How to Choose a Cosmetology College near Wakefield Nebraska
Since you have decided to train as a cosmetologist and attend a beauty school near Wakefield NE, the process starts to find and enroll in the ideal school. It’s important that the school you select not only furnishes the proper education for the specialty you have chosen, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your initial search, you might be somewhat unclear about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are pretty much interchangeable and both refer to the same type of school. We’ll talk a bit more concerning that in the next segment. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Wakefield home. Tuition will additionally be a critical consideration when evaluating prospective schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it’s not necessarily the best option. There are many other factors that you should weigh when reviewing schools, such as 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 talk a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of courses are available.
What is Cosmetology
Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human body look more beautiful through the use of cosmetics. So naturally 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 actually a cosmetic may be anything that improves the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, the majority of states mandate that you go through some kind of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Wakefield NE beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have acquired experience and a client base, launch 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 go by many names and work in a wide variety 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 have to be licensed. In certain states there is an exception. Only those offering more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others employed in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.
Cosmetology Degrees and Certificates
There are primarily two pathways offered to obtain cosmetology training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs generally require 12 to 18 months to complete, while an Associate’s degree usually 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 wish to focus on just one area, such as hair coloring. A degree program will also likely incorporate management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to operate a salon or other Wakefield NE business. Higher degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such areas as salon or spa management. Whichever type of program you opt for, it’s important to make certain that it’s certified by the Nebraska 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 benefits of accreditation for the school you select in the next segment.
Online Beauty Schools
Online cosmetology programs are accommodating for Wakefield NE students who are employed full time and have family commitments that make it hard to enroll in a more traditional school. There are many web-based cosmetology school programs available that can be attended through a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional beauty schools are frequently fast paced due to the fact that many courses are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a substantial portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you’re not devoting numerous hours outside of your home or driving back and forth from classes. However, it’s imperative that the program you choose can provide internship training in local salons and parlors so that you also obtain the hands-on training necessary for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s impossible to obtain the skills necessary to work in any facet of the cosmetology industry. So make sure if you choose to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is available in your area.
What to Ask Beauty Programs
Below is a series of questions that you will want to look into for any cosmetology training school you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school relative to your Wakefield NE home, together with the cost of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have collected several of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final decision.
Is the School Accredited? It’s necessary to make certain that the cosmetology training program you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized 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 often are not available in 68784 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many Wakefield NE employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Every cosmetology institute that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly regarded. Check rating services for reviews in addition to the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Wakefield NE salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. And finally, consult the Nebraska school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Some beauty schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you decide on 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 well regarded for that program. If your desire is to start a hair salon in Wakefield NE, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly rated school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you need.
Is Any Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and refining cosmetology techniques and abilities demands lots of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is included in the cosmetology classes you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that allow students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a beauty academy offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead relies mainly on using mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for acquiring your skills. Therefore look for alternate schools that furnish this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from a cosmetology academy, it’s crucial that he or she gets help in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish help maintain relationships with Wakefield NE businesses that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and ask which salons and organizations they refer students to. In addition, find out 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 Available? Most beauty schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are considering 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 belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students also. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications except for expense, do not eliminate it as an option until you find out what financial aid may be available.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Wakefield NE?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Wakefield NE area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Wakefield, Nebraska
Wakefield had its start in the year 1881 by the building of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway through that territory.[5] It was named for L. W. Wakefield, a railroad engineer.[6] Wakefield was incorporated in 1883.[7]
As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 1,451 people, 534 households, and 352 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,667.8 inhabitants per square mile (643.9/km2). There were 575 housing units at an average density of 660.9 per square mile (255.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 75.6% White, 0.4% African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 21.4% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 33.6% of the population.
There were 534 households of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.7% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.1% were non-families. 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.23.
Find the Right Cosmetology College near Wakefield NE
Finding and enrolling in the ideal cosmetologist program is important to receive the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel confident about your decision. Be sure to consolidate all of the information you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to compare schools. A good start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the college and program you choose are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. If you start with that base, 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 ideal choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are ready to launch your career as a professional cosmetologist in Wakefield NE.
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