How to Select a Cosmetology School near Mertens Texas
Now that you have made a decision to train as a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Mertens TX, the process begins to find and enroll in the right school. It’s essential that the program you pick not only provides the necessary instruction for the specialty you have decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you may be somewhat puzzled about the difference 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 talk a little bit further about that in the following section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Mertens home. Tuition will additionally be a critical consideration when evaluating potential schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it’s not always the ideal choice. There are a number of other considerations that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are looking at later in this article. Before we do, let’s talk a bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of training programs are offered.
Definition of Cosmetology
Cosmetology is a profession that is all about making the human body look more beautiful with the application 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 word cosmetics, but really a cosmetic may be anything that enhances the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, most states require that you go through some type of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work environments include not only Mertens TX beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have acquired experience and a client base, establish their own shops or salons. Others will begin seeing clients either in their own homes or will travel to the client’s house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by many professional names and are employed in a wide range of specialties including:
- Hairdressers
- Hairstylists
- Beauticians
- Barbers
- Manicurists
- Nail Technicians
- Makeup Artists
- Hair Coloring Specialists
- Estheticians
- Electrolysis Technicians
As earlier mentioned, in the majority of states working cosmetologists must be licensed. In some states there is an exception. Only those conducting 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 be licensed in those states.
Cosmetologist Degrees and Certificates
There are basically two pathways offered to receive 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 normally call for 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 trained in each of the major areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are offered if you prefer to specialize in just one area, for example hair coloring. A degree program will also probably incorporate management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to run a salon or other Mertens TX business. Higher degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such areas as salon or spa management. Whichever type of program you decide on, it’s important to make sure that it’s certified by the Texas Board of Cosmetology. Many states only approve schools that are accredited by certain respected organizations, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the benefits of accreditation for the school you decide on in the upcoming segment.
Online Beauty Schools
Online beauty schools are advantageous for Mertens TX students who are employed full time and have family obligations that make it hard to attend a more traditional school. There are numerous web-based beauty school programs offered that can be accessed through a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional beauty schools are frequently fast paced since many programs are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a considerable amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you’re not devoting many hours outside of your home or commuting back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it’s vital 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 portion of the training, it’s difficult to acquire the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology industry. So don’t forget if you choose to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.
What to Ask Cosmetology Programs
Following is a series of questions that you need to research for any beauty training program you are contemplating. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Mertens TX residence, together with the cost of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have compiled some of those additional questions that you need to ask every school before making a final decision.
Is the Program Accredited? It’s important to make sure that the cosmetology school you enroll in 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for securing student loans or financial aid, which often are not offered in 76666 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many Mertens TX employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Each cosmetology school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating companies for reviews in addition to the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Mertens TX salon owners or managers, or someone working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. And last, consult the Texas school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Some cosmetology schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs commonly expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you pick a school that specializes in your area of interest. If your ambition 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 desire is to open a hair salon in Mertens TX, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly regarded school with a weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you require.
Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Learning and mastering cosmetology skills and techniques requires lots of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is included in the beauty courses you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that enable students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a beauty academy furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but rather relies mainly on using mannequins, it may not be the best option for cultivating your skills. So try to find alternate schools that offer this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from a beauty program, it’s important that she or he gets help in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish assistance maintain relationships with Mertens TX businesses that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and find out which salons and businesses they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only affirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Assistance Offered? The majority of cosmetology schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are considering have a financial aid department. Talk to 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 offered to students too. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not drop it as an alternative before you learn what financial help may be available.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Mertens TX?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Mertens TX area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Mertens, Texas
Mertens is located in eastern Hill County at 32°3′31″N 96°53′42″W / 32.05861°N 96.89500°W / 32.05861; -96.89500 (32.058545, -96.894887),[4] in Central Texas. The eastern border of the town in part is the Navarro County line. Via Highway 22, Hillsboro (the Hill county seat) is 14 miles (23 km) to the west and Corsicana is 26 miles (42 km) to the east.
The first settlers arrived at this location in the late 1880s. During this time, the St. Louis Southwestern Railway was constructed through the area on its way from Corsicana to Hillsboro. The town's name originated from the engineer's wife of the first train that traveled though.[5] In 1888, the post office opened, and within four years a bank was established, with the population just above 75 residents. The International–Great Northern Railroad reached the community on its way from Italy to Malone during this time, creating a crossroads with the railways. The town became incorporated in 1914, with electric power reaching the city the year after.[5]
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 146 people, 58 households, and 42 families residing in the town. The population density was 332.3 people per square mile (128.1/km²). There were 65 housing units at an average density of 148.0 per square mile (57.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 84.25% White, 4.11% Native American, 10.96% from other races, and 0.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.81% of the population.
Choose the Right Cosmetologist Vocational School near Mertens TX
Choosing and enrolling in the right beauty college is important to receive the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel positive about your decision. Don’t forget to collect all of the information you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to compare schools. A good start in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the college and program you choose are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. If you start with that base, and answer the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are ready to begin your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Mertens TX.
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