How to Choose a Cosmetology School near Argyle New York
Since you have made a decision to become a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Argyle NY, the task begins to find and enroll in the best school. It’s essential that the school you choose not only furnishes the necessary training for the specialty you have selected, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your preliminary search, you may be rather puzzled about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are basically interchangeable and both refer to the same kind of school. We’ll discuss a bit further concerning that in the following section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Argyle home. Tuition will likewise be an important factor when assessing potential schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it’s not automatically the right option. There are various other qualifications that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are looking at later in this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of programs are offered.
What is Cosmetology
Cosmetology is a profession that is all about making the human anatomy look more beautiful with the application of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic can be anything that improves the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, most states mandate that you go through some kind of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work environments include not only Argyle NY beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gained experience and a clientele, establish their own shops or salons. Others will begin seeing customers either in their own residences or will go to the client’s house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have 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 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. Other people working in cosmetology and less skilled, such as shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.
Cosmetology Degrees
There are basically two options available to receive cosmetology training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs normally take 12 to 18 months to finish, while an Associate’s degree ordinarily takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be instructed in each of the main 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 probably feature management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to run a parlor or other Argyle NY business. Higher degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whatever type of program you go with, it’s essential to make sure that it’s recognized by the New York Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only approve schools that are accredited by certain respected organizations, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the benefits of accreditation for the school you select in the following section.
Online Beauty Schools
Online cosmetology classes are accommodating for Argyle NY students who are working full time and have family responsibilities that make it hard to enroll in a more traditional school. There are a large number of online beauty school programs offered that can be accessed via a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional cosmetology schools are often fast paced since many programs are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a large portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are covering the same volume of material, but you are not devoting numerous hours away from your home or driving to and from classes. However, it’s imperative that the program you select can provide internship training in area salons and parlors in order that you also obtain the hands-on training needed for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s difficult to obtain the skills required to work in any facet of the cosmetology profession. So be sure if you choose to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is provided in your area.
Questions to Ask Cosmetology Schools
Following is a series of questions that you will want to investigate for any beauty training program you are contemplating. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Argyle NY residence, in addition to the expense of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have put together 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 sure that the cosmetology training program you select 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 meet their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not offered in 12809 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of Argyle NY businesses will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Every cosmetology school that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly sought after. Check rating companies for reviews along with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Argyle NY salon owners or managers, or someone working in the field, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to propose others that you had not looked into. Finally, contact the New York 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 comprehensive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you pick a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your goal 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 Argyle NY, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly ranked school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you require.
Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and perfecting cosmetology techniques and abilities requires lots of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is provided in the cosmetology lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that make it possible for students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a beauty academy furnishes minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead relies mainly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the most effective option for acquiring your skills. So search for alternate schools that provide this kind of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? As soon as a student graduates from a cosmetology academy, it’s important that she or he receives help in finding that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer aid develope relationships with Argyle NY employers that are seeking trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and ask which salons and businesses they refer students to. Also, 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 respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Available? Most cosmetology schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid department. Talk to a counselor and identify 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 also. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not eliminate it as an alternative until you determine what financial aid may be provided.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Argyle NY?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Argyle NY area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
New York State Route 197
New York State Route 197 (NY 197) is an east–west state highway in eastern New York in the United States. It runs from U.S. Route 9 (US 9) in the Saratoga County town of Moreau east to NY 40 in Argyle. NY 197 has a short overlap with US 4 through the village of Fort Edward.
NY 197 begins at an intersection with US 9 (Saratoga Road) in the town of Moreau northeast of interchange 17 on the Adirondack Northway (I-87). NY 197 heads eastward as Reynolds Road as a primarily residential two-lane boulevard through Moreau. Entering the hamlet of Reynolds Corners, NY 197 intersects with NY 32 (Gansevoort Road), where the route becomes a slight more rural east of the intersection. The route passes to the south of the Tee-Bird Country Club in Moreau, bending to the northeast through Moreau, paralleling Amtrak's Ethan Allen Express route, intersecting with CR 28 (Fort Edward Road) and CR 29 (West River Road). After the junction with CR 28, NY 197 crosses the Hudson River and enters Washington County. Entering the village of Fort Edward, NY 197 crosses Rogers Island Park and becomes known as Bridge Street.[3]
Through Fort Edward, NY 197 intersects with US 4 (Broadway), in which form a concurrency to the east. Crossing under the Amtrak line, the two roads head southbound out of the downtown parts of the village before NY 197 forks to the northeast along the Champlain Canal as Argyle Street. NY 197 crosses eastward over the canal and into the town of Fort Edward. After the crossing, NY 197 becomes a rural two-lane roadway, passing eastward through farms. At the junction with CR 42 before darting to the southeast into the town of Argyle. NY 197 begins a winding pattern to the southeast, before turning gradually at a junction with CR 44 into the village of Argyle. In the village, the southern terminus of CR 43 intersects before NY 197 turns southbound into the downtown portion. Passing several residences, NY 197 gains the moniker of Main Street before terminating at an intersection with NY 40 (Sheridan Street). Main Street continues southbound as NY 40 through the village.[3]
Select the Right Cosmetology College near Argyle NY
Picking and enrolling in the ideal beauty program is essential to obtain the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel confident about your decision. Don’t forget to compile all of the responses you get from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that data to compare schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the academy and program you choose are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you begin with that foundation, and answer the additional questions supplied in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are prepared to launch your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Argyle NY.
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