How to Pick a Cosmetology College near Gatesville North Carolina
Now that you have decided to become a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Gatesville NC, the process begins to find and enroll in the best school. It’s important that the program you select not only furnishes the necessary education for the specialty you have decided on, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your initial search, you may be rather confused 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 speak a bit further regarding that in the next segment. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Gatesville home. Tuition will additionally be an important factor when assessing prospective schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it’s not necessarily the ideal choice. There are a number of other considerations that you should weigh when comparing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are considering later in this article. Before we do, let’s talk a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of courses are offered.
What is Cosmetology
Cosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human anatomy look more attractive through the application of cosmetics. So naturally 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 actually a cosmetic may be almost anything that improves the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, the majority of states require that you take some type of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Gatesville NC beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gotten experience and a customer base, launch their own shops or salons. Others will start seeing customers either in their own residences or will travel to the client’s house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many titles and are employed in a wide range of specializations including:
- Hairdressers
- Hairstylists
- Beauticians
- Barbers
- Manicurists
- Nail Technicians
- Makeup Artists
- Hair Coloring Specialists
- Estheticians
- Electrolysis Technicians
As previously stated, in most states working cosmetologists must be licensed. In some states there is an exception. Only those offering 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 become licensed in those states.
Cosmetologist Degrees and Certificates
There are basically two avenues offered to receive 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 usually require 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 each of the main areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are offered if you wish to focus on just one area, for instance hair coloring. A degree program will also most likely include management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to run a parlor or other Gatesville NC business. Higher degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whatever type of program you choose, it’s important to make certain that it’s certified by the North Carolina Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only certify schools that are accredited by certain reputable organizations, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the benefits of accreditation for the school you decide on in the upcoming segment.
Online Cosmetologist Classes
Online beauty programs are convenient for Gatesville NC students who are working full time and have family commitments that make it challenging to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of web-based cosmetology school programs available that can be attended via a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional beauty schools are frequently fast paced since many programs are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a significant amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are covering the same volume of material, but you are not spending numerous hours outside of your home or travelling to and from classes. However, it’s imperative that the school you select can provide internship training in local salons and parlors in order that you also receive the hands-on training needed for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s impossible to acquire the skills required to work in any area of the cosmetology industry. So don’t forget if you decide to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is provided in your area.
What to Ask Cosmetology Training Programs
Following is a list of questions that you should investigate for any cosmetologist training program you are contemplating. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Gatesville NC home, in addition to the expense of tuition, will undoubtedly be your primary qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have compiled several of those additional questions that you need to ask every school before making a final selection.
Is the School 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 recognized 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 assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not available in 27938 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous Gatesville NC businesses will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Any beauty school that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating companies for reviews in addition to the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Gatesville NC salon owners or managers, or any person working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not considered. And last, consult the North Carolina 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 Focus? Some cosmetology schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs commonly 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 objective is to be trained as an esthetician, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and well regarded for that program. If your desire is to start a hair salon in Gatesville NC, 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 need.
Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Practicing and mastering cosmetology techniques and abilities requires lots of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is included in the cosmetology classes you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that make it possible for students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a beauty program offers limited or no scheduled live training, but instead relies heavily on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the most effective alternative for acquiring your skills. Therefore look for alternate schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from a beauty program, it’s important that he or she gets support in finding that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer help develope relationships with Gatesville NC employers that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which salons and businesses they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Assistance Offered? Almost all beauty schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are looking at 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 offered to students too. If a school meets each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not eliminate it as an option before you learn what financial aid may be available.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Gatesville NC?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Gatesville NC area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Gatesville, North Carolina
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 281 people, 117 households, and 80 families residing in the town. The population density was 675.8 people per square mile (258.3/km²). There were 142 housing units at an average density of 341.5 per square mile (130.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 87.54% White, 11.03% African American, 0.36% Native American, and 1.07% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.36% of the population.
There were 117 households out of which 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.0% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.8% were non-families. 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the town, the population was spread out with 25.3% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 20.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 82.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.
Find the Right Cosmetology School near Gatesville NC
Finding and enrolling in the right cosmetology college is important to receive the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel positive about your decision. Be sure to organize all of the information you get from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to compare schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the college and program you select are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the field. If you begin with that foundation, and answer the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to begin your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Gatesville NC.
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