How to Pick a Beauty College near Etowah Tennessee
Once you have decided to become a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Etowah TN, the process starts to find and enroll in the right school. It’s important that the program you choose not only provides the appropriate training for the specialty you have selected, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your initial search, you may be rather puzzled about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are pretty much interchangeable and both refer to the same type of school. We’ll talk a little bit further regarding that in the next section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Etowah residence. Tuition will likewise 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 ideal option. There are various other qualifications that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask concerning the cosmetology schools you are considering later within this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a little 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 body look more beautiful through the application of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but really a cosmetic can be anything that enhances the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, most states require that you take some kind of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Etowah TN beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have acquired experience and a customer base, establish their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing clients either in their own residences or will travel to the client’s house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by many professional names and work in a wide variety of specializations including:
- Hairdressers
- Hairstylists
- Beauticians
- Barbers
- Manicurists
- Nail Technicians
- Makeup Artists
- Hair Coloring Specialists
- Estheticians
- Electrolysis Technicians
As previously mentioned, in most states working cosmetologists have to be licensed. In some states there is an exemption. Only those conducting more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others employed in cosmetology and less skilled, such as shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.
Cosmetology Certificates and Degrees
There are essentially two pathways available to get cosmetology training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can work toward 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 each of the major areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are offered if you wish to focus on just one area, for instance hair coloring. A degree program will also most likely include management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to manage a parlor or other Etowah TN business. Higher degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whichever type of program you decide on, it’s imperative to make sure that it’s recognized by the Tennessee Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain respected agencies, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the benefits of accreditation for the school you choose in the next section.
Online Cosmetology Programs
Online beauty classes are convenient for Etowah TN students who are working full time and have family obligations that make it difficult to attend a more traditional school. There are numerous online cosmetology school programs offered that can be attended by means of a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional beauty schools are typically fast paced since many programs are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a substantial portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are covering the same volume of material, but you’re not spending many hours away from your home or commuting back and forth from classes. However, it’s imperative that the training 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 part of the training, it’s impossible to gain the skills needed to work in any area of the cosmetology profession. So make sure if you choose to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is provided in your area.
Questions to Ask Cosmetology Schools
Following is a series of questions that you will want to investigate for any cosmetologist training school you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Etowah TN home, as well as the price of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first qualifiers. Whether you wish to earn 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 additional factors that you should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have put together some of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final decision.
Is the Program Accredited? It’s necessary to make certain that the cosmetology college you select 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for getting student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not obtainable in 37331 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of Etowah TN employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Each cosmetologist college that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly sought after. Check rating services for reviews together with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Etowah TN salon owners or managers, or any person working in the field, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to propose others that you had not considered. And last, consult the Tennessee 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 Specialty? A number of beauty schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, for instance hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically 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 intention 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 vision is to launch a hair salon in Etowah TN, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly rated school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you require.
Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and perfecting cosmetology techniques and abilities requires plenty of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is furnished 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 skills on volunteers. If a beauty program provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather relies mainly on using mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for cultivating your skills. So search for alternate 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 he or she receives aid in securing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide aid maintain relationships with Etowah TN businesses that are searching for qualified graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and inquire 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 regarded as well.
Is Financial Assistance Available? Most beauty schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid department. Consult with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you might 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 except for cost, do not drop it as an alternative before you determine what financial aid may be available.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Etowah TN?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Etowah TN area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Etowah, Tennessee
Etowah was founded in 1906, primarily as a location for a depot on the Louisville & Nashville Railroad (L&N) line as part of a more direct route between Atlanta and Cincinnati. The etymology of the town name is unclear, but local folklore states that a train crew brought a sign reading "Etowah" from the Etowah River, and the name stuck. The word Etowah comes from the Muskogee/Creek word italwa meaning "town."[5]
In 1902, the Louisville and Nashville Railroad announced its plan to build a more direct line from Atlanta to Cincinnati in order to avoid the rugged mountains of North Georgia and East Tennessee bypassing the Great Hiwassee Loop. A point midway between these cities was needed to service cars and change crews, and at the end of 1904, land had been purchased in McMinn County to serve as this site and the city of Etowah was planned. The L & N purchased 1,454 acres (5.88 km2) for the main terminus (depot), maintenance and repair facilities (shops), railroad yards and proposed township to support the railroad workforce. This land was purchased at $10 to $20 per acre and the L&N set about building a major rail center and the town of Etowah.
Out of what was referred to then as a wet swampland, a boomtown sprung up in 1906 with the L & N Depot serving as the hub of the new town's business and social activities. Since then, the City of Etowah has ridden the waves of economic downturns and successes, such as the closing of the L & N shops in the 1930s and the recruitment of new industries, to evolve into the city that it is today. Etowah has seen positive growth in industry and retail over the past decade.
Find the Right Cosmetology Training Program near Etowah TN
Finding and enrolling in the ideal cosmetologist program is imperative to obtain the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel confident about your decision. Make sure to compile all of the responses you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that information to contrast schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the school and program you select are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. If you start with that foundation, 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 selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to start your career as a professional cosmetologist in Etowah TN.
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