How to Select a Cosmetologist School near Edmond Oklahoma
Now that you have decided to become a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Edmond OK, the process starts to search for and enroll in the ideal school. It’s essential that the program you choose not only furnishes the necessary instruction for the specialty you have decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you may be a little bit confused about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. We’ll discuss a little bit further about 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 Edmond residence. Tuition will likewise be a critical factor when reviewing prospective schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it’s not necessarily the right option. There are a number of other considerations that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are thinking about later within this article. Before we do, let’s talk a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of training programs are offered.
Defining Cosmetology
Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human body look more beautiful with the use of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are referred to as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic can be anything that improves the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states mandate that you take some kind of specialized training and then become licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only Edmond OK beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gotten experience and a client base, open 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 go by many names 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 formerly stated, in most states working cosmetologists must be licensed. In a few states there is an exception. Only those offering 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 become licensed in those states.
Cosmetologist Degrees
There are essentially two pathways offered to get 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 typically require 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 main areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you want to focus on just one area, for example hair coloring. A degree program will also probably include management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to run a parlor or other Edmond 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. Whichever type of course you decide on, it’s imperative to make certain that it’s recognized by the Oklahoma Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only approve schools that are accredited by certain respected agencies, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the advantages of accreditation for the school you choose in the following section.
Online Beauty Training
Online beauty programs are advantageous for Edmond OK students who are working full-time and have family commitments that make it difficult to enroll in a more traditional school. There are numerous online beauty school programs offered that can be attended by means of a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional cosmetology programs are often fast paced since many programs are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a considerable portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are covering the same amount of material, but you’re not devoting numerous hours away from your home or travelling back and forth from classes. However, it’s essential that the training program you pick can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors in order that you also receive the hands-on training needed for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s impossible to obtain the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology field. So don’t forget if you decide to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is provided in your area.
Questions to Ask Cosmetology Training Classes
Following is a series of questions that you should look into for any cosmetologist training school you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Edmond OK residence, together with the expense of tuition, will probably be your primary qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have put together several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final selection.
Is the School Accredited? It’s necessary to make certain that the cosmetology college you select 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 meet their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which often are not offered in 73003 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous Edmond OK businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Each 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 testimonials from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating companies for reviews together with the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Edmond OK salon owners or managers, or any person working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to propose others that you had not considered. Finally, contact the Oklahoma school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Some beauty schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you enroll in 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 desire is to open a hair salon in Edmond OK, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly ranked school with a weak program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you need.
Is Any Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and mastering cosmetology skills and techniques demands lots of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is provided in the cosmetology lessons you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that enable students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a beauty program provides little or no scheduled live training, but rather depends heavily on using mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for developing your skills. So look for alternate schools that offer this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from a beauty academy, it’s important that he or she gets aid in securing that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer assistance develope relationships with Edmond OK employers that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and inquire which salons and businesses they refer students to. Additionally, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Offered? Almost all 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 identify what student loans or grants you may qualify 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 all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not discard it as an alternative before you determine what financial help may be provided.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Edmond OK?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Edmond OK area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Edmond, Oklahoma
Edmond is a city in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, United States, and a part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area in the central part of the state. As of the 2010 census, the population was 81,405, making it the sixth largest city in the state of Oklahoma.[2]
The city limits are located on the northern border of Oklahoma City. Two major highways connect Edmond to downtown Oklahoma City: U.S. Route 77 (the Broadway Extension), which runs through the center of Edmond, and Interstate 35, which runs along the eastern side. Public transportation is provided by Citylink Edmond bus service.
In 2011, Edmond was #1 on CNBC's "10 Perfect Suburbs" list.[6] Edmond was listed as one of the "Top 100 Places to Live in 2007" by Relocate America.[7] Edmond was selected the most outstanding community in its class for five years in a row by the State Chamber of Commerce and State Industrial Development Department. It is one of the ten most affluent cities in the state of Oklahoma.
Choose the Right Beauty Vocational School near Edmond OK
Picking and enrolling in the ideal cosmetology school is important to obtain the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel certain about your decision. Make sure to collect all of the responses you get from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to compare schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the academy and program you choose are accredited and have impressive reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and answer the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to begin your career as a professional cosmetologist in Edmond OK.
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