How to Pick a Cosmetology School near Parsons Tennessee
Since you have decided to become a cosmetologist and attend a beauty school near Parsons TN, the process begins to find and enroll in the ideal school. It’s essential that the program you pick not only furnishes the appropriate instruction for the specialty you have decided on, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your preliminary search, you might be somewhat puzzled about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are essentially interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. We’ll speak a bit further about that in the next section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Parsons home. Tuition will likewise be an important factor when reviewing potential schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it’s not always the ideal choice. There are various other qualifications that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask about the cosmetology schools you are thinking about later within this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of programs are offered.
What is Cosmetology
Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human body look more attractive through the application of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but really a cosmetic can be almost anything that improves the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, most states require that you take some form of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Parsons TN beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gained experience and a clientele, launch their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing customers either in their own homes or will travel to the client’s house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by many names and are employed in a wide variety of specializations including:
- Hairdressers
- Hairstylists
- Beauticians
- Barbers
- Manicurists
- Nail Technicians
- Makeup Artists
- Hair Coloring Specialists
- Estheticians
- Electrolysis Technicians
As already stated, in the majority of states practicing cosmetologists have to be licensed. In a few 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 get licensed in those states.
Cosmetologist Degrees
There are primarily two options offered to obtain cosmetology training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs normally take 12 to 18 months to complete, while an Associate’s degree ordinarily 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 offered if you want to concentrate on 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 manage a salon or other Parsons TN business. More advanced 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 choose, it’s essential to make certain that it’s recognized by the Tennessee Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain respected organizations, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the advantages of accreditation for the school you select in the upcoming segment.
Online Beauty Schools
Online beauty schools are advantageous for Parsons TN students who are employed full time and have family responsibilities that make it hard to attend a more traditional school. There are numerous online cosmetology school programs offered that can be accessed via a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional beauty schools are frequently fast paced due to the fact that many programs are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a large portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you’re not devoting numerous hours away from your home or driving back and forth from classes. However, it’s vital that the training program you choose can provide internship training in area salons and parlors to ensure that you also get the hands-on training necessary for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s impossible to gain the skills necessary to work in any facet of the cosmetology field. So don’t forget if you decide to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.
What to Ask Beauty Degree Programs
Following is a series of questions that you need to look into for any beauty training school you are contemplating. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Parsons TN residence, together with the expense of tuition, will most likely be your first qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices 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 compiled some of those supplemental questions that you should ask every school before making a final selection.
Is the School Accredited? It’s important to make certain that the cosmetology training program 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not offered in 38363 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many Parsons TN employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Any cosmetologist school that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly regarded. Check rating companies for reviews together with the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Parsons TN salon owners or managers, or any person working in the industry, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. Finally, contact the Tennessee school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? A number of beauty schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs often 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 intention is to be trained as an esthetician, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and well regarded for that program. If your dream is to launch a hair salon in Parsons TN, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly ranked school with a weak program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you need.
Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and mastering cosmetology skills and techniques requires lots of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is provided in the beauty classes you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that make it possible for students to practice their developing skills on volunteers. If a beauty academy furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but rather depends heavily on using mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for cultivating your skills. So try to find other schools that furnish this kind of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from a cosmetology program, it’s essential that she or he receives support in securing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer help maintain relationships with Parsons TN employers that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and ask which salons and establishments they refer students to. In addition, 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 Aid Offered? The majority of cosmetology schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid office. Talk to 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 meets each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not eliminate it as an option before you learn what financial help may be provided.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Parsons TN?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Parsons TN area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Parsons, Tennessee
Parsons is located in central Decatur County at 35°38′56″N 88°7′24″W / 35.64889°N 88.12333°W / 35.64889; -88.12333 (35.648780, -88.123386). U.S. Routes 412 and 641 cross in the center of town. US 412 leads east 69 miles (111 km) to Columbia and west 42 miles (68 km) to Jackson, while US 641 leads north 30 miles (48 km) to Camden and south 24 miles (39 km) to Clifton. Decaturville, the county seat, is 5 miles (8 km) south on US 641.
The unincorporated community of Perryville, the oldest settlement in Decatur County, is 5 miles (8 km) east of Parsons, along the Tennessee River.[3] Tennessee's highest recorded temperature at 113 °F (45 °C) was recorded there on August 9, 1930.
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,452 people, 1,063 households, and 646 families residing in the city. The population density was 627.3 people per square mile (242.1/km²). There were 1,205 housing units at an average density of 308.3 per square mile (119.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.97% White, 8.16% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 2.45% from other races, and 0.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.57% of the population.
Enroll in the Right Beauty Vocational School near Parsons TN
Selecting and enrolling in the ideal cosmetologist program is important to obtain the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel certain about your decision. Don’t forget to consolidate all of the responses you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that information to compare schools. A good start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the school and program you choose are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. If you begin with that foundation, and answer the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are prepared to launch your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Parsons TN.
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