How to Pick a Cosmetologist School near Bennington Vermont

Now that you have made a decision to train as a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Bennington VT, the task begins to find and enroll in the right school. It’s essential that the school you select not only provides the proper training for the specialty you have selected, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your initial search, you might be somewhat unclear about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are essentially interchangeable and both refer to the same type of school. We’ll discuss a bit further about that in the next section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Bennington residence. Tuition will likewise be an important aspect when evaluating potential schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it’s not necessarily the right option. There are a number of other factors that you should weigh when comparing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask about the cosmetology schools you are considering later in this article. Before we do, let’s talk a bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of programs are available.

Defining Cosmetology

Cosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human body look more attractive through the application of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic may be almost 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 mandate that you undergo some form of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work environments include not only Bennington VT beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have gotten experience and a customer base, open their own shops or salons. Others will begin servicing customers either in their own residences or will go to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many titles 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 earlier stated, in most states working cosmetologists must be licensed. In a few states there is an exception. Only those offering 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 be licensed in those states.

Cosmetology Degrees

There are basically two avenues available to obtain 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 instructed in each of the major areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are offered if you wish to focus on just one area, for example hair coloring. A degree program will also likely incorporate management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to operate a parlor or other Bennington VT business. More advanced degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whatever type of program you decide on, it’s important to make certain that it’s approved by the Vermont Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded organizations, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the benefits of accreditation for the school you choose in the upcoming segment.

Online Beauty Schools

Online beauty programs are accommodating for Bennington VT students who are working full-time and have family responsibilities that make it challenging to enroll in a more traditional school. There are a large number of online beauty school programs available that can be attended through a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional beauty schools are often fast paced because many programs are as short as six or eight months. This means that a large amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are dealing with the same volume of material, but you’re not devoting many hours outside of your home or driving back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it’s imperative that the program you choose can provide internship training in area salons and parlors in order that you also obtain the hands-on training required for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s impossible to acquire the skills necessary to work in any facet of the cosmetology industry. So don’t forget if you choose to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is available in your area.

Questions to Ask Cosmetologist Training Classes

Below is a list of questions that you will want to investigate for any beauty training program you are considering. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Bennington VT home, as well as the cost of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Following we have put together some of those supplemental questions that you should ask each school before making a final selection.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s essential to make certain that the cosmetology school you select is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for getting student loans or financial aid, which often are not offered in 05201 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of Bennington VT employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Great Reputation?  Any beauty college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the field. 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 sought after. Check rating companies for reviews in addition to the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Bennington VT salon owners or managers, or someone working in the trade, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. And finally, consult the Vermont school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus?  Many cosmetology schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing 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 typically expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you pick a school that focuses on 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 vision is to open a hair salon in Bennington VT, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly rated school with a weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you require.

Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided?  Studying and refining cosmetology techniques and abilities involves lots of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is included in the beauty classes you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that enable students to practice their developing talents on volunteers. If a beauty school provides little or no scheduled live training, but instead relies predominantly on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the most effective option for acquiring your skills. So search for alternate schools that offer this kind of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance?  As soon as a student graduates from a cosmetology school, it’s imperative that he or she gets aid in finding that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish aid maintain relationships with Bennington VT employers that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and find out which salons and organizations they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Assistance Available?  The majority of beauty schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid office. Speak with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you might get approved for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students too. If a school meets all of your other qualifications except for expense, do not omit it as an alternative before you learn what financial aid may be available.

Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Bennington VT?

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

Pick the Right Cosmetology School near Bennington VT

Finding and enrolling in the right beauty college is important to get the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel certain about your decision. Make certain to organize all of the information you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to contrast schools. A good start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the college and program you decide on are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the field. If you start with that base, and address the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the right selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are ready to start your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Bennington VT.

Other Beautiful Locations in Vermont

Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Bellows Falls VT

Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Sheldon Springs VT

Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Lunenburg VT

Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools North Montpelier VT

Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Proctor VT

Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Hartford VT

Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Newfane VT

Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Pittsford VT

Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Troy VT

Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Brookfield VT