How to Select a Cosmetology School near Lakefield Minnesota
Now that you have decided to become a cosmetologist and attend a beauty school near Lakefield MN, the task begins to locate and enroll in the best school. It’s essential that the program you select not only furnishes the necessary education for the specialty you have decided on, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your initial search, you may be somewhat puzzled about the difference 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 talk a little bit more concerning that in the upcoming section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Lakefield home. Tuition will additionally be a critical factor when assessing potential schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it’s not necessarily the ideal option. There are various other factors that you should weigh when comparing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will examine 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 kinds of courses are offered.
What is Cosmetology
Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human body look more beautiful through the application of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic can be anything that enhances the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states mandate that you undergo some form of specialized training and then become licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only Lakefield MN beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gained experience and a clientele, open their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing customers either in their own homes or will travel to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have 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 most states working cosmetologists have to be licensed. In a few states there is an exemption. Only those conducting more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people working in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.
Cosmetologist Certificates and Degrees
There are basically two avenues available to get 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 call for 12 to 18 months to finish, while an Associate’s degree usually takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be instructed in all of the main areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are available if you want to specialize in just one area, for instance hair coloring. A degree program will also likely include management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to manage a parlor or other Lakefield MN business. More advanced degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whatever type of program you decide on, it’s important to make certain that it’s approved by the Minnesota Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only approve schools that are accredited by certain respected organizations, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the benefits of accreditation for the school you choose in the upcoming segment.
Online Beauty Training
Online cosmetology classes are accommodating for Lakefield MN students who are employed full time and have family commitments that make it difficult to enroll in a more traditional school. There are a large number of web-based cosmetology school programs available that can be accessed via a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional cosmetology programs are often fast paced due to the fact that many courses are as short as six or eight months. This means that a large portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are covering the same volume of material, but you’re not spending many hours away from your home or travelling back and forth from classes. However, it’s essential that the training program you choose can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors to ensure that you also receive the hands-on training needed for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s difficult to gain the skills needed to work in any area of the cosmetology profession. So don’t forget if you choose to enroll in an online school to confirm that internship training is available in your area.
What to Ask Cosmetologist Programs
Below is a list of questions that you will want to look into for any cosmetology training school you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school relative to your Lakefield MN home, in addition to the expense of tuition, will most likely be your initial qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you should research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have put together several of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final selection.
Is the School Accredited? It’s important to make certain that the cosmetology college you choose 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for getting student loans or financial aid, which often are not offered in 56150 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of Lakefield MN businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Each cosmetology school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. 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, attesting that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating companies for reviews together with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Lakefield MN salon owners or managers, or any person working in the business, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. And last, contact the Minnesota school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Some beauty schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s essential that you decide on 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 well regarded for that program. If your aspiration is to open a hair salon in Lakefield MN, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly regarded school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you require.
Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Learning and mastering cosmetology techniques and abilities requires plenty of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is provided in the beauty courses you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that allow students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a beauty academy offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather depends predominantly on using mannequins, it might not be the best option for acquiring your skills. So search for alternate schools that offer this kind of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from a beauty school, it’s crucial that she or he receives assistance in finding that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish aid maintain relationships with Lakefield MN businesses that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and ask which salons and organizations they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Aid Offered? Almost all beauty schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Consult with a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you may get approved for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students also. If a school meets all of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not drop it as an alternative before you learn what financial help may be offered.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Lakefield MN?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Lakefield MN area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Lakefield, Minnesota
Lakefield was laid out in 1879, when the railroad was extended to that point.[7] It was named for its location near Heron Lake.[7] A post office has been in operation at Lakefield since 1880.[8] The city was incorporated in 1887.[7]
As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 1,694 people, 762 households, and 462 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,323.4 inhabitants per square mile (511.0/km2). There were 838 housing units at an average density of 654.7 per square mile (252.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 98.0% White, 0.8% African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.7% from other races, and 0.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.2% of the population.
There were 762 households of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.5% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.4% were non-families. 35.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.80.
Select the Right Cosmetology Program near Lakefield MN
Locating and enrolling in the right beauty college is essential to obtain the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel positive about your decision. Make certain to collect all of the responses you get from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that information to compare schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the school and program you decide on are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you start with that base, and address the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to launch your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Lakefield MN.
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