How to Enroll In a Cosmetology School near Lake Park Minnesota
Since you have made a decision to become a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Lake Park MN, the task begins to search for and enroll in the best school. It’s imperative that the school you select not only provides the necessary education for the specialty you have selected, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your preliminary search, you may be somewhat puzzled about the distinction 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 discuss a bit more regarding that in the upcoming section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Lake Park home. Tuition will likewise be an important factor when evaluating prospective schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it’s not always the right choice. There are a number of other considerations that you should evaluate when comparing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask about 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 offered.
Defining Cosmetology
Cosmetology is a profession that is all about making the human body look more attractive with the application 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 term cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic may be almost anything that improves the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, most states require that you go through some form of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only Lake Park MN beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once 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 travel to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many titles and work in a wide variety of specialties including:
- Hairdressers
- Hairstylists
- Beauticians
- Barbers
- Manicurists
- Nail Technicians
- Makeup Artists
- Hair Coloring Specialists
- Estheticians
- Electrolysis Technicians
As previously mentioned, in most states working cosmetologists must be licensed. In a few states there is an exemption. Only those conducting more skilled services, for example hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others working in cosmetology and less skilled, such as shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.
Cosmetology Degrees
There are essentially two options available to get cosmetology training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs typically require 12 to 18 months to finish, while an Associate’s degree ordinarily takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be trained in all of the main areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you prefer to concentrate on just one area, such as hair coloring. A degree program will also likely feature management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to manage a parlor or other Lake Park MN business. Higher degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whichever type of program you opt for, it’s important to make sure that it’s approved by the Minnesota Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only certify schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded agencies, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the advantages of accreditation for the school you decide on in the following section.
Online Beauty Classes
Online cosmetology schools are advantageous for Lake Park MN students who are employed full time and have family commitments that make it difficult to enroll in a more traditional school. There are many online beauty school programs offered that can be accessed via a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional cosmetology schools are typically fast paced given that many courses are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a large amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you’re not spending numerous hours outside of your home or commuting to and from classes. However, it’s imperative that the school you pick can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors to ensure that you also receive the hands-on training required for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s impossible to gain the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology industry. So be sure if you decide to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is available in your area.
Questions to Ask Cosmetology Programs
Following is a list of questions that you should investigate for any cosmetology training school you are contemplating. As we have already covered, the location of the school in relation to your Lake Park MN residence, as well as the cost of tuition, will most likely be your primary qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have collected some of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final selection.
Is the Program Accredited? It’s essential to make sure that the cosmetology school you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified 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 guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable in 56554 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of Lake Park MN businesses will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Every beauty institute that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating services for reviews in addition to the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Lake Park MN salon owners or managers, or any person working in the field, 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. And last, check with the Minnesota school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? A number of cosmetology schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for instance hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs often broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s essential that you select a school that focuses on 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 start a hair salon in Lake Park MN, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly rated school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you require.
Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Practicing and perfecting cosmetology skills and techniques involves plenty of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is provided in the beauty lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that enable students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a beauty school furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but rather depends heavily on using mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for developing your skills. Therefore look for other schools that furnish this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? As soon as a student graduates from a cosmetology school, it’s important that he or she receives assistance in finding that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer aid develope relationships with Lake Park MN businesses that are searching for qualified graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which salons and organizations they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Aid Available? Almost all beauty schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid department. Talk to a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you may qualify for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students as well. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications except for cost, do not eliminate it as an option before you learn what financial assistance may be provided.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Lake Park MN?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Lake Park MN area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Lake Park, Minnesota
As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 881 people, 316 households, and 216 families residing in the city. The population density was 807.2 inhabitants per square mile (311.7/km2). There were 350 housing units at an average density of 360.8 per square mile (139.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.3% White, 0.1% African American, 1.9% Native American, 0.3% Asian, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.8% of the population.
There were 316 households of which 39.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.2% were married couples living together, 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 7.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.6% were non-families. 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.94.
The median age in the city was 35.6 years. 28.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.6% were from 25 to 44; 24.9% were from 45 to 64; and 12.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.4% male and 50.6% female.
Select the Right Cosmetology School near Lake Park MN
Picking and enrolling in the right beauty program is essential to obtain the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel confident about your decision. Make sure to organize all of the responses you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that data to contrast schools. A good beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the academy and program you pick are accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. If you begin with that foundation, and answer the additional questions presented 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 confident that you are qualified to start your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Lake Park MN.
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