How to Pick a Cosmetology School near Watertown South Dakota
Since you have decided to train as a cosmetologist and attend a beauty school near Watertown SD, the task starts to search for and enroll in the best school. It’s imperative that the school you select not only furnishes the proper instruction for the specialty you have chosen, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your initial search, you may be a little bit confused about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are basically interchangeable and both refer to the same kind of school. We’ll speak a bit further concerning that in the next section. If you intend on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Watertown residence. Tuition will likewise be an important aspect when reviewing possible schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it’s not automatically the ideal option. There are many other factors that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are considering later within this article. Before we do, let’s talk a bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of programs are offered.
Definition of Cosmetology
Cosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human body look more attractive through the application of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that numerous 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 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 require that you go through some type of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work environments include not only Watertown SD beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have gotten experience and a client base, open their own shops or salons. Others will start seeing customers either in their own residences or will go to the client’s house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many titles 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 mentioned, in the majority of states working cosmetologists have to be licensed. In certain states there is an exemption. Only those offering more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people employed in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.
Cosmetologist Degrees and Certificates
There are primarily two pathways 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 typically require 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 main areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are offered if you want to specialize in just one area, such as hair coloring. A degree program will also probably include management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to manage a salon or other Watertown SD business. More advanced degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such areas as salon or spa management. Whichever type of program you go with, it’s imperative to make certain that it’s certified by the South Dakota Board of Cosmetology. Many states only approve schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded organizations, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the benefits of accreditation for the school you decide on in the upcoming section.
Online Cosmetologist Courses
Online cosmetology classes are convenient for Watertown SD students who are employed full-time and have family commitments that make it difficult to attend a more traditional school. There are numerous online beauty school programs available that can be attended via a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional beauty programs are frequently fast paced given that many courses are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a large amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are covering the same amount of material, but you’re not devoting numerous hours outside of your home or driving to and from classes. However, it’s important that the training program you select can provide internship training in local salons and parlors in order that you also obtain the hands-on training necessary for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s difficult to obtain the skills necessary to work in any facet of the cosmetology profession. So don’t forget if you decide to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is available in your area.
What to Ask Beauty Trade Schools
Below is a series of questions that you need to research for any beauty training school you are considering. As we have previously covered, the location of the school in relation to your Watertown SD home, in addition to the cost of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have compiled some of those supplemental questions that you should ask each school before making a final determination.
Is the Program Accredited? It’s necessary to make certain that the cosmetology college you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified local or national organization, 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 obtaining student loans or financial aid, which often are not available in 57201 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of Watertown SD businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Each cosmetology school that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating companies for reviews together with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Watertown SD salon owners or managers, or any person working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. And finally, consult the South Dakota school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? A number of cosmetology schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all areas 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 imperative that you pick 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 vision is to start a hair salon in Watertown SD, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly ranked school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you need.
Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Learning and refining cosmetology skills and techniques involves plenty of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is included 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 furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but rather relies heavily on the use of mannequins, it may not be the best option for cultivating your skills. So search for alternate schools that offer this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from a cosmetology program, it’s important that she or he receives assistance in landing that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide help develope relationships with Watertown SD businesses that are searching for skilled graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and inquire which salons and establishments they refer students to. Also, ask 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 Assistance Offered? Almost all cosmetology schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and identify 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 offered to students too. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not discard it as an option before you learn what financial help may be offered.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Watertown SD?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Watertown SD area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Watertown, South Dakota
Watertown is a city in and the county seat of Codington County, South Dakota, United States.[8] The population was 21,482 at the 2010 census. It is the fifth largest city in South Dakota. It is also the principal city of the Watertown Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Codington and Hamlin counties.
Watertown is home to the Redlin Art Center which houses many of the original art works produced by Terry Redlin, one of America's most popular wildlife artists. Watertown also is home to the Bramble Park Zoo and the Watertown Regional Library. The Watertown Public Opinion is a six-day daily newspaper published in Watertown.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 25.04 square miles (64.85 km2), of which, 17.45 square miles (45.20 km2) is land and 7.59 square miles (19.66 km2) is water.[4] Watertown sits on the Big Sioux River and two major lakes, Pelican Lake and Lake Kampeska. Most of Watertown also sits upon a short plateau. Elevation at Watertown Regional Airport is 1,745 feet.
Pick the Right Cosmetology Vocational School near Watertown SD
Locating and enrolling in the ideal beauty college is imperative to get the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel positive about your decision. Don’t forget to compile all of the responses you get from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to compare schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the academy and program you decide on are accredited and have impressive reputations within the profession. If you start with that foundation, and answer the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to begin your career as a professional cosmetologist in Watertown SD.
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