Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Piscataway NJ

How to Find the Right Cosmetology School near Piscataway New Jersey

nail technicians training at Piscataway NJ beauty school Since you have decided to train as a cosmetologist and attend a beauty school near Piscataway NJ, the process begins to search for and enroll in the right school. It’s important that the school you pick not only furnishes the appropriate training for the specialty you have chosen, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your preliminary search, you may be a little bit puzzled about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are essentially interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind of school. We’ll discuss a bit further about that in the following segment. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Piscataway residence. Tuition will also be a critical aspect when assessing prospective schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it’s not always the best option. There are several other qualifications that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask about the cosmetology schools you are looking at later within this article. Before we do, let’s talk a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of programs are available.

Definition of Cosmetology

Piscataway NJ makeup ar4tist applying makeup Cosmetology is a profession that is all about making the human anatomy look more attractive with the application of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but really a cosmetic can be almost anything that improves the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, the majority of states mandate that you go through some form of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only Piscataway NJ beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gained experience and a clientele, open their own shops or salons. Others will begin seeing clients either in their own residences or will travel to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many titles and are employed in a wide range of specialties 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 a few states there is an exception. Only those performing more skilled services, for example hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others employed in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.

Cosmetologist Certificates and Degrees

Piscataway NJ hairdresser cutting hair There are basically two options offered to get cosmetology training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs typically 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 all of the major areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you prefer to specialize in just one area, for example hair coloring. A degree program will also probably feature management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to operate a salon or other Piscataway NJ business. Higher degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whichever type of training program you opt for, it’s imperative to make certain that it’s certified by the New Jersey Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only approve schools that are accredited by certain respected agencies, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the benefits of accreditation for the school you choose in the following section.

Online Beauty Schools

student attending cosmetology school online in Piscataway NJ Online cosmetology programs are convenient for Piscataway NJ students who are employed full-time and have family obligations that make it challenging to enroll in a more traditional school. There are a large number of web-based beauty school programs available that can be accessed through a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional cosmetology schools are often fast paced because many courses are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a large portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you are not devoting many hours away from your home or driving to and from classes. However, it’s vital that the school you choose can provide internship training in area salons and parlors to ensure that you also obtain the hands-on training needed for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s difficult to gain the skills required to work in any area of the cosmetology field. So don’t forget if you choose to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.

What to Ask Cosmetologist Trade Schools

Questions to ask Piscataway NJ beauty schools Below is a list of questions that you should research for any beauty training program you are contemplating. As we have already covered, the location of the school in relation to your Piscataway NJ home, in addition to the expense of tuition, will most likely 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 narrowed your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have put together some of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final decision.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s important to make sure that the cosmetology school you enroll in is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified local or national organization, 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 may also be important for securing student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable in 08854 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous Piscataway NJ businesses will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Each cosmetology college that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly regarded. Check rating services for reviews together with the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Piscataway NJ salon owners or managers, or any person working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not thought of. Finally, contact the New Jersey school licensing authority to see 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, for instance hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs often expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you choose a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your ambition is to be trained as an esthetician, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your vision is to start a hair salon in Piscataway NJ, 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 poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you need.

Is Any Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and refining cosmetology skills and techniques requires lots of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is included in the cosmetology classes you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that make it possible for students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a beauty program provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather relies mainly on the use of mannequins, it might not be the best option for cultivating your skills. So look for alternate schools that provide this kind of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from a cosmetology academy, it’s crucial that he or she gets assistance in securing that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer help develope relationships with Piscataway NJ employers that are seeking qualified graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and inquire which salons and establishments they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only affirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered? Many beauty schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Consult with a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you may get approved 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 meets all of your other qualifications except for expense, do not discard it as an option before you learn what financial help may be available.

Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Piscataway NJ?

If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Piscataway NJ area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.

Piscataway, New Jersey

Piscataway (/pɪˈskætəweɪ/) is a township in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 56,044,[8][9][10] reflecting an increase of 5,562 (+11.0%) from the 50,482 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 3,393 (+7.2%) from the 47,089 counted in 1990.[18]

The name Piscataway may be derived from the area's original Native American residents, transplants from near the Piscataqua River defining the coastal border between New Hampshire and Maine, whose name derives from peske (branch) and tegwe (tidal river),[19] or alternatively from pisgeu (meaning "dark night") and awa ("place of")[20] or from a Lenape language word meaning "great deer"[21] or from words meaning "place of dark night".[22] The area was first settled in 1666 by Quakers and Baptists who had left the Puritan colony in New Hampshire.[21]

Piscataway Township was formed on December 18, 1666, and officially incorporated by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798, as part of the state's initial group of 104 townships.[23] The community, the fifth-oldest municipality in New Jersey,[24] has grown from Native American territory, through a colonial period and is one of the links in the earliest settlement of the Atlantic Ocean seacoast that ultimately led to the formation of the United States. Over the years, portions of Piscataway were taken to form Raritan Township (March 17, 1870, now Edison), Dunellen (October 28, 1887), Middlesex (April 9, 1913) and South Plainfield (March 10, 1926).[23]

Pick the Right Cosmetologist Program near Piscataway NJ

Piscataway NJ barber blow drying client's hair Selecting and enrolling in the ideal beauty college is essential to obtain the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel positive about your decision. Make certain to collect all of the information you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that data to compare schools. A sensible start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the academy and program you decide on are accredited and have impressive reputations within the profession. 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. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are ready to start your career as a professional cosmetologist in Piscataway NJ.