How to Choose a Cosmetology School near Homer Michigan
Once you have decided to become a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Homer MI, the process starts to locate and enroll in the ideal school. It’s essential that the program you pick not only provides the proper instruction for the specialty you have chosen, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your initial search, you may be a little bit confused about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. We’ll discuss a little bit further about that in the next section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Homer residence. Tuition will additionally be an important factor when reviewing possible schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it’s not always the ideal choice. There are a number of other factors that you should weigh when comparing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are looking at later within this article. Before we do, let’s talk a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of courses are available.
Defining Cosmetology
Cosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human body look more beautiful with the use of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that a number of 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 anything that improves the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states mandate that you go through some form of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only Homer MI beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have acquired experience and a customer base, launch their own shops or salons. Others will start seeing clients either in their own residences or will travel to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many titles and are employed in a wide range of specializations including:
- Hairdressers
- Hairstylists
- Beauticians
- Barbers
- Manicurists
- Nail Technicians
- Makeup Artists
- Hair Coloring Specialists
- Estheticians
- Electrolysis Technicians
As already mentioned, in the majority of states practicing cosmetologists have to be licensed. In some states there is an exception. Only those performing more skilled services, for instance hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people employed in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.
Cosmetologist Degrees and Certificates
There are essentially 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 normally 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 instructed in all of the major areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you prefer to concentrate on just one area, for instance hair coloring. A degree program will also probably incorporate management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to operate a parlor or other Homer MI business. Higher degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whatever type of course you choose, it’s imperative to make certain that it’s certified by the Michigan Board of Cosmetology. Many states only approve schools that are accredited by certain reputable organizations, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the advantages of accreditation for the school you select in the upcoming segment.
Online Cosmetology Courses
Online cosmetology programs are convenient for Homer MI students who are employed full-time and have family responsibilities that make it difficult to enroll in a more traditional school. There are many web-based cosmetology school programs offered that can be attended by means of a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional beauty programs are frequently fast paced since many programs are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a significant amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are dealing with the same volume of material, but you are not spending many hours outside of your home or travelling back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it’s essential that the training program you choose can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors so that you also obtain the hands-on training needed for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s impossible to acquire the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology field. So be sure if you decide to enroll in an online school to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.
Questions to Ask Cosmetology Degree Programs
Below is a series of questions that you will want to investigate for any cosmetologist training program you are considering. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Homer MI home, as well as the cost of tuition, will undoubtedly be your primary qualifiers. Whether you wish to earn 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 must research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have collected several of those supplemental questions that you should ask every school before making a final determination.
Is the Program Accredited? It’s essential to make sure that the cosmetology school you select 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 comply with their high standards guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable in 49245 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous Homer MI businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Every cosmetologist college that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting 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 Homer MI salon owners or managers, or someone working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to suggest others that you had not thought of. Finally, contact the Michigan school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Some 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 often broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you pick 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 start a hair salon in Homer MI, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly rated school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you need.
Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Learning and mastering cosmetology techniques and abilities requires lots of practice on volunteers. Check 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 enable students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a beauty program provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather relies mainly on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the best option for developing your skills. Therefore try to find other schools that offer this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from a beauty school, it’s essential that he or she receives assistance in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide assistance maintain relationships with Homer MI employers that are searching for skilled graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and inquire which salons and businesses they refer students to. In addition, 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 respected as well.
Is Financial Aid Offered? Most cosmetology schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid office. Consult 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 offered to students also. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not eliminate it as an option until you find out what financial aid may be provided.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Homer MI?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Homer MI area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Homer Township, Calhoun County, Michigan
Homer Township is a civil township of Calhoun County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is part of the Battle Creek, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 3,015 at the 2010 census.[3]
The first permanent settlers were from Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Powell Grover, William Wintersteen, Richard McMutrie, and Henry McMurtrie walked from Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, arriving in the Homer area in April 1832. Powell Grover's group lived their first year in an abandoned log cabin located in Section 11 of present-day Homer Township, said to be the former residence of Potawatomi native Chief Ne-au-to-beer-saw, while the settlers built their own cabins. Grover also built a saw mill on the north bank of the Kalamazoo River in Section 11. The plains where Grover and his friends homesteaded was known as the Pennsylvania Settlement.
Milton Barney arrived from Lyons, New York, the summer of 1832 to scout the area and returned that September with his family and workmen to settle on the south bank of the Kalamazoo River in Section 5. Soon afterwards Barney hired Osha Wilder to layout the plat for the village of Barneyville on the southwest corner of Section 5, southeast corner of Section 6, northeast corner of Section 7, and northwest corner of Section 8. This was the beginning of the village of Homer.
Pick the Right Beauty School near Homer MI
Choosing and enrolling in the right beauty college is essential to obtain the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel confident about your decision. Be sure to compile all of the information you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that information to contrast schools. A sensible start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the college and program you decide on are accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. 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 choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to launch your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Homer MI.
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