How to Choose a Beauty School near Elko Nevada
Since you have made a decision to train as a cosmetologist and attend a beauty school near Elko NV, the task starts to find and enroll in the right school. It’s essential that the school you choose not only provides the necessary training for the specialty you have selected, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your initial search, you might be a little bit unclear about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. We’ll speak a bit further about that in the next segment. If you intend on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Elko home. Tuition will also be an important consideration when assessing possible schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it’s not necessarily the right option. There are various other considerations that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are considering later in this article. Before we do, let’s talk a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of training programs are offered.
Defining Cosmetology
Cosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human anatomy look more attractive with the application of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are referred to as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic can be almost anything that enhances the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, the majority of states require that you go through some form of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only Elko NV beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gotten experience and a clientele, establish their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing clients either in their own residences or will go to the client’s residence, 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 previously stated, in most states working cosmetologists have to be licensed. In a few 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, including shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.
Cosmetology Degrees and Certificates
There are basically two avenues available to receive cosmetology training and a credential upon 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 finish, while an Associate’s degree usually takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be trained in all of the major areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are available if you wish to focus on just one area, for instance hair coloring. A degree program will also most likely feature management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to operate a salon or other Elko NV business. Higher degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whatever type of training program you decide on, it’s imperative to make certain that it’s certified by the Nevada Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only approve schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded organizations, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the benefits of accreditation for the school you choose in the following section.
Online Cosmetologist Courses
Online beauty classes are convenient for Elko NV students who are working full-time and have family commitments that make it challenging to attend a more traditional school. There are many online cosmetology school programs available that can be accessed via a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional beauty schools are typically fast paced given that many courses are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a significant amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are covering the same amount of material, but you’re not spending many hours outside of your home or driving back and forth from classes. However, it’s imperative that the school you pick can provide internship training in area salons and parlors so that you also receive the hands-on training necessary for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s difficult to obtain the skills needed to work in any facet of the cosmetology profession. So don’t forget if you decide to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is available in your area.
Questions to Ask Cosmetologist Training Classes
Following is a series of questions that you will want to look into for any cosmetology training school you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school in relation to your Elko NV home, together with the expense of tuition, will most likely be your first qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you should research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have put together some of those supplemental questions that you should ask every school before making a final selection.
Is the Program Accredited? It’s necessary to make sure that the cosmetology college you pick 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 comply with their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which often are not offered in 89801 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many Elko NV employers 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? Any cosmetology college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating companies for reviews as well as the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Elko NV salon owners or managers, or someone working in the trade, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. And finally, contact the Nevada school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Some cosmetology schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, for instance hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs commonly broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you decide on a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your objective 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 open a hair salon in Elko NV, then you need 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 seeking will not deliver the training you need.
Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and refining cosmetology skills and techniques demands plenty of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is provided in the beauty courses you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that make it possible for students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a beauty school provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead depends predominantly on using mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for acquiring your skills. Therefore search for alternate schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from a cosmetology school, it’s essential that he or she receives support in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide help develope relationships with Elko NV businesses that are looking for qualified graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and find out which salons and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Offered? The majority of beauty schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are considering have a financial aid office. Speak 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 available to students as well. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not drop it as an option before you learn what financial assistance may be provided.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Elko NV?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Elko NV area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Elko, Nevada
Coordinates: 40°50′N 115°46′W / 40.833°N 115.767°W / 40.833; -115.767 Elko (Shoshoni: Natakkoa, "Rocks Piled on One Another")[3] is the largest city and county seat of Elko County, Nevada, United States.[4][5] The population was 18,297 at the 2010 census.[6] The city straddles the Humboldt River.
Elko is the principal city of the Elko Micropolitan Statistical Area, a micropolitan area that covers Elko and Eureka counties.[7] It is the largest city for over 225 miles (362 km) in all directions, making it, as its city motto states, "The Heart of Northeast Nevada".
Though Elko lies along the route of the historic California Trail, it was first inhabited only in 1868, when it was at the east end of the railroad tracks built by the Central Pacific Railroad (the portion of the First Transcontinental Railroad built from California to Utah). When the railroad crews moved on, Elko remained, serving as a center for ranching, mining, rail freight and general supplies.[8]
Choose the Right Cosmetologist School near Elko NV
Choosing and enrolling in the ideal beauty college is essential 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 certain about your decision. Don’t forget 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 process is to make certain that the institution and program you select are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the profession. If you begin with that foundation, and answer the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to narrow down 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 prepared to launch your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Elko NV.
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