How to Pick a Cosmetologist College near New Bloomfield Pennsylvania
Since you have made a decision to train as a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near New Bloomfield PA, the task begins to locate and enroll in the best school. It’s important that the school you choose not only furnishes the appropriate education for the specialty you have decided on, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your initial search, you may be somewhat confused about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both refer to the same type of school. We’ll talk a bit more concerning that in the following section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your New Bloomfield residence. Tuition will additionally be an important consideration 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 choice. There are many other considerations that you should evaluate when comparing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are thinking about later in this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of programs are available.
Definition of Cosmetology
Cosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human body look more beautiful through the use 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 word cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic can be anything that enhances 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 go through some type of specialized training and then become licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only New Bloomfield PA 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, open their own shops or salons. Others will begin seeing clients either in their own homes or will travel to the client’s house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many names and are employed in a wide variety of specializations including:
- Hairdressers
- Hairstylists
- Beauticians
- Barbers
- Manicurists
- Nail Technicians
- Makeup Artists
- Hair Coloring Specialists
- Estheticians
- Electrolysis Technicians
As already mentioned, in the majority of states working cosmetologists must be licensed. In some states there is an exemption. Only those performing more skilled services, for example hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others working in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.
Cosmetology Degrees and Certificates
There are essentially two options available to receive 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 usually 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 main areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you want to concentrate on just one area, such as hair coloring. A degree program will also most likely incorporate management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to run a parlor or other New Bloomfield PA business. More advanced degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whichever type of course you go with, it’s imperative to make sure that it’s approved by the Pennsylvania Board of Cosmetology. Many states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded organizations, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the benefits of accreditation for the school you decide on in the upcoming section.
Online Beauty Courses
Online beauty classes are accommodating for New Bloomfield PA students who are working full-time and have family responsibilities 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 accessed via a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional beauty programs are often fast paced due to the fact that many programs are as short as six or eight months. This means that a significant amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are covering the same amount of material, but you are not spending many hours away from your home or travelling to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s vital that the program you select can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors to ensure that you also get the hands-on training needed for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s impossible to obtain the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology field. So make sure if you decide to enroll in an online school to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.
What to Ask Cosmetology Programs
Following is a list of questions that you will want to investigate for any cosmetology training school you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school in relation to your New Bloomfield PA home, in addition to the cost of tuition, will probably be your primary qualifiers. Whether you would like 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 take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have collected several of those supplemental questions that you should ask every school before making a final determination.
Is the Program Accredited? It’s necessary to make certain that the cosmetology training program you enroll in is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for securing student loans or financial aid, which often are not available in 17068 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of New Bloomfield PA employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Every beauty college that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly regarded. Check rating companies for reviews along with the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with New Bloomfield PA 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 might even be able to propose others that you had not considered. And finally, consult the Pennsylvania school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Many cosmetology schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for instance hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s imperative that you choose a school that specializes in 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 aspiration is to launch a hair salon in New Bloomfield PA, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly rated school with a weak program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you require.
Is Any Live Training Provided? Learning and refining cosmetology skills and techniques involves plenty of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is included in the beauty lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that make it possible for students to practice their developing talents on volunteers. If a beauty school furnishes limited or no scheduled live training, but instead relies mainly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for cultivating your skills. Therefore try to find alternate schools that provide this kind of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from a beauty school, it’s imperative that he or she gets support in securing that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish aid maintain relationships with New Bloomfield PA businesses that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools 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. Higher rates not only affirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Available? The majority of cosmetology schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you may qualify for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students too. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not discard it as an alternative until you find out what financial aid may be available.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near New Bloomfield PA?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater New Bloomfield PA area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
New Bloomfield, Pennsylvania
The official name of the borough is Bloomfield. However the United States Postal Service, presumably to avoid confusion with the neighborhood of Pittsburgh which is also named Bloomfield, refers to the area as "New Bloomfield."
As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 1,077 people, 396 households, and 255 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,983.1 people per square mile (770.1/km²). There were 425 housing units at an average density of 782.6 per square mile (303.9/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.89% White, 0.56% African American, 0.28% Native American, and 0.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.56% of the population.
There were 396 households out of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.84. In addition, there is a military boarding school, Carson Long Military Academy, with about 90 cadets.
Choose the Right Cosmetology School near New Bloomfield PA
Selecting and enrolling in the right cosmetologist school is essential to obtain the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel certain about your decision. Make certain to collect all of the responses you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to contrast schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the academy and program you choose are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you begin with that foundation, and address the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the right selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to launch your new career as a professional cosmetologist in New Bloomfield PA.
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