Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Eleanor WV

How to Choose a Cosmetology College near Eleanor West Virginia

nail technicians training at Eleanor WV beauty school Now that you have decided to train as a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Eleanor WV, the task starts to search for and enroll in the right school. It’s important that the school you select not only provides the proper instruction for the specialty you have decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your initial search, you might be a little bit puzzled about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are pretty much interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. We’ll talk a little bit more regarding that in the next segment. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Eleanor residence. Tuition will additionally be a critical factor when assessing potential schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it’s not always the right choice. There are various other qualifications that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for instance 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 talk a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of training programs are available.

What is Cosmetology

Eleanor WV makeup ar4tist applying makeup Cosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human body look more attractive with the application of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic can be anything that enhances 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 licensed, the work environments include not only Eleanor 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 customers either in their own homes or will travel to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many professional names and work in a wide variety of specialties including:

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

As formerly mentioned, in most states working cosmetologists must be licensed. In certain states there is an exemption. Only those conducting more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people employed in cosmetology and less skilled, such as shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.

Cosmetology Certificates and Degrees

Eleanor WV hairdresser cutting hair There are primarily two avenues offered to obtain cosmetology training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs usually 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 all of the main areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you prefer 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 parlor or other Eleanor WV business. Higher degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such areas as salon or spa management. Whichever type of training program you opt for, it’s imperative to make certain that it’s approved by the West Virginia Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain respected organizations, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the advantages of accreditation for the school you choose in the following segment.

Online Beauty Schools

student attending cosmetology school online in Eleanor WV Online beauty classes are advantageous for Eleanor WV students who are working full-time and have family obligations that make it challenging to attend a more traditional school. There are numerous web-based cosmetology school programs offered that can be accessed through a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional cosmetology programs are typically fast paced given that many courses are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a substantial amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you are not devoting numerous hours outside of 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 to ensure that you also get the hands-on training required for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s impossible to gain the skills required to work in any area of the cosmetology industry. 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 Training Programs

Questions to ask Eleanor WV beauty schools Following is a series of questions that you will want to research for any cosmetologist training school you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school in relation to your Eleanor WV residence, in addition to the expense of tuition, will most likely be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those initial 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 additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final determination.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s important to make certain that the cosmetology training program you enroll in is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable in 25070 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of Eleanor WV employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Each beauty school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the profession. 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, showing that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating companies for reviews along with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Eleanor WV salon owners or managers, or someone working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not looked into. Finally, check with the West Virginia school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus? A number of beauty schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s imperative that you choose 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 well regarded for that program. If your dream is to start a hair salon in Eleanor WV, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly ranked school with a weak program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you require.

Is Enough Live Training Provided? Practicing and perfecting cosmetology techniques and abilities involves lots of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the beauty lessons you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that make it possible for students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a beauty program provides little or no scheduled live training, but rather depends heavily on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the most effective alternative for cultivating your skills. Therefore search for other schools that furnish this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from a cosmetology program, it’s essential that she or he receives aid in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer assistance develope relationships with Eleanor WV businesses that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which salons and businesses 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 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 investigating have a financial aid office. Speak with 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 available to students as well. If a school meets all of your other qualifications except for expense, do not drop it as an alternative until you learn what financial aid may be offered.

Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Eleanor WV?

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

Eleanor, West Virginia

Eleanor is a town in Putnam County, West Virginia, United States, along the Kanawha River.[6] Its population was 1,518 at the 2010 census.[7] The town was established as a New Deal project in the 1930s and named for Eleanor Roosevelt.[8] Like other Franklin D. Roosevelt towns around the nation (such as Greenbelt, Greenhills, Greendale, Hanford, or Norris).[9]

Eleanor 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.[10]

Eleanor was established in 1934, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt and first lady Eleanor Roosevelt visited the county and developed it as a test site for families. It was one of three resettlement communities in West Virginia, the others being Arthurdale and Tygart Valley. When the town was developed, the houses were built to look very similar to one another and are now referred to as old Eleanor houses. There are two schools in Eleanor, George Washington Elementary School and George Washington Middle School. Under the city pool there is a bunker that was the fallback plan to the greenbrier bunker.

Pick the Right Cosmetologist Vocational School near Eleanor WV

Eleanor WV barber blow drying client's hair Selecting and enrolling in the ideal beauty school is imperative to get the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel positive about your decision. Make sure to compile all of the responses you get from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to compare schools. A good beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the school and program you select are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. If you begin with that foundation, and address 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 selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are qualified to start your career as a professional cosmetologist in Eleanor WV.