Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Bancroft WV

How to Find the Right Cosmetology College near Bancroft West Virginia

nail technicians training at Bancroft WV beauty school Now that you have decided to train as a cosmetologist and attend a beauty school near Bancroft WV, the task starts to find and enroll in the right school. It’s important that the school you pick not only provides the proper training for the specialty you have selected, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your initial search, you might be a little bit unclear about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both refer to the same kind of school. We’ll talk a bit more regarding that in the next section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Bancroft home. Tuition will also be an important factor when reviewing potential schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it’s not always the ideal option. There are several other factors that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask about 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 types of programs are available.

Definition of Cosmetology

Bancroft WV makeup ar4tist applying makeup Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human anatomy look more attractive with the application of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are described 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 look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, the majority of states mandate that you go through some type of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Bancroft WV beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have acquired experience and a client base, open their own shops or salons. Others will begin servicing clients 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 specialties including:

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

As previously mentioned, in the majority of states practicing cosmetologists have to be licensed. In a few states there is an exception. Only those performing more skilled services, for instance 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 and Certificates

Bancroft WV hairdresser cutting hair There are basically two options available to obtain cosmetology training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs generally call for 12 to 18 months to finish, while an Associate’s degree commonly 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 want to focus on just one area, such as hair coloring. A degree program will also most likely incorporate management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to operate a parlor or other Bancroft WV business. Higher degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whichever type of course you go with, it’s important to make certain that it’s certified by the West Virginia Board of Cosmetology. Many states only approve schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded organizations, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the advantages of accreditation for the school you choose in the next section.

Online Cosmetology Courses

student attending cosmetology school online in Bancroft WV Online cosmetology schools are advantageous for Bancroft WV students who are working full-time and have family obligations that make it challenging to enroll in a more traditional school. There are many online cosmetology school programs offered that can be accessed by means of a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional cosmetology programs are typically fast paced since many programs are as short as six or eight months. This means that a considerable amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you’re not devoting many hours away from your home or travelling to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s vital that the school you select can provide internship training in area salons and parlors in order that you also receive 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 profession. So be sure if you decide to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is available in your area.

Questions to Ask Cosmetologist Degree Programs

Questions to ask Bancroft WV beauty schools Below is a list of questions that you will want to investigate for any beauty training school you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Bancroft WV home, together with the price of tuition, will most likely 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 even more factors that you need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have collected some of those additional questions that you need to ask every school before making a final determination.

Is the School Accredited? It’s important to make sure that the cosmetology training program you choose 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not available in 25011 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 Bancroft WV employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Any cosmetology 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 references from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating companies for reviews as well as the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Bancroft WV 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 propose others that you had not looked into. And finally, consult the West Virginia 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? Some 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, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs often 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 objective 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 open a hair salon in Bancroft WV, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach 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 Any Live Training Provided? Studying and mastering cosmetology techniques and abilities demands plenty of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is included in the beauty classes you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that enable students to practice their growing talents on volunteers. If a beauty academy offers little or no scheduled live training, but instead depends heavily on using mannequins, it might not be the best option for acquiring your skills. Therefore look 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 important that he or she receives assistance in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish assistance develope relationships with Bancroft WV businesses that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and ask which salons and establishments they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Assistance Offered? Most beauty schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are considering have a financial aid department. Talk to a counselor and find out 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 also. If a school meets each of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not omit it as an option before you learn what financial assistance may be offered.

Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Bancroft WV?

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

Bancroft, West Virginia

Bancroft is a town in Putnam County, West Virginia, United States, along the Kanawha River. The population was 587 at the 2010 census.[6] Bancroft is a part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). As of the 2010 census, the MSA had a population of 287,702. New definitions from February 28, 2013 placed the population at 363,000.[7] It officially became a town in 1952.[8] The town was named for George Bancroft, a coal mine operator.

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 587 people, 240 households, and 170 families residing in the town. The population density was 4,192.9 inhabitants per square mile (1,618.9/km2). There were 256 housing units at an average density of 1,828.6 per square mile (706.0/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.6% White, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 0.2% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.7% of the population.

There were 240 households of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 29.2% were non-families. 25.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.88.

Choose the Right Beauty Training Program near Bancroft WV

Bancroft WV barber blow drying client's hair Locating and enrolling in the ideal beauty program is imperative to get the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel confident about your decision. Make sure to organize all of the responses you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that data to contrast schools. A good beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the school and program you pick are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the profession. If you begin with that foundation, and answer the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are qualified to launch your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Bancroft WV.