How to Enroll In a Cosmetology School near Lewiston Minnesota
Once you have made a decision to become a cosmetologist and attend a beauty school near Lewiston MN, the task starts to search for and enroll in the ideal school. It’s imperative that the school you select not only provides the proper education for the specialty you have chosen, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your initial search, you might be rather puzzled about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. We’ll speak a little bit more regarding that in the following segment. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Lewiston home. Tuition will also be a critical consideration when evaluating potential schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it’s not necessarily the right option. There are a number of other factors that you should weigh when comparing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask about the cosmetology schools you are considering later within this article. Before we do, let’s talk a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of courses are offered.
Defining Cosmetology
Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human body look more beautiful through the application of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic may 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 type of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only Lewiston MN beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gained experience and a clientele, establish their own shops or salons. Others will begin seeing clients either in their own homes or will travel to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many professional names 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 previously mentioned, in most states practicing cosmetologists have to be licensed. In certain states there is an exception. Only those performing more skilled services, for instance hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others working in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.
Cosmetology Certificates and Degrees
There are essentially two avenues offered to get 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 require 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 each of the major areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are available if you want to concentrate on just one area, such as hair coloring. A degree program will also likely incorporate management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to operate a parlor or other Lewiston MN business. Higher degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such areas as salon or spa management. Whichever type of training program you opt for, it’s essential to make sure that it’s certified by the Minnesota Board of Cosmetology. Many states only approve schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded organizations, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the advantages of accreditation for the school you select in the next section.
Online Beauty Courses
Online cosmetology programs are convenient for Lewiston MN students who are working full time and have family obligations that make it difficult to enroll in a more traditional school. There are numerous web-based beauty school programs offered that can be attended by means of a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional beauty schools are often fast paced due to the fact that many courses are as short as six or eight months. This means that a significant portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are covering the same amount of material, but you are not devoting many hours away from your home or travelling back and forth from classes. However, it’s vital that the training program you choose can provide internship training in local salons and parlors to ensure that you also obtain 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 profession. So be sure if you decide to enroll in an online school to confirm that internship training is available in your area.
Questions to Ask Cosmetologist Schools
Following is a series of questions that you will want to investigate for any cosmetology training program you are contemplating. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Lewiston MN residence, in addition to the price of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first qualifiers. Whether you wish to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have put together some of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final selection.
Is the Program Accredited? It’s necessary to make sure that the cosmetology college 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for getting student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not offered in 55952 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many Lewiston MN 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? Any cosmetologist college that you are seriously considering 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 employers where they have referred their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly demanded. Check rating services for reviews together with the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Lewiston MN salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the trade, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. And last, check with the Minnesota school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? A number of cosmetology schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you choose a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your ambition 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 desire is to open a hair salon in Lewiston MN, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly ranked school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you require.
Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and mastering cosmetology techniques and abilities demands lots of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is included in the beauty lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that enable students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a beauty school offers limited or no scheduled live training, but rather depends mainly on the use of mannequins, it may not be the most effective alternative 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 beauty program, it’s crucial that she or he gets support in securing that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer aid develope relationships with Lewiston MN employers that are seeking trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and ask which salons and establishments they refer students to. Also, 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 respected as well.
Is Financial Aid Available? Many cosmetology schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students as well. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not omit it as an option before you learn what financial help may be offered.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Lewiston MN?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Lewiston MN area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Lewiston, Minnesota
As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 1,622 people, 600 households, and 428 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,408.7 inhabitants per square mile (543.9/km2). There were 634 housing units at an average density of 551.3 per square mile (212.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 97.0% White, 1.2% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 0.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.3% of the population.
There were 600 households of which 38.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.0% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 28.7% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.15.
The median age in the city was 36.2 years. 29.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.7% were from 25 to 44; 24.5% were from 45 to 64; and 13.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.9% male and 49.1% female.
Choose the Right Cosmetologist Vocational School near Lewiston MN
Finding and enrolling in the right beauty school is imperative to receive the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel confident about your decision. Don’t forget to consolidate all of the responses you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that information to compare schools. A good start in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the college and program you pick are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the field. If you begin with that base, and address 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 self-assured that you are prepared to launch your career as a professional cosmetologist in Lewiston MN.
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