How to Choose a Cosmetology College near Lakewood New York
Now that you have made a decision to train as a cosmetologist and attend a beauty school near Lakewood NY, the task starts to locate and enroll in the ideal school. It’s essential that the school you pick not only furnishes the necessary education for the specialty you have chosen, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your initial search, you may be somewhat puzzled about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are pretty much interchangeable and both relate to the same type of school. We’ll discuss a little bit more concerning that in the next section. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Lakewood home. Tuition will also be an important aspect when reviewing possible schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it’s not necessarily the ideal option. There are various other qualifications that you should weigh when comparing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask regarding 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 training programs are available.
What is Cosmetology
Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human anatomy look more beautiful with the application of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but really a cosmetic can be anything that improves the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, most states mandate that you undergo some kind of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work environments include not only Lakewood NY beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gained experience and a client base, open their own shops or salons. Others will begin seeing customers either in their own residences or will travel to the client’s house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many titles 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 have to be licensed. In a few states there is an exemption. Only those conducting more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people employed in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.
Cosmetologist Certificates and Degrees
There are primarily two avenues available to receive 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 require 12 to 18 months to finish, 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 major areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you want to specialize in just one area, for instance hair coloring. A degree program will also probably include management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to run a salon or other Lakewood NY business. Higher degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whatever type of training program you go with, it’s imperative to make certain that it’s approved by the New York Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only certify schools that are accredited by certain respected organizations, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the advantages of accreditation for the school you choose in the next section.
Online Cosmetologist Classes
Online cosmetology classes are accommodating for Lakewood NY students who are working full-time and have family obligations that make it hard to attend a more traditional school. There are many online beauty school programs offered that can be attended by means of a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional beauty programs are frequently fast paced due to the fact that many programs are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a substantial amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are covering the same amount of material, but you’re not spending numerous hours outside of your home or commuting back and forth from classes. However, it’s imperative that the school you select 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 part 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 choose to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is provided in your area.
What to Ask Beauty Programs
Following is a list of questions that you will want to research for any cosmetologist training program you are considering. As we have previously covered, the location of the school in relation to your Lakewood NY home, together with the price of tuition, will undoubtedly be your initial qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn 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 take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have put together several of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final decision.
Is the School Accredited? It’s essential to make sure that the cosmetology college you enroll in 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 measure up to their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for securing student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not offered in 14750 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous Lakewood NY employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Any cosmetologist school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good beginning. 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 sought after. Visit rating companies for reviews as well as the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Lakewood NY salon owners or managers, or any person working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not considered. Finally, contact the New York 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 Specialty? Many cosmetology schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing 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 essential that you pick a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your intention is to be trained as an esthetician, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and well regarded for that program. If your aspiration is to launch a hair salon in Lakewood NY, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly rated school with a weak program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you require.
Is Enough Live Training Provided? Studying and perfecting cosmetology skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the cosmetology classes you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that enable students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a beauty school furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but rather depends mainly on using mannequins, it might not be the most effective option for cultivating your skills. Therefore search for other schools that furnish this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? As soon as a student graduates from a beauty school, it’s important that she or he receives support in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer aid develope relationships with Lakewood NY businesses that are seeking qualified graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and inquire which salons and businesses they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Aid Offered? Most beauty schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid department. Talk to a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you may get approved for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students also. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not omit it as an option until you determine what financial assistance may be available.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Lakewood NY?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Lakewood NY area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Lakewood, New York
Lakewood is located at 42°6′3″N 79°19′19″W / 42.10083°N 79.32194°W / 42.10083; -79.32194 (42.100929, -79.321919),[3] at the south end of Chautauqua Lake. New York State Route 394 passes through the village as Fairmount Avenue, leading east 5 miles (8 km) to the center of Jamestown and northwest 6 miles (10 km) to Interstate 86 where it crosses Chautauqua Lake.
As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 3,258 people, 1,474 households, and 909 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,656.8 people per square mile (638.5/km²). There were 1,731 housing units at an average density of 880.3 per square mile (339.3/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 97.51% White, 0.71% African American, 0.06% Native American, 0.68% Asian, 0.37% from other races, and 0.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.77% of the population.
There were 1,474 households out of which 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.3% were non-families. 34.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.84.
Select the Right Beauty College near Lakewood NY
Locating and enrolling in the right cosmetologist school is imperative to obtain the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel positive about your decision. Be sure to consolidate all of the responses you get from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to compare schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the school and program you select are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, 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 ideal choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are prepared to start your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Lakewood NY.
Other Beautiful Locations in New York
Business Results 1 - 10 of 0
