How to Select a Beauty College near Lewiston Nebraska
Now that you have decided to become a cosmetologist and attend a beauty school near Lewiston NE, the task begins to locate and enroll in the ideal school. It’s imperative that the program you pick not only furnishes the proper education for the specialty you have selected, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your initial search, you may be somewhat unclear about the difference 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 discuss a little bit further regarding that in the next segment. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Lewiston home. Tuition will likewise be an important factor when assessing prospective schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it’s not necessarily the best option. There are several other factors that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, for instance 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 talk a bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of training programs are offered.
Definition of Cosmetology
Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human body look more attractive with the use of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic may be anything that enhances the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, the majority of states mandate that you undergo some kind of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Lewiston NE beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gotten experience and a clientele, launch their own shops or salons. Others will start seeing customers either in their own residences or will travel to the client’s house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many names 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 mentioned, in most states practicing cosmetologists must be licensed. In certain states there is an exemption. Only those conducting more skilled services, for example hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others employed in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to become 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) program, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs usually call for 12 to 18 months to complete, while an Associate’s degree commonly takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be instructed in each of the main areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you want to specialize in just one area, for example hair coloring. A degree program will also most likely incorporate management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to manage a parlor or other Lewiston NE business. More advanced degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whatever type of program you decide on, it’s essential to make certain that it’s certified by the Nebraska Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only approve schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded agencies, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the advantages of accreditation for the school you choose in the upcoming segment.
Online Cosmetologist Training
Online cosmetology schools are accommodating for Lewiston NE 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 cosmetology school programs offered that can be attended via a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional beauty schools are frequently fast paced given that many courses are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a large portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you are not spending numerous hours away from your home or travelling back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it’s imperative that the training program you select can provide internship training in area salons and parlors in order that you also receive the hands-on training required for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s difficult to acquire the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology field. So don’t forget if you decide to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is available in your area.
Questions to Ask Cosmetology Training Courses
Below is a series of questions that you should investigate for any beauty training program you are contemplating. As we have already covered, the location of the school in relation to your Lewiston NE residence, in addition to the expense 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 preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have compiled some of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each school before making a final decision.
Is the Program Accredited? It’s essential to make certain that the cosmetology school you enroll in is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized 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 guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which often are not offered in 68380 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 Lewiston NE employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Any beauty college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating companies for reviews in addition to the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Lewiston NE salon owners or managers, or any person working in the field, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. And last, consult the Nebraska school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Some beauty schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing 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 essential that you pick 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 desire is to start a hair salon in Lewiston NE, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly ranked school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you require.
Is Any Live Training Provided? Learning and refining cosmetology techniques and abilities requires lots of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is included in the cosmetology lessons you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that make it possible for students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a beauty program offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather depends heavily on the use of mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for acquiring your skills. So try to find alternate schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from a cosmetology academy, it’s essential that she or he gets assistance in securing that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer help maintain relationships with Lewiston NE employers that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and find out which salons and businesses they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Assistance Offered? Many beauty 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 belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students as well. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not eliminate it as an alternative until you determine what financial help may be offered.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Lewiston NE?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Lewiston NE area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Lewiston, Nebraska
As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 68 people, 30 households, and 15 families residing in the village. The population density was 680.0 inhabitants per square mile (262.5/km2). There were 37 housing units at an average density of 370.0 per square mile (142.9/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 98.5% White and 1.5% African American.
There were 30 households of which 40.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.7% were married couples living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 50.0% were non-families. 43.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 3.27.
The median age in the village was 37 years. 32.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 2.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25% were from 25 to 44; 17.6% were from 45 to 64; and 22.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 52.9% male and 47.1% female.
Enroll in the Right Cosmetologist Vocational School near Lewiston NE
Choosing and enrolling in the right beauty school is imperative to get the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel positive about your decision. Make sure to consolidate all of the information you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to contrast schools. A sensible start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the academy and program you select are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. If you start with that foundation, and address the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to launch your career as a professional cosmetologist in Lewiston NE.
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