Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Pflugerville TX

How to Pick a Cosmetology College near Pflugerville Texas

nail technicians training at Pflugerville TX beauty school Once you have decided to become a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Pflugerville TX, the task begins to locate and enroll in the right school. It’s essential that the program you pick not only provides the proper education for the specialty you have selected, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you might be somewhat unclear about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind of school. We’ll speak a bit further regarding that in the upcoming segment. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Pflugerville home. Tuition will also be a critical aspect when reviewing possible schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it’s not always the right option. There are a number of other factors that you should weigh when reviewing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are looking at later in this article. Before we do, let’s talk a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of courses are available.

Defining Cosmetology

Pflugerville TX makeup ar4tist applying makeup Cosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human anatomy look more beautiful through the use of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic may be anything that enhances the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states require that you take some form of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only Pflugerville TX beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have gotten experience and a clientele, open their own shops or salons. Others will start seeing customers either in their own homes or will go to the client’s home, 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 already mentioned, in most states practicing cosmetologists have to be licensed. In some states there is an exemption. Only those offering more skilled services, for example hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others working in cosmetology and less skilled, such as shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.

Cosmetologist Degrees and Certificates

Pflugerville TX hairdresser cutting hair There are essentially two avenues available to get cosmetology training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs normally require 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 main areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are available if you want to concentrate on just one area, such as hair coloring. A degree program will also probably include management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to manage a salon or other Pflugerville TX business. More advanced degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whatever type of course you go with, it’s important to make certain that it’s certified by the Texas Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only approve schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded agencies, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the benefits of accreditation for the school you select in the next segment.

Online Cosmetologist Programs

student attending cosmetology school online in Pflugerville TX Online beauty classes are advantageous for Pflugerville TX students who are employed full time and have family obligations that make it hard to enroll in a more traditional school. There are many online beauty school programs offered that can be attended via a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional cosmetology programs are frequently fast paced because many courses are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a significant portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are covering the same amount of material, but you’re not spending numerous hours away from your home or travelling to and from classes. However, it’s vital that the training program you pick can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors to ensure that you also get the hands-on training necessary for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s impossible to acquire the skills required to work in any area of the cosmetology profession. So don’t forget if you choose to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is provided in your area.

Questions to Ask Cosmetology Programs

Questions to ask Pflugerville TX beauty schools Below is a series of questions that you should investigate for any cosmetologist training school you are considering. As we have previously covered, the location of the school in relation to your Pflugerville TX home, as well as the expense of tuition, will most likely be your first qualifiers. Whether you wish to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have compiled several of those supplemental questions that you should ask each school before making a final decision.

Is the School Accredited? It’s necessary to make sure that the cosmetology school you select is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged local or national agency, 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 superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for getting student loans or financial aid, which often are not available in 78660 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many Pflugerville TX employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation? Any cosmetology institute that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly demanded. Check rating services for reviews together with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Pflugerville TX salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to propose others that you had not looked into. And finally, check with the Texas school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus? A number of cosmetology schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing 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 enroll in 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 respected for that program. If your dream is to start a hair salon in Pflugerville TX, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly regarded school with a weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you require.

Is Any Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and perfecting cosmetology techniques and abilities demands lots of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is provided in the cosmetology 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 real people. If a beauty academy offers limited or no scheduled live training, but instead relies heavily on the use of mannequins, it may not be the most effective alternative for developing your skills. Therefore look for other schools that furnish this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from a beauty school, it’s essential that he or she gets support in landing that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish help develope relationships with Pflugerville TX businesses that are seeking qualified graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and inquire which salons and businesses they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Assistance Offered? Most cosmetology schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students too. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not discard it as an option until you find out what financial aid may be provided.

Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Pflugerville TX?

If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Pflugerville TX area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.

Pflugerville, Texas

Pflugerville /ˈfluːɡərvɪl/ is a city in Travis County, Texas, United States, with a small portion in Williamson County. The population was 46,936 at the 2010 census, and 59,245 in the 2016 Census estimate. Pflugerville is a suburb of Austin and part of the Austin–Round Rock–San Marcos Metropolitan Statistical Area. Pflugerville was named after the original German settlers that farmed the area, the Pflugers. The German name "pfluger" translates to "ploughman".

Pflugerville is located at 30°26′46″N 97°37′26″W / 30.446122°N 97.623989°W / 30.446122; -97.623989 (30.446122, -97.623989),[3] 14 miles (23 km) northeast of downtown Austin along FM 1825 (Pecan Street) in northern Travis County.[4] Pflugerville is situated 15 miles (24 km) northeast of the Colorado River.

According to the 2010 United States Census Bureau, the city has a total land area of 22.32 square miles.[5] It has 40.39 square miles in the extraterritorial jurisdiction.[6] The city has one body of water, Lake Pflugerville, created in 2005 to serve as a water reservoir and recreation area; and two creeks, Gilleland Creek and Wilbarger Creek. A local school group, Wilbarger Water Watchers, in association with the LCRA, monitor the waters of Wilbarger Creek to ensure it meets the United States Environmental Protection Agency's national standard.

Select the Right Beauty Training Program near Pflugerville TX

Pflugerville TX barber blow drying client's hair Selecting and enrolling in the right beauty school is imperative to receive the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel confident about your decision. Be sure to organize all of the information you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that data to compare schools. A good start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the college and program you select are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. If you begin with that base, and address the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are qualified to launch your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Pflugerville TX.