How to Choose a Beauty College near Lakewood Pennsylvania
Once you have decided to become a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Lakewood PA, the task starts to find and enroll in the best school. It’s essential that the school you select not only furnishes the proper instruction for the specialty you have selected, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your initial search, you might be somewhat unclear about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. We’ll talk a little bit more regarding that in the following section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Lakewood residence. Tuition will likewise be a critical consideration when evaluating possible schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it’s not automatically the best choice. There are many other qualifications that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask about the cosmetology schools you are considering later within this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of programs are available.
What is Cosmetology
Cosmetology is a profession that is all about making the human anatomy look more beautiful with the application of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic may be anything that improves the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, the majority of states mandate that you take some kind of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only Lakewood PA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have gotten experience and a client base, open their own shops or salons. Others will begin seeing clients either in their own residences or will go to the client’s house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many names and are employed in a wide variety of specialties including:
- Hairdressers
- Hairstylists
- Beauticians
- Barbers
- Manicurists
- Nail Technicians
- Makeup Artists
- Hair Coloring Specialists
- Estheticians
- Electrolysis Technicians
As previously stated, in the majority of states practicing cosmetologists must be licensed. In a few states there is an exemption. Only those performing more skilled services, for example 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 Certificates and Degrees
There are basically two avenues available to obtain cosmetology training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs normally take 12 to 18 months to finish, while an Associate’s degree usually 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 want to focus on just one area, for example hair coloring. A degree program will also probably incorporate management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to run a parlor or other Lakewood PA business. Higher degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such areas as salon or spa management. Whichever type of course you opt for, it’s important to make sure that it’s certified by the Pennsylvania Board of Cosmetology. Many states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain respected agencies, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the benefits of accreditation for the school you decide on in the following section.
Online Cosmetologist Schools
Online beauty schools are advantageous for Lakewood PA students who are employed full-time and have family commitments that make it hard to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of web-based beauty school programs available that can be attended via a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional cosmetology schools are often fast paced since many programs are as short as six or eight months. This means that a large portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are covering the same volume of material, but you are not spending many hours outside of your home or commuting to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s essential that the program you pick can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors in order that you also get the hands-on training necessary for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s impossible to gain the skills required to work in any area of the cosmetology industry. So make sure if you decide to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is available in your area.
What to Ask Beauty Schools
Following is a list of questions that you will want to research for any cosmetologist training school you are contemplating. As we have already covered, the location of the school in relation to your Lakewood PA home, together with the price of tuition, will undoubtedly be your primary qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you should research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Following we have put together several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final determination.
Is the School Accredited? It’s necessary to make sure that the cosmetology training program you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged 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 assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which typically are not available in 18439 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous Lakewood PA employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Any beauty institute that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating services for reviews as well as the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Lakewood PA salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not considered. And finally, check with the Pennsylvania school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Many cosmetology schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering 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 important that you pick a school that specializes in 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 respected for that program. If your vision is to start a hair salon in Lakewood PA, 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 seeking will not provide the training you require.
Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Practicing and mastering cosmetology skills and techniques involves plenty of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the beauty classes you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that make it possible for students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a beauty school provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead relies predominantly on using mannequins, it might not be the best option for cultivating your skills. Therefore look for alternate schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from a beauty school, it’s important that he or she gets aid in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer assistance maintain relationships with Lakewood PA employers that are searching for qualified graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and find out which salons and establishments they refer students to. Additionally, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Aid Available? Many beauty schools offer 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 find out what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students too. If a school meets each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not eliminate it as an alternative before you find out what financial help may be offered.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Lakewood PA?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Lakewood PA area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Lakewood Township, New Jersey
As of 2016 the town had a population of approximately 100,758 residents.[19] As of the 2010 United States Census, the township had a total population of 92,843,[9][10][11] representing an increase of 32,491 (+53.8%) from the 60,352 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 15,304 (+34.0%) from the 45,048 counted in the 1990 Census.[20] The township ranked as the seventh-most-populous municipality in the state in 2010 after having been ranked 22nd in 2000.[21] The sharp increase in population from 2000 to 2010 was led by increases in the township's Orthodox Jewish and Latino communities.[22][23]
Lakewood is a hub of Orthodox Judaism, and is home to one of the largest yeshivas in the world, the 6,500-student Beth Medrash Govoha, which was founded by Rabbi Aharon Kotler.[24] The large Orthodox population, which comprises more than half the township's population, wields considerable political clout in the township as a voting bloc.[25][26][27]
The earliest documented European settlement of the present Lakewood area was by operators of sawmills, from about 1750 forward. One such sawmill – located at the east end of the present Lake Carasaljo – was known as Three Partners Mill from at least 1789 until at least 1814. From 1815 until 1818, in the same area, Jesse Richards had an iron-smelting operation known as Washington Furnace, using the local bog iron ore. The ironworks were revived in 1833 by Joseph W. Brick, who named the business Bergen Iron Works, which also became the name of the accompanying town. In 1865, the town was renamed Bricksburg in 1865, and in 1880, it was renamed Lakewood and became a fashionable winter resort.
Select the Right Cosmetology Program near Lakewood PA
Locating and enrolling in the ideal cosmetology school is essential to obtain the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel positive about your decision. Make sure to compile all of the information you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to compare schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the institution and program you pick are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you begin with that foundation, and answer the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the ideal choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to begin your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Lakewood PA.
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