How to Choose a Cosmetologist College near Escatawpa Mississippi
Once you have decided to become a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Escatawpa MS, the process begins to search for and enroll in the right school. It’s imperative that the school you pick not only provides the necessary training for the specialty you have selected, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your initial search, you might be somewhat confused about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both refer to the same type of school. We’ll speak a little bit more about that in the upcoming segment. If you intend on commuting to classes you will need to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Escatawpa home. Tuition will also be a critical aspect when assessing potential schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it’s not always the right option. There are many other factors that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are thinking about later within this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of courses are available.
Definition of Cosmetology
Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human body look more beautiful with the application of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but really a cosmetic may be almost anything that improves the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, most states require that you take some kind of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Escatawpa MS beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have gained experience and a customer base, establish their own shops or salons. Others will begin servicing customers 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 variety of specializations including:
- Hairdressers
- Hairstylists
- Beauticians
- Barbers
- Manicurists
- Nail Technicians
- Makeup Artists
- Hair Coloring Specialists
- Estheticians
- Electrolysis Technicians
As formerly stated, in most states practicing cosmetologists have to be licensed. In some states there is an exception. Only those conducting more skilled services, for instance hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others employed in cosmetology and less skilled, such as shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.
Cosmetologist Degrees
There are primarily two options offered to obtain cosmetology training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs usually 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 each of the major areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are available if you prefer to focus on just one area, for instance hair coloring. A degree program will also likely feature management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to manage a parlor or other Escatawpa MS business. More advanced degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whichever type of training program you go with, it’s essential to make certain that it’s approved by the Mississippi Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded agencies, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the advantages of accreditation for the school you decide on in the next section.
Online Beauty Programs
Online cosmetology schools are convenient for Escatawpa MS students who are working full-time and have family commitments that make it difficult to attend a more traditional school. There are many web-based beauty school programs available that can be attended through a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional beauty programs are frequently fast paced due to the fact that many courses are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a significant portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are covering the same amount of material, but you’re not spending many hours away from your home or driving to and from classes. However, it’s imperative that the school you select can provide internship training in local salons and parlors in order that you also obtain the hands-on training needed for a comprehensive 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 make sure if you choose to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.
Questions to Ask Cosmetologist Schools
Below is a list of questions that you should research for any beauty training school you are considering. As we have previously covered, the location of the school in relation to your Escatawpa MS residence, together with the cost of tuition, will most likely be your primary qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have put together several of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final determination.
Is the School Accredited? It’s essential to make sure that the cosmetology training program you choose 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 measure up to their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which often are not available in 39552 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of Escatawpa MS employers 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? Each beauty college that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent 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, indicating that their students are highly demanded. Check rating companies for reviews as well as the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Escatawpa MS salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. And last, check with the Mississippi school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Some cosmetology schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs often broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s essential that you enroll in a school that specializes in 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 Escatawpa MS, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly rated school with a weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you need.
Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and perfecting cosmetology techniques and abilities demands lots of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the beauty lessons you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that allow students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a beauty program provides little or no scheduled live training, but instead depends heavily on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the best option for cultivating your skills. Therefore try to find alternate schools that furnish this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from a beauty program, it’s crucial that he or she receives help in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish help develope relationships with Escatawpa MS businesses that are seeking skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and inquire which salons and organizations they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Assistance Offered? Most cosmetology schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are considering have a financial aid office. Consult with a counselor and learn 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 offered to students too. If a school meets each of your other qualifications except for cost, do not discard it as an option before you find out what financial assistance may be offered.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Escatawpa MS?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Escatawpa MS area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Escatawpa, Mississippi
Escatawpa is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Jackson County, Mississippi, United States. It is part of the Pascagoula Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 3,722 at the 2010 census.[1]
Small clusters of people have inhabited the area now known as Escatawpa since well before the Civil War. At various points in its history, the town has been known as "Dog River", "Dutch Bayou", and "Tugas". The name "Escatawpa" comes from the Choctaw Indian name for the area, Oestcatawpa, which literally translates to "trim cane", with the word uska meaning "cane" and tapa meaning "cut" in Choctaw. In the early 19th century, settlers adopted the native name and eventually changed the spelling to its current form. The name "Escatawpa" is believed to have become official when Henry Ehlers opened the Escatawpa post office in 1855. In 1990, the original center of Escatawpa was annexed into the city of Moss Point, located just to the south. The adjoining unincorporated area north of Moss Point is the current Escatawpa census-designated place.
The Escatawpa CDP is in eastern Jackson County on the east side of the Pascagoula River. It is bordered to the south by the city of Moss Point. The original community of Escatawpa, now a neighborhood in Moss Point, was centered just north of present-day Interstate 10. The current CDP is 5 miles (8 km) north of the center of Moss Point and 9 miles (14 km) north of Pascagoula, the Jackson county seat. Mississippi Highway 613 is the main road through the center of Escatawpa, and four-lane Mississippi Highway 63 forms the eastern edge of the community.
Pick the Right Cosmetology Vocational School near Escatawpa MS
Finding and enrolling in the right cosmetologist college is essential to receive the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel positive about your decision. Don’t forget to organize all of the information you receive 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 procedure is to make sure that the college and program you choose 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 filter your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are ready to begin your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Escatawpa MS.
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