Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Burlington WA

How to Find the Right Cosmetology College near Burlington Washington

nail technicians training at Burlington WA beauty schoolSince you have made a decision to train as a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Burlington WA, the task starts to locate and enroll in the best school. It’s important that the program you pick not only furnishes the necessary training for the specialty you have decided on, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your initial search, you may be somewhat unclear about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are essentially interchangeable and both refer to the same kind of school. We’ll discuss a little bit further about that in the following segment. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Burlington home. Tuition will likewise be an important aspect when reviewing possible schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it’s not always the ideal option. There are various other considerations that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask concerning the cosmetology schools you are looking at later within this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of courses are available.

What is Cosmetology

Burlington WA makeup ar4tist applying makeupCosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human body look more beautiful through the application of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are referred to as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic may be anything that improves the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, most states mandate that you undergo some type of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work environments include not only Burlington WA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gained experience and a client base, establish their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing clients either in their own residences or will go to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many names and are employed in a wide range of specializations including:

  • Hairdressers
  • Hairstylists
  • Beauticians
  • Barbers
  • Manicurists
  • Nail Technicians
  • Makeup Artists
  • Hair Coloring Specialists
  • Estheticians
  • Electrolysis Technicians

As formerly stated, in most states working cosmetologists have to be licensed. In some states there is an exception. Only those performing more skilled services, for example hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people working in cosmetology and less skilled, such as shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.

Cosmetology Certificates and Degrees

Burlington WA hairdresser cutting hairThere are primarily two options 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 call for 12 to 18 months to complete, 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. Briefer programs are available if you want to concentrate on just one area, such as hair coloring. A degree program will also likely feature management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to run a parlor or other Burlington WA business. More advanced degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such areas as salon or spa management. Whichever type of course you opt for, it’s important to make certain that it’s recognized by the Washington Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only certify schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded organizations, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the benefits of accreditation for the school you select in the upcoming section.

Online Beauty Programs

student attending cosmetology school online in Burlington WAOnline beauty programs are convenient for Burlington WA students who are employed full-time and have family obligations that make it hard to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of online cosmetology school programs available that can be attended through a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional cosmetology programs are often 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 internet programs, you are covering the same volume of material, but you’re not devoting many hours away from your home or travelling back and forth from classes. However, it’s essential that the school you choose can provide internship training in area salons and parlors to ensure that you also obtain the hands-on training necessary for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s impossible to obtain the skills needed to work in any facet of the cosmetology industry. So be sure if you decide to enroll in an online school to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.

What to Ask Cosmetology Trade Schools

Questions to ask Burlington WA beauty schoolsBelow is a list of questions that you need to look into for any cosmetology training program you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Burlington WA home, in addition to the expense of tuition, will most likely be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like 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 preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you should research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have put together some of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each school before making a final selection.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s necessary to make certain that the cosmetology college you choose is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for getting student loans or financial aid, which often are not obtainable in 98233 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many Burlington WA employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation?  Any beauty school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating services for reviews as well as the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Burlington WA salon owners or managers, or any person working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to propose others that you had not considered. Finally, consult the Washington school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus?  Many beauty schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for instance hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s essential that you decide on 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 start a hair salon in Burlington WA, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly rated school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you need.

Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided?  Practicing and mastering cosmetology techniques and abilities requires plenty of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is provided in the beauty classes you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that allow students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a beauty academy offers little or no scheduled live training, but instead relies heavily on using mannequins, it may not be the most effective alternative for developing your skills. Therefore search for other schools that furnish this type of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance?  When a student graduates from a cosmetology school, it’s essential that he or she gets help in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish aid develope relationships with Burlington WA businesses that are looking for skilled 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. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered?  The majority of cosmetology schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and find out 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 offered to students also. If a school meets all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not discard it as an option until you learn what financial assistance may be available.

Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Burlington WA?

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

Burlington, Washington

Burlington is a city in Skagit County, Washington, United States. The population is 8,388 as recorded by the 2010 census.[5] It is roughly halfway in between Seattle and Vancouver, and is included in the Mount Vernon–Anacortes, Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Originally, Burlington's businesses were centered on Fairhaven Avenue.[9] Today, Fairhaven Avenue is the center of Burlington's old downtown,[10] and provides a gathering place for the whole city during the annual summer Berry Dairy Days.[11]

Berry Dairy Days started in 1937 was originally simply known as the Strawberry Festival. It served as a fundraiser for the town's fire department for many years. It is now a community event put on by the Burlington Chamber of Commerce.[12] A 1954 article described a gigantic strawberry shortcake that was the centerpiece of that year's festival: it consisted of 60 sheets of sponge cake that took 12 hours to bake, and claimed to be the largest strawberry shortcake in the world.[12]

Choose the Right Cosmetologist Program near Burlington WA

Burlington WA barber blow drying client's hairPicking and enrolling in the right cosmetology school is imperative to receive the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel confident about your decision. Make sure to collect all of the responses you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to contrast schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the college and program you select are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you start with that base, and answer the additional questions supplied in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are ready to launch your career as a professional cosmetologist in Burlington WA.

Other Beautiful Locations in Washington

  • Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Port Hadlock WA
  • Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Davenport WA
  • Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Oysterville WA
  • Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Lopez Island WA
  • Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Steptoe WA
  • Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Rosalia WA
  • Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Langley WA
  • Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Longbranch WA
  • Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Naselle WA
  • Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Nine Mile Falls WA
  •  

     

    The location could not be found.

     

    Business Results 1 - 10 of 6

    Eastside Salon
    10 Reviews
    Hair Salons, Waxing, Skin Care
    Phone:
    27500 102nd Ave NW, Ste 4, Stanwood, WA 98292

    Melissa York Studio
    7 Reviews
    Sugaring, Eyelash Service, Spray Tanning
    Phone:
    661 SE Fidalgo Ave, Oak Harbor, WA 98277

    Styles Salon & Spa
    10 Reviews
    Laser Hair Removal, Hair Salons, Piercing
    Phone:
    2900 Cornwall Ave, Bellingham, WA 98225

    Salon Daidree
    28 Reviews
    Waxing, Skin Care, Eyelash Service
    Phone:
    3426 177th Pl Ne, Arlington, WA 98223

    Sugar Pine Salon and Spa Boutique
    14 Reviews
    Hair Salons, Nail Salons, Waxing
    Phone:
    3525 168th St NE, Arlington, WA 98223

    Yondersea Men's Grooming Lounge
    79 Reviews
    Barbers, Skin Care, Men's Hair Salons
    Phone:
    2711 Meridian St, Bellingham, WA 98225