How to Pick a Cosmetology College near Slippery Rock Pennsylvania

Since you have made a decision to train as a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Slippery Rock PA, the process starts to search for and enroll in the ideal school. It’s imperative that the school you pick not only furnishes the proper education for the specialty you have selected, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you may be somewhat puzzled about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both relate to the same type of school. We’ll discuss a bit further concerning that in the upcoming section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Slippery Rock residence. Tuition will likewise be a critical consideration when assessing potential schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it’s not always the right choice. There are many other qualifications that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask concerning 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.

What is Cosmetology

Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human anatomy look more attractive through the application of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic can be almost anything that enhances the look 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 type of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Slippery Rock PA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses 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 servicing customers either in their own residences or will travel to the client’s residence, 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 formerly stated, in the majority of states working cosmetologists must be licensed. In a few states there is an exception. Only those conducting more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others employed in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.

Cosmetology Degrees

There are basically two pathways offered to receive cosmetology training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs normally require 12 to 18 months to complete, 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 main areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you prefer to concentrate on just one area, such as hair coloring. A degree program will also most likely feature management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to operate a parlor or other Slippery Rock PA business. More advanced degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such areas as salon or spa management. Whatever type of course you choose, it’s essential to make certain that it’s certified by the Pennsylvania Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only approve schools that are accredited by certain reputable organizations, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the advantages of accreditation for the school you select in the next segment.

Online Cosmetologist Classes

Online cosmetology classes are accommodating for Slippery Rock PA students who are employed full-time and have family obligations that make it hard to attend a more traditional school. There are numerous web-based cosmetology school programs available that can be attended through a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional cosmetology schools are frequently fast paced since many programs 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 volume of material, but you’re not devoting many hours outside of your home or commuting to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s vital that the program you pick can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors to ensure that you also receive the hands-on training required 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 choose to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is available in your area.

Questions to Ask Cosmetologist Training Programs

Following is a series of questions that you will want to investigate for any beauty training school you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Slippery Rock PA residence, in addition to the expense of tuition, will undoubtedly be your primary qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have collected several of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final determination.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s important to make sure that the cosmetology training program you enroll in is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified local or national agency, 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 necessary for securing student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not obtainable in 16057 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous Slippery Rock PA businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation?  Every cosmetology institute that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Confirm 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 organizations. If you have any contacts with Slippery Rock PA salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not considered. Finally, contact the Pennsylvania school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty?  Some cosmetology schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific 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 choose a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your ambition 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 Slippery Rock PA, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly regarded school with a weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you need.

Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided?  Learning and refining cosmetology techniques and abilities involves plenty of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is included in the beauty lessons you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that allow students to practice their developing talents on volunteers. If a beauty school provides limited or no scheduled live training, but rather depends mainly on using mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for acquiring your skills. Therefore try to find other schools that offer this kind of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program?  When a student graduates from a cosmetology academy, it’s important that she or he gets help in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide help maintain relationships with Slippery Rock PA employers that are seeking qualified graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and find out which salons and organizations they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Assistance Available?  Many beauty schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are considering have a financial aid department. Speak with 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 as well. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not discard it as an alternative until you find out what financial aid may be available.

Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Slippery Rock PA?

If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Slippery Rock PA area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.

Pick the Right Cosmetology School near Slippery Rock PA

Selecting and enrolling in the right cosmetologist program is essential to receive 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 certain to consolidate all of the information you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to contrast schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the academy and program you select are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and answer the additional questions supplied in this post, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the right selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are ready to launch your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Slippery Rock PA.

Other Beautiful Locations in Pennsylvania

Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Blakeslee PA

Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Turtle Creek PA

Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Jefferson PA

Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Darlington PA

Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Williamsburg PA

Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Emigsville PA

Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Stoystown PA

Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Strasburg PA

Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Loganville PA

Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Spring Run PA