How to Find the Right Cosmetology School near Lester West Virginia
Since you have decided to become a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Lester WV, the process begins to locate and enroll in the ideal school. It’s imperative that the school you choose not only provides the necessary education for the specialty you have selected, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your preliminary search, you might be somewhat puzzled about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both refer to the same kind of school. We’ll speak a bit more about that in the following section. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Lester residence. Tuition will likewise be a critical aspect when reviewing prospective schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it’s not automatically the ideal option. There are many other considerations that you should evaluate when comparing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask concerning the cosmetology schools you are looking at later within this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of programs are available.
Defining Cosmetology
Cosmetology is a profession that is all about making the human body look more attractive with the use of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are referred to as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic can be anything that improves the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states mandate that you undergo some kind of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work environments include not only Lester WV beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have gotten experience and a client base, establish their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing clients either in their own homes or will go to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many titles and are employed in a wide range of specialties including:
- Hairdressers
- Hairstylists
- Beauticians
- Barbers
- Manicurists
- Nail Technicians
- Makeup Artists
- Hair Coloring Specialists
- Estheticians
- Electrolysis Technicians
As previously stated, in most states practicing cosmetologists have to be licensed. In some states there is an exemption. Only those offering 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 become licensed in those states.
Cosmetologist Certificates and Degrees
There are essentially two avenues offered 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 typically 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 trained in each of the major areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are offered if you want to concentrate on just one area, for instance hair coloring. A degree program will also probably incorporate management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to manage a salon or other Lester WV business. More advanced degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whatever type of training program you decide on, it’s essential to make certain that it’s recognized by the West Virginia Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded agencies, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the advantages of accreditation for the school you select in the upcoming segment.
Online Beauty Programs
Online beauty schools are convenient for Lester WV students who are working full time and have family responsibilities that make it challenging to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of web-based beauty school programs available that can be attended through a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional cosmetology schools are often fast paced because many courses are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a large amount 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 outside of your home or commuting to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s imperative that the training program you choose can provide internship training in area salons and parlors in order that you also get the hands-on training necessary for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s impossible to acquire the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology field. So make sure if you choose to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is available in your area.
What to Ask Cosmetology Schools
Following is a list of questions that you need to look into for any beauty training program you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Lester WV residence, as well as the expense of tuition, will most likely be your primary qualifiers. Whether you want to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have compiled several of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final decision.
Is the Program Accredited? It’s essential to make sure that the cosmetology training program you select 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for getting student loans or financial aid, which often are not obtainable in 25865 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many Lester WV businesses will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Each beauty institute that you are seriously considering 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. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating companies for reviews together with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Lester WV salon owners or managers, or any person working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not considered. Finally, check with the West Virginia school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? A number of cosmetology schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you select 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 respected for that program. If your dream is to open a hair salon in Lester WV, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly ranked 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? Studying and refining cosmetology skills and techniques involves plenty of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is provided in the cosmetology classes you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that enable students to practice their growing talents on volunteers. If a beauty school provides little or no scheduled live training, but instead depends heavily on using mannequins, it may not be the best option for cultivating your skills. So look for other schools that offer this kind of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from a beauty program, it’s crucial that she or he gets support in finding that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish aid develope relationships with Lester WV employers that are looking for qualified graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and ask which salons and organizations they refer students to. Also, ask 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 Aid Available? Almost all beauty schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid department. Consult with a counselor and learn 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 too. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not omit it as an alternative until you find out what financial help may be available.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Lester WV?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Lester WV area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Lester, West Virginia
Lester is located at 37°44′5″N 81°18′4″W / 37.73472°N 81.30111°W / 37.73472; -81.30111 (37.734740, -81.300985).[7] The town is situated along Surveyor Creek, which is part of the Coal River watershed, and is concentrated around the intersection of West Virginia Route 305 and West Virginia Route 97. The latter highway connects the town with the Beckley area a few miles to the east.
As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 348 people, 143 households, and 95 families residing in the town. The population density was 696.0 inhabitants per square mile (268.7/km2). There were 175 housing units at an average density of 350.0 per square mile (135.1/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 83.9% White, 13.8% African American, 0.3% Native American, and 2.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.3% of the population.
There were 143 households of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were married couples living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 7.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.6% were non-families. 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.89.
Pick the Right Cosmetologist Training Program near Lester WV
Locating and enrolling in the right beauty program is essential to obtain the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel confident about your decision. Don’t forget to collect all of the responses 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 reasonable beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the academy and program you choose are accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. 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 right selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are ready to launch your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Lester WV.
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