How to Select a Beauty School near Livonia Center New York
Now that you have made a decision to become a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Livonia Center NY, the task starts to locate and enroll in the ideal school. It’s imperative that the program you choose not only provides the appropriate education for the specialty you have selected, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your preliminary search, you may be somewhat puzzled about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both refer to the same kind of school. We’ll talk a little bit more regarding that in the following section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Livonia Center home. Tuition will additionally be a critical consideration when evaluating prospective schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it’s not automatically the best option. There are several other considerations that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are considering later in this article. Before we do, let’s talk a bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of courses are offered.
What is Cosmetology
Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human body look more beautiful with the application of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but really a cosmetic can be anything that enhances the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, most states mandate that you take some form of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Livonia Center NY beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gotten experience and a clientele, launch their own shops or salons. Others will start seeing customers either in their own residences or will travel to the client’s residence, 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 previously mentioned, in most states practicing cosmetologists have to be licensed. In certain states there is an exemption. Only those conducting more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others working in cosmetology and less skilled, such as shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.
Cosmetologist Degrees
There are essentially two avenues offered to get 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 typically call for 12 to 18 months to complete, while an Associate’s degree commonly 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 offered if you prefer to specialize in just one area, such as hair coloring. A degree program will also most likely incorporate management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to operate a salon or other Livonia Center NY business. Higher degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whichever type of course you decide on, it’s imperative to make sure that it’s certified by the New York Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only certify schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded agencies, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the benefits of accreditation for the school you choose in the next segment.
Online Cosmetology Schools
Online cosmetology programs are convenient for Livonia Center NY students who are working full time and have family responsibilities that make it hard to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of online beauty school programs offered that can be attended through a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional cosmetology schools are frequently fast paced since many courses are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a considerable portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you are not spending many hours outside of your home or travelling back and forth from classes. However, it’s important that the program you select can provide internship training in area salons and parlors to ensure that you also receive the hands-on training required for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s impossible to acquire the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology field. 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 Trade Schools
Below is a series of questions that you will want to investigate for any beauty training program you are considering. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Livonia Center NY home, as well as the cost of tuition, will probably be your primary qualifiers. Whether you wish 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 preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you should research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have compiled several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each school before making a final selection.
Is the School Accredited? It’s important 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 agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for securing student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not offered in 14488 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many Livonia Center NY businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Every beauty school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly regarded. Check rating services for reviews along with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Livonia Center NY salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the field, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. 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 grievances filed or if the schools are in full 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 particular specialty, for instance hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs commonly expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you select 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 respected for that program. If your dream is to launch a hair salon in Livonia Center NY, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly rated school with a weak program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you need.
Is Any Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and perfecting cosmetology skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is furnished 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 provides little or no scheduled live training, but rather depends mainly on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for acquiring your skills. So search for other schools that offer this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from a cosmetology school, it’s important that she or he receives aid in finding that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish aid maintain relationships with Livonia Center NY employers that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which salons and businesses they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Aid Offered? Most beauty schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are considering have a financial aid department. Talk to a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you might get approved for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students also. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not eliminate it as an option until you learn what financial help may be available.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Livonia Center NY?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Livonia Center NY area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Livonia, New York
The region was home to Native Americans belonging to the Seneca people of the Iroquois confederacy. The Senecas actually inhabited the area well into the 19th century and were removed only during a violent overtaking compelled by pioneer Samuel Brownstone, an infamous enemy of the Iroquois. The name for the lake was "Ga-ne-a-sos," which became the modern "Conesus," meaning "Berry Place."
The area, in which the town now nestles between Conesus and Hemlock Lakes, was first settled by Solomon Woodruff in 1789. The area is known for its vast amounts of berries. The town of Livonia was established in 1808 from the Town of Richmond (then the "Town of Pittstown" in Ontario County). In 1819, part of Livonia was taken to form the new Town of Conesus.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 41.0 square miles (106.2 km²), of which, 38.3 square miles (99.2 km²) of it is land and 2.7 square miles (7.0 km²) of it (6.61%) is water.
Find the Right Cosmetology Program near Livonia Center NY
Selecting and enrolling in the right beauty college is imperative to receive the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel confident about your decision. Make sure to organize all of the information you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to contrast schools. A good beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the college and program you choose are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and address the additional questions supplied in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to begin your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Livonia Center NY.
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