How to Enroll In a Cosmetology School near Draper South Dakota
Since you have decided to train as a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Draper SD, the task starts to search for and enroll in the ideal school. It’s essential that the program you choose not only furnishes the appropriate instruction for the specialty you have selected, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your preliminary search, you might be rather puzzled 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 type of school. We’ll talk a little bit further regarding that in the following section. If you intend on commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Draper home. Tuition will likewise be a critical aspect when assessing prospective schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it’s not automatically the right option. There are a number of other qualifications that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask concerning the cosmetology schools you are thinking about later in this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of training programs are available.
Defining Cosmetology
Cosmetology is a profession that is all about making the human anatomy look more beautiful through the use of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic may be almost anything that improves 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 undergo some type of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only Draper SD beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have gotten experience and a clientele, launch their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing customers either in their own homes or will go to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known 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 earlier stated, in most states practicing cosmetologists must be licensed. In certain states there is an exemption. Only those performing more skilled services, for instance hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others working in cosmetology and less skilled, such as shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.
Cosmetologist Degrees
There are primarily two avenues available to receive 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 usually take 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 all of the major areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are offered if you prefer to specialize in just one area, for instance hair coloring. A degree program will also probably feature management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to operate a salon or other Draper SD business. More advanced degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such areas as salon or spa management. Whatever type of training program you choose, it’s important to make sure that it’s approved by the South Dakota Board of Cosmetology. Many states only approve schools that are accredited by certain reputable organizations, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the benefits of accreditation for the school you choose in the next segment.
Online Cosmetology Programs
Online beauty classes are accommodating for Draper SD students who are employed full-time and have family responsibilities that make it difficult to attend a more traditional school. There are many online cosmetology school programs available that can be attended via a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional beauty schools are typically fast paced due to the fact that many programs are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a considerable amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are dealing with the same volume of material, but you are not devoting many hours outside of your home or travelling to and from classes. However, it’s essential that the training program you select can provide internship training in local salons and parlors in order that you also receive the hands-on training necessary for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s difficult to acquire the skills needed to work in any area of the cosmetology profession. So don’t forget if you decide to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is available in your area.
What to Ask Cosmetology Training Programs
Below is a series of questions that you will want to look into for any cosmetologist training program you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Draper SD home, as well as the price of tuition, will most likely be your initial qualifiers. Whether you wish to earn 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 preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have put together some of those additional questions that you need to ask every school before making a final decision.
Is the School Accredited? It’s essential to make certain that the cosmetology school you enroll in 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 guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for securing student loans or financial aid, which often are not available in 57531 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of Draper SD businesses will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Any beauty college 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 testimonials from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating services for reviews along with the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Draper SD salon owners or managers, or any person working in the business, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not considered. And last, check with the South Dakota school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? A number of 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 commonly broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you choose a school that focuses on 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 vision is to open a hair salon in Draper SD, 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 poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you need.
Is Enough Live Training Provided? Learning and refining cosmetology skills and techniques demands lots of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the cosmetology lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that allow students to practice their growing talents on volunteers. If a beauty school offers little or no scheduled live training, but instead depends mainly on using mannequins, it may not be the most effective alternative for cultivating your skills. So try to find alternate schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from a beauty academy, it’s imperative that she or he gets aid in landing that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide help maintain relationships with Draper SD employers that are seeking qualified graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which salons and organizations they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Offered? Many cosmetology schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and find out 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 available to students as well. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not omit it as an option until you learn what financial assistance may be available.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Draper SD?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Draper SD area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Draper, South Dakota
As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 82 people, 37 households, and 25 families residing in the town. The population density was 126.2 inhabitants per square mile (48.7/km2). There were 48 housing units at an average density of 73.8 per square mile (28.5/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.8% White and 1.2% from two or more races.
There were 37 households of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.9% were married couples living together, 2.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% were non-families. 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.68.
The median age in the town was 50.7 years. 19.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 3.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 18.3% were from 25 to 44; 31.7% were from 45 to 64; and 26.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 51.2% male and 48.8% female.
Find the Right Cosmetology Program near Draper SD
Choosing and enrolling in the ideal beauty school is important to get the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel certain about your decision. Make sure to collect all of the information you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that information to contrast schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the school and program you decide on are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and address the additional questions supplied in this article, 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 self-assured that you are qualified to launch your career as a professional cosmetologist in Draper SD.
Other Beautiful Locations in South Dakota
Business Results 1 - 10 of 0
