs available that can be accessed via a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional cosmetology schools are typically fast paced due to the fact that many courses are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a considerable portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are covering the same volume of material, but you’re not devoting many hours away from your home or commuting to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s imperative that the school you choose can provide internship training in local salons and parlors in order that you also get the hands-on training necessary for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s impossible to obtain the skills necessary to work in any facet of the cosmetology field. So be sure if you choose to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is provided in your area.
What to Ask Cosmetology Degree Programs
Below is a series of questions that you will want to look into for any cosmetology training school you are contemplating. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Saint Albans ME residence, together with the price of tuition, will undoubtedly be your primary qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly 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 take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have put together several of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final selection.
Is the Program Accredited? It’s necessary to make certain that the cosmetology training program you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for securing student loans or financial aid, which typically are not offered in 04971 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many Saint Albans ME businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Every beauty college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly regarded. Check rating companies for reviews together with the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Saint Albans ME salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the industry, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not considered. Finally, check with the Maine school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Many beauty schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you select a school that focuses on 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 well regarded for that program. If your dream is to launch a hair salon in Saint Albans ME, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly rated school with a weak program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you need.
Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Learning and perfecting cosmetology techniques and abilities requires plenty of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is provided in the cosmetology lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that enable students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a beauty program provides limited or no scheduled live training, but instead relies heavily on using mannequins, it might not be the most effective option for cultivating your skills. So try to find alternate schools that furnish this kind of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? As soon as a student graduates from a beauty school, it’s imperative that she or he receives assistance in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide aid maintain relationships with Saint Albans ME employers that are seeking skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and ask which salons and organizations 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 respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Offered? Most beauty schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid office. Speak with a counselor and learn 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 meets all of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not drop it as an alternative until you determine what financial assistance may be provided.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Saint Albans ME?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Saint Albans ME area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
St. Albans, Maine
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 47.10 square miles (121.99 km2), of which, 44.79 square miles (116.01 km2) of it is land and 2.31 square miles (5.98 km2) is water.[1]
As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 2,005 people, 806 households, and 576 families residing in the town. The population density was 44.8 inhabitants per square mile (17.3/km2). There were 1,259 housing units at an average density of 28.1 per square mile (10.8/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.9% White, 0.1% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.3% Asian, and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.4% of the population.
There were 806 households of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 28.5% were non-families. 20.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.80.
Select the Right Beauty School near Saint Albans ME
Finding and enrolling in the right beauty program is imperative to get the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel positive about your decision. Don’t forget to collect 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 contrast schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the academy and program you choose are accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. If you begin with that foundation, and answer the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the proper selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are qualified to start your career as a professional cosmetologist in Saint Albans ME.
Other Beautiful Locations in Maine
Business Results 1 - 10 of 0
