How to Enroll In a Cosmetologist School near Sandy Springs South Carolina
Now that you have made a decision to become a cosmetologist and attend a beauty school near Sandy Springs SC, the task begins to search for 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 decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your initial search, you may be a little bit unclear about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. We’ll discuss a little bit further concerning that in the next section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Sandy Springs residence. Tuition will also be a critical consideration when evaluating prospective schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it’s not always the best option. There are various other considerations that you should weigh when reviewing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask concerning the cosmetology schools you are considering later within this article. Before we do, let’s talk a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of courses are offered.
What is Cosmetology
Cosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human body look more beautiful with the use 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 basically a cosmetic may be almost 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 require that you undergo some type of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work environments include not only Sandy Springs SC beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have acquired experience and a client base, launch their own shops or salons. Others will begin seeing clients either in their own residences or will travel to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many names and work 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 practicing cosmetologists must be licensed. In a few states there is an exemption. Only those offering 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.
Cosmetologist Degrees and Certificates
There are basically two avenues offered to obtain cosmetology training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs generally 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 available if you wish to specialize in just one area, for example hair coloring. A degree program will also most likely incorporate management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to run a salon or other Sandy Springs SC business. Higher degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such areas as salon or spa management. Whatever type of training program you opt for, it’s important to make certain that it’s recognized by the South Carolina Board of Cosmetology. Many states only approve schools that are accredited by certain respected organizations, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the benefits of accreditation for the school you select in the upcoming segment.
Online Cosmetology Classes
Online beauty programs are accommodating for Sandy Springs SC students who are employed full-time and have family obligations that make it difficult to enroll in a more traditional school. There are many web-based beauty school programs available that can be accessed through a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional cosmetology programs are often fast paced since many programs are as short as six or eight months. This means that a considerable amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you are not spending numerous hours outside of your home or driving back and forth from classes. However, it’s important that the school you pick can provide internship training in local salons and parlors to ensure that you also receive the hands-on training required for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s impossible to obtain the skills needed to work in any area 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.
What to Ask Cosmetology Training Classes
Below is a list of questions that you need to look into for any cosmetology training school you are considering. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Sandy Springs SC home, in addition to the price of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first qualifiers. Whether you wish to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Following we have put together some of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final decision.
Is the School Accredited? It’s essential to make certain that the cosmetology college you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for getting student loans or financial aid, which often are not offered in 29677 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous Sandy Springs SC employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Every beauty institute that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating services for reviews in addition to the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Sandy Springs SC salon owners or managers, or any person working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not considered. And finally, contact the South Carolina school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? A number of cosmetology schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s essential that you choose a school that specializes in your area of interest. If your goal is to be trained as an esthetician, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your aspiration is to launch a hair salon in Sandy Springs SC, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly regarded school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you require.
Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and perfecting cosmetology skills and techniques demands plenty of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is provided in the beauty classes you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that enable students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a beauty academy offers little or no scheduled live training, but rather relies predominantly on the use of mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for developing your skills. So try to find alternate schools that offer this kind of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from a beauty program, it’s important that she or he gets assistance in securing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish aid maintain relationships with Sandy Springs SC employers that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and inquire which salons and businesses they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only affirm that they have wide 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 considering have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you may get approved 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 satisfies all of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not discard it as an option until you find out what financial aid may be provided.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Sandy Springs SC?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Sandy Springs SC area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Mount Zion Presbyterian Church (Sandy Springs, South Carolina)
In the early 19th century, Sandy Springs residents, mainly Scotch-Irish pioneers, periodically gathered for a camp meeting at a spring located nearby; but for regular weekly worship, they traveled to Anderson's Presbyterian Church. In 1832, a request was made and granted to establish a local Presbyterian church, to be known as Sandy Spring Presbyterian Church. The church building, a frame structure, was erected at Mt. Zion's present site on land donated by Mr. Archibald McElroy. In 1842, the Presbytery changed the name to Mount Zion Presbyterian Church.
During the Civil War years from 1861–1863, no records were kept, and some of the early records of the church were destroyed by fire. There were also years when the church was vacant (meaning that no minister served it in any capacity). In spite of this, the Sunday School was maintained.
There are two known Civil War graves in the church cemetery. James Waddell Hillhouse (20 April 1822 - 22 July 1861), son of the Rev. Joseph Hillhouse, and Michael Alexander Bellotte (1 January 1830 - 24 July 1861), son of Jacob Bellotte, an elder in Mt. Zion's first session, died from injuries in the first Battle of Manassas. They served together in the 4th SC Regiment, and died from the accidental discharge of a shell.
Enroll in the Right Cosmetology Vocational School near Sandy Springs SC
Choosing and enrolling in the right beauty school is imperative to obtain the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel positive about your decision. Make certain to collect all of the responses you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to compare schools. A sensible 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 profession. If you begin with that foundation, and answer the additional questions supplied in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the ideal choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are prepared to start your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Sandy Springs SC.
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