Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Ashland MS

How to Select a Cosmetology School near Ashland Mississippi

nail technicians training at Ashland MS beauty schoolOnce you have decided to train as a cosmetologist and attend a beauty school near Ashland MS, the process starts to search for and enroll in the right school. It’s essential that the school you pick not only furnishes the necessary training for the specialty you have chosen, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your initial search, you may be rather unclear about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind of school. We’ll talk a bit more concerning that in the upcoming segment. If you intend on commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Ashland home. Tuition will also be an important aspect when reviewing possible schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it’s not necessarily the ideal choice. There are many other qualifications 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 in this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of programs are offered.

Definition of Cosmetology

Ashland MS makeup ar4tist applying makeupCosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human body look more attractive through the application of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are referred to as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but really a cosmetic can be almost anything that enhances the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, the majority of states mandate that you undergo some type of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Ashland MS beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gotten experience and a clientele, launch their own shops or salons. Others will begin servicing clients either in their own residences or will go to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by 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 previously stated, in most states working cosmetologists must be licensed. In a few states there is an exception. Only those performing more skilled services, for example hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people employed in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.

Cosmetologist Certificates and Degrees

Ashland MS hairdresser cutting hairThere are basically two pathways available to obtain 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 call for 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 instructed in all of the major areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are offered if you prefer to specialize in just one area, for instance hair coloring. A degree program will also probably incorporate management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to run a salon or other Ashland MS business. Higher degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whatever type of program you opt for, it’s imperative to make certain that it’s certified by the Mississippi Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded agencies, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the advantages of accreditation for the school you choose in the following section.

Online Cosmetology Programs

student attending cosmetology school online in Ashland MSOnline beauty programs are advantageous for Ashland MS students who are working full-time and have family obligations that make it difficult to enroll in a more traditional school. There are a large number of online beauty school programs offered that can be accessed through a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional beauty schools are often 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 internet programs, you are covering the same amount of material, but you’re not devoting many hours away from your home or commuting back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it’s important that the school you choose can provide internship training in area salons and parlors so that you also get the hands-on training necessary for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s impossible to obtain the skills required to work in any area of the cosmetology profession. So be sure if you choose to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is provided in your area.

Questions to Ask Cosmetology Schools

Questions to ask Ashland MS beauty schoolsBelow is a list of questions that you will want to research for any cosmetology training program you are considering. As we have previously covered, the location of the school in relation to your Ashland MS residence, together with the price of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you want to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have narrowed 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. Following we have collected several of those additional 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 training program you choose 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 measure up to their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which typically are not offered in 38603 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many Ashland MS businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation?  Every beauty institute that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly regarded. Check rating services for reviews along with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Ashland MS salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. And finally, consult the Mississippi school licensing authority to see 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 comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s imperative that you enroll in a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your ambition 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 dream is to launch a hair salon in Ashland MS, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly regarded school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you require.

Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided?  Practicing and perfecting cosmetology techniques and abilities requires plenty of practice on people. Find out 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 growing talents on volunteers. If a beauty school provides limited or no scheduled live training, but instead relies mainly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for cultivating your skills. So look for other schools that furnish this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program?  Once a student graduates from a beauty program, it’s crucial that he or she gets aid in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish aid maintain relationships with Ashland MS businesses that are seeking trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and ask which salons and establishments they refer students to. In addition, ask 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 Assistance Offered?  The majority of beauty schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you might get approved for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students too. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not discard it as an alternative until you learn what financial assistance may be provided.

Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Ashland MS?

If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Ashland MS area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.

Ashland, Mississippi

Ashland is a town in Benton County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 569 at the 2010 census.[2] It is the county seat of Benton County.[3] Ashland was incorporated on March 8, 1871, and has a Mayor-Aldermen form of government. Mitch Carroll is the 28th mayor of Ashland.

Ashland was established in 1871 as the county seat for the Benton County, which had been created the previous year. The Benton County Courthouse, the focus of the town's main square, was constructed in 1873. Many of Ashland's earliest residents hailed from Salem, an older community to the west that had been destroyed during the Civil War.[4]

Ashland is 18 miles (29 km) east of Holly Springs. The town is concentrated along Mississippi Highway 370, east of its intersection with Mississippi Highway 5. The Tennessee border is 14 miles (23 km) to the north.

Enroll in the Right Cosmetology Vocational School near Ashland MS

Ashland MS barber blow drying client's hairPicking and enrolling in the right cosmetologist program is essential to get the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel certain about your decision. Make sure to organize all of the responses you get from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to contrast schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the college and program you choose are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the field. If you begin with that foundation, and address the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the ideal choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are ready to launch your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Ashland MS.

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