How to Pick a Beauty School near Woodridge New York
Once you have made a decision to become a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Woodridge NY, the process begins to find and enroll in the ideal school. It’s important that the school you select not only furnishes the appropriate training for the specialty you have decided on, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your initial search, you may be a little bit puzzled about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both relate to the same type of school. We’ll discuss a little bit more about that in the following segment. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Woodridge home. Tuition will also be an important aspect when assessing potential schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it’s not always the right option. There are a number of other considerations that you should weigh when analyzing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are looking at later in this article. Before we do, let’s talk a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of courses are available.
What is Cosmetology
Cosmetology is a profession that is all about making the human anatomy look more attractive 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 actually a cosmetic may be almost anything that improves the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, most states require that you undergo some form of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work environments include not only Woodridge NY beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gotten experience and a client base, launch their own shops or salons. Others will start seeing customers either in their own homes or will go to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by many professional names and work in a wide variety of specializations including:
- Hairdressers
- Hairstylists
- Beauticians
- Barbers
- Manicurists
- Nail Technicians
- Makeup Artists
- Hair Coloring Specialists
- Estheticians
- Electrolysis Technicians
As earlier mentioned, in most states working cosmetologists have to be licensed. In some states there is an exemption. Only those offering more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others employed in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.
Cosmetologist Degrees and Certificates
There are basically two avenues available to obtain 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 major areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are offered if you want to focus on just one area, such as hair coloring. A degree program will also most likely include management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to run a salon or other Woodridge NY business. More advanced degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whichever type of course you opt for, it’s imperative to make sure that it’s recognized by the New York Board of Cosmetology. Many states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded agencies, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the benefits of accreditation for the school you select in the next segment.
Online Cosmetologist Schools
Online cosmetology programs are convenient for Woodridge NY students who are working full time and have family commitments that make it challenging to enroll in a more traditional school. There are numerous online beauty school programs available that can be attended through a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional cosmetology schools are often fast paced because many programs are as short 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 amount of material, but you are not spending many hours away from your home or travelling back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it’s imperative that the program you choose can provide internship training in area salons and parlors in order that you also get the hands-on training needed for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s impossible to acquire the skills needed to work in any facet of the cosmetology profession. So don’t forget if you choose to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is provided in your area.
What to Ask Beauty Schools
Below is a list of questions that you will want to research for any cosmetology training school you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Woodridge NY residence, in addition to the expense of tuition, will undoubtedly be your initial 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 initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have compiled some of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final decision.
Is the School Accredited? It’s important to make sure that the cosmetology college 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 measure up to their high standards guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for getting student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not available in 12789 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of Woodridge NY businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Any cosmetology institute that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly sought after. Check rating companies for reviews in addition to the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Woodridge NY salon owners or managers, or any person working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. And last, check with the New York school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? A number of cosmetology schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating 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 typically broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you select a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your goal is to be trained as an esthetician, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your desire is to start a hair salon in Woodridge NY, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly rated school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you require.
Is Any Live Training Provided? Learning and refining cosmetology techniques and abilities involves lots of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is included in the cosmetology lessons you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that allow students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a beauty academy offers little or no scheduled live training, but instead depends mainly on using mannequins, it may not be the best option for developing your skills. So look for alternate schools that provide this kind of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? As soon as a student graduates from a cosmetology school, it’s important that he or she gets support in finding that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer assistance develope relationships with Woodridge NY employers that are seeking skilled graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and ask which salons and organizations they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only affirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Assistance Available? Almost all beauty schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you might get approved 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 expense, do not eliminate it as an alternative until you learn what financial help may be available.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Woodridge NY?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Woodridge NY area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Woodridge, New York
The village was formerly called "Centreville." A history of the village, Centreville to Woodridge by Erna W. Elliott, was published by Exposition Press in 1976. Centreville was a station stop along the old New York, Ontario and Western Railway
Woodridge is located in the Catskills Borscht Belt resort area. In its heyday it was home to numerous summer hotels, bungalow colonies, and boarding houses. Fallsburgh Central School's High School was in Woodridge. The last graduating class was in 1958. The new High School was built in Fallsburg.
4 Bars, 3 Hardware Stores, 2 Dental Offices, 1 Amusement Business, 6 Gasoline Stations, 3 Produce Markets, 2 Bus Lines, 5 Automobile Repair Shops, 5 Groceries, 1 Fish Market, 2 Taxi Services, 2 Dry Cleaners, 4 Luncheonettes, 2 Drug Stores, 1 Bank, 1 Movie Theatre, 3 Clothing Stores, 1 Liquor Store, 1 Shoe Store, 1 Steam Laundry, 2 Barber Shops, 3 Automobile Dealerships, 1 Mattress Manufacturer, 3 Butcher Shops, 2 Medical Doctor's Offices, 3 Lumber Yards,
Choose the Right Cosmetologist Program near Woodridge NY
Locating and enrolling in the ideal beauty college is important to receive the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel certain about your decision. Don’t forget to organize all of the responses you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that information to compare schools. A good beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the institution and program you choose are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the profession. If you begin with that foundation, and answer the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are qualified to begin your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Woodridge NY.
Other Beautiful Locations in New York
Business Results 1 - 10 of 0
