How to Select a Beauty College near Pontotoc Mississippi
Since you have made a decision to train as a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Pontotoc MS, the process starts to search for and enroll in the best school. It’s essential that the program you choose not only provides the necessary instruction for the specialty you have decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your initial search, you may be rather confused about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both relate to the same type of school. We’ll discuss a little bit further concerning that in the next segment. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Pontotoc home. Tuition will likewise be a critical consideration when evaluating potential schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it’s not necessarily the right choice. 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 concerning the cosmetology schools you are thinking about later within this article. Before we do, let’s talk a bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of programs are available.
What is Cosmetology
Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human body look more beautiful through the application of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic may be anything that enhances the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, the majority of states require that you go through some kind of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Pontotoc 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 seeing customers either in their own residences or will go to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many titles and work 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 the majority of states working cosmetologists must be licensed. In some states there is an exception. Only those conducting more skilled services, such as 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 Certificates and Degrees
There are basically two avenues available to receive cosmetology training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs usually take 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 trained in all of the major areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are offered if you prefer to concentrate on just one area, for example hair coloring. A degree program will also probably include management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to manage a parlor or other Pontotoc MS business. Higher degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whichever type of program you opt for, it’s essential to make sure that it’s recognized by the Mississippi Board of Cosmetology. Many states only certify schools that are accredited by certain respected organizations, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the advantages of accreditation for the school you select in the upcoming section.
Online Cosmetology Classes
Online beauty schools are advantageous for Pontotoc MS students who are working full-time and have family commitments that make it difficult to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of online beauty school programs available that can be attended through a personal 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 short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a substantial amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you are not devoting numerous hours away from your home or travelling to and from classes. However, it’s important that the program you pick 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 difficult to acquire the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology industry. So don’t forget if you decide to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is provided in your area.
What to Ask Cosmetology Trade Schools
Below is a series of questions that you need to investigate for any cosmetologist training school you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Pontotoc MS residence, as well as the expense of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you should research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have compiled several of those supplemental questions that you should ask every school before making a final selection.
Is the Program Accredited? It’s necessary to make certain that the cosmetology school you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for getting student loans or financial aid, which often are not available in 38863 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many Pontotoc MS employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Each beauty school 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 endorsements from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating companies for reviews in addition to the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Pontotoc 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 considered. Finally, consult the Mississippi school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? A number of cosmetology schools offer programs that are expansive 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 typically expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s imperative that you select a school that specializes in your area of interest. If your intention is to be trained as an esthetician, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your dream is to launch a hair salon in Pontotoc MS, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly ranked school with a weak program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you require.
Is Any Live Training Provided? Learning and mastering cosmetology skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is provided in the cosmetology classes you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that enable students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a beauty program furnishes limited or no scheduled live training, but instead depends predominantly on the use of mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for developing your skills. So search for alternate schools that provide this kind of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from a cosmetology program, it’s essential that she or he gets assistance in finding that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide aid develope relationships with Pontotoc MS businesses that are seeking trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and inquire which salons and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, 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 Available? Many cosmetology schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid department. Talk to a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you might 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 fulfills all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not omit it as an alternative until you determine what financial help may be provided.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Pontotoc MS?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Pontotoc MS area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Pontotoc, Mississippi
Pontotoc is a Chickasaw word meaning "Land of Hanging Grapes". They occupied this area before Europeans colonized the Southeast. In the early 1830s they were forced to Indian Territory through Indian Removal.
In the late 19th century, the outlaws Jesse and Frank James and their gang once hid at an old house that had been used as a Union Army hospital during the Battle of Harrisburg or Battle of Tupelo in the Civil War. The house was located at a crossroad in east Pontotoc County, near the Lee County line.
The Town Square Museum is located in the historic US post office near the county courthouse. This space is used to house and display Pontotoc memorabilia. There is also a full-service post office operating in the building.
Enroll in the Right Cosmetology Vocational School near Pontotoc MS
Picking and enrolling in the ideal cosmetologist school is important to get the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel positive about your decision. Make certain to collect all of the responses you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to contrast schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the school and program you decide on are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. If you begin with that foundation, and answer the additional questions presented 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 exam, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to start your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Pontotoc MS.
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