How to Select a Beauty College near Pickens Mississippi
Since you have decided to train as a cosmetologist and attend a beauty school near Pickens MS, the process begins to search for and enroll in the ideal school. It’s important that the program you pick not only furnishes the proper education for the specialty you have chosen, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your preliminary search, you might be a little bit puzzled about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are essentially interchangeable and both refer to the same type of school. We’ll talk a little bit more about 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 Pickens residence. Tuition will also be an important consideration when assessing possible schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it’s not necessarily the right option. There are many other qualifications that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask concerning the cosmetology schools you are considering later within this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of training programs are available.
What is Cosmetology
Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human anatomy look more attractive through the application of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but really a cosmetic can be almost anything that improves the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, the majority of states mandate that you take some form of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work environments include not only Pickens MS beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gained experience and a customer base, establish their own shops or salons. Others will begin seeing clients either in their own residences or will go to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many titles 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 earlier stated, in the majority of states working cosmetologists must be licensed. In certain states there is an exemption. Only those offering more skilled services, for instance hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others working in cosmetology and less skilled, such as shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.
Cosmetology Degrees and Certificates
There are primarily two options available to get cosmetology training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs usually call for 12 to 18 months to finish, while an Associate’s degree commonly 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 prefer to focus on just one area, such as hair coloring. A degree program will also likely feature management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to run a salon or other Pickens MS business. Higher degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whichever type of training program you decide on, it’s important to make sure that it’s certified by the Mississippi Board of Cosmetology. Many states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain respected organizations, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the benefits of accreditation for the school you select in the next section.
Online Cosmetology Schools
Online beauty schools are convenient for Pickens MS students who are working full-time and have family responsibilities that make it difficult to enroll in a more traditional school. There are numerous online beauty school programs available that can be attended through a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional cosmetology programs are frequently fast paced due to the fact that many courses are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a considerable amount 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 outside of your home or commuting back and forth from classes. However, it’s important that the school you pick can provide internship training in area salons and parlors in order that you also get the hands-on training required for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s difficult to gain the skills required to work in any area of the cosmetology profession. So be sure if you decide to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.
Questions to Ask Cosmetologist Degree Programs
Below is a series of questions that you will want to research for any cosmetology training program you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Pickens MS residence, together with the price of tuition, will undoubtedly be your primary qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have put together several of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final decision.
Is the Program Accredited? It’s necessary to make sure that the cosmetology college you enroll in 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not obtainable in 39146 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many Pickens 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 an Excellent Reputation? Each beauty school that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating services for reviews along with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Pickens MS salon owners or managers, or any person working in the field, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not considered. And finally, check with the Mississippi school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Many beauty schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you enroll in 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 aspiration is to open a hair salon in Pickens MS, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly ranked school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you need.
Is Enough Live Training Provided? Practicing and perfecting cosmetology techniques and abilities involves plenty of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is included in the cosmetology lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that enable students to practice their developing skills on volunteers. If a beauty school offers limited or no scheduled live training, but rather depends predominantly on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the best option for acquiring your skills. So search for other schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from a cosmetology academy, it’s essential that she or he receives support in finding that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide help maintain relationships with Pickens MS employers that are seeking skilled graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and inquire which salons and organizations they refer students to. In addition, 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 respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Available? Most cosmetology schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid office. Speak with a counselor and identify 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 offered to students as well. If a school meets each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not drop it as an alternative before you learn what financial help may be provided.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Pickens MS?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Pickens MS area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Pickens, Mississippi
Pickens is located in the southeast corner of Holmes County at 32°53′12″N 89°58′12″W / 32.88667°N 89.97000°W / 32.88667; -89.97000 (32.886672, -89.970092),[3] on the west side of the Big Black River. It is bordered to the south by Yazoo County and to the east across the Big Black by Attala County.
U.S. Route 51 passes through the town, leading northeast 7 miles (11 km) to Goodman and south 19 miles (31 km) to Canton. Mississippi Highway 17 follows US 51 through Pickens, but leaves the highway south of town to lead southeast 13 miles (21 km) to Camden, and splits from US 51 north of Pickens to lead north 18 miles (29 km) to Lexington, the Holmes County seat. Mississippi Highway 432 leads west from Pickens 18 miles (29 km) to Benton. Interstate 55 passes 3 miles (5 km) west of Pickens, with access from Exit 139 (Highway 432) and Exit 144 (Highway 17). I-55 leads south 44 miles (71 km) to Jackson, the state capital, and north 70 miles (110 km) to Grenada.
As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 1,325 people, 452 households, and 333 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,062.3 people per square mile (409.3/km²). There were 496 housing units at an average density of 397.7 per square mile (153.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 11.92% White, 87.70% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.08% from other races, and 0.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.28% of the population.
Choose the Right Cosmetologist Vocational School near Pickens MS
Choosing and enrolling in the right beauty school is imperative to obtain the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel confident about your decision. Be sure to consolidate all of the information you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that information to contrast schools. A sensible start in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the school and program you select are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the field. If you start with that foundation, and answer the additional questions presented in this post, 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 self-assured that you are ready to begin your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Pickens MS.
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