How to Choose a Cosmetology College near Cleveland Oklahoma
Since you have decided to train as a cosmetologist and attend a beauty school near Cleveland OK, the task starts to find and enroll in the right school. It’s essential that the program you select not only furnishes the proper instruction for the specialty you have selected, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your preliminary search, you may be a little bit puzzled about the difference 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 speak a little bit more about that in the next segment. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Cleveland residence. Tuition will likewise be an important factor when evaluating possible schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it’s not automatically the best choice. There are various other factors that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask concerning the cosmetology schools you are looking at later in this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of programs are offered.
Defining Cosmetology
Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human body look more attractive with the application of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are referred to as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic may be anything that enhances the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, most states mandate that you take some type of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only Cleveland OK 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, launch their own shops or salons. Others will begin servicing clients either in their own homes or will go to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many titles and are employed in a wide range of specialties including:
- Hairdressers
- Hairstylists
- Beauticians
- Barbers
- Manicurists
- Nail Technicians
- Makeup Artists
- Hair Coloring Specialists
- Estheticians
- Electrolysis Technicians
As already stated, in most states working cosmetologists must be licensed. In some states there is an exemption. Only those offering more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people working in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.
Cosmetology Degrees and Certificates
There are essentially two pathways offered to obtain cosmetology training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs typically take 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 instructed in each of the major areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are available if you want to specialize in just one area, for instance hair coloring. A degree program will also probably feature management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to operate a parlor or other Cleveland OK business. More advanced degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such areas as salon or spa management. Whatever type of program you go with, it’s imperative to make sure that it’s certified by the Oklahoma Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only approve schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded agencies, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the benefits of accreditation for the school you choose in the following section.
Online Cosmetology Schools
Online cosmetology schools are convenient for Cleveland OK students who are working full-time and have family responsibilities that make it challenging to enroll in a more traditional school. There are many online cosmetology school programs offered that can be accessed via a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional cosmetology programs are often fast paced given that many courses are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a substantial amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are covering the same amount of material, but you are not devoting numerous hours outside of your home or driving to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s essential that the training program you pick can provide internship training in area salons and parlors to ensure that you also obtain the hands-on training required for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s difficult to acquire the skills necessary to work in any facet of the cosmetology field. So make sure if you decide to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is available in your area.
Questions to Ask Cosmetologist Degree Programs
Following is a series of questions that you will want to investigate for any beauty training school you are considering. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Cleveland OK home, together with the cost of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you want to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly 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. Below we have compiled some of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final decision.
Is the School Accredited? It’s essential to make sure that the cosmetology training program 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 comply with their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for securing student loans or financial aid, which often are not obtainable in 74020 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous Cleveland OK businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Each beauty college that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good starting point. 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, showing that their students are highly demanded. Check rating services for reviews along with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Cleveland OK salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the field, 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. And finally, consult the Oklahoma school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Some beauty schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s imperative that you decide on 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 vision is to start a hair salon in Cleveland OK, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly ranked school with a weak program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you need.
Is Any Live Training Provided? Learning and mastering cosmetology techniques and abilities demands lots of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is included in the beauty classes you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that make it possible for students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a beauty academy provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather depends mainly on using mannequins, it may not be the most effective option for cultivating your skills. Therefore search for alternate schools that provide this kind of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from a beauty academy, it’s important that she or he receives aid in finding that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer help maintain relationships with Cleveland OK businesses that are seeking trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and find out which salons and establishments they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Aid Available? Many cosmetology schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you may get approved for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students as well. If a school meets each of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not drop it as an option before you learn what financial help may be provided.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Cleveland OK?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Cleveland OK area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Cleveland, Oklahoma
After the Cherokee Outlet opening, a homesteader by the name of Willis H. Herbert established a town named Herbert by opening a post office on the current townsite of Cleveland on October 28, 1893. The Post Office department subsequently withdrew the approval of the Herbert post office. The post office was then moved 100 feet, and reestablished under the name Cleveland, named in honor of then President Grover Cleveland on April 19, 1894. By 1900, the town's population was 211. Before the discovery of oil in the area, the town served as a trade center between the local farmers and the Osage Tribe who lived on the reservation on the other side of the Arkansas river.[4]
In 1904, a railroad line owned by the Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad (later known as Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway or Katy) from Oklahoma City reached Cleveland and crossed the Arkansas River into Osage County. On May 27, 1904, the first oil well was spudded near the community, and it caused an influx of oil workers and other people. At the time of statehood in 1907, Cleveland had 1,441 residents.[4]
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 3,282 people, 1,322 households, and 913 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,264.1 people per square mile (487.4/km²). There were 1,483 housing units at an average density of 571.2 per square mile (220.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 85.19% White, 0.21% African American, 8.96% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.34% from other races, and 4.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.04% of the population.
Select the Right Beauty Vocational School near Cleveland OK
Locating and enrolling in the right cosmetology program is imperative to receive the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel certain about your decision. Make sure to compile all of the responses you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that information to compare schools. A good beginning 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 address the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the ideal choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are prepared to launch your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Cleveland OK.
Other Beautiful Locations in Oklahoma
Business Results 1 - 10 of 0
