How to Enroll In a Cosmetology School near Millwood West Virginia
Once you have made a decision to become a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Millwood WV, the process begins to locate and enroll in the best school. It’s important that the school you choose not only furnishes the proper 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 puzzled about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both refer to the same type of school. We’ll speak a bit further concerning that in the next segment. If you intend on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Millwood home. Tuition will likewise be an important aspect when assessing prospective schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it’s not always the ideal choice. There are a number of other factors that you should weigh when comparing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask about the cosmetology schools you are thinking about later within this article. Before we do, let’s talk a bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of courses are offered.
Defining Cosmetology
Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human anatomy look more attractive with the use of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are referred to as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic may be anything that enhances the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, the majority of states require that you go through some form of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work environments include not only Millwood WV beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gotten experience and a client base, establish their own shops or salons. Others will begin servicing clients either in their own residences or will go to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many professional names 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 practicing cosmetologists have to be licensed. In a few states there is an exception. Only those conducting more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people working in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.
Cosmetology Certificates and Degrees
There are basically two options available to get cosmetology training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs typically call for 12 to 18 months to complete, while an Associate’s degree commonly takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be trained in each of the main areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are offered if you prefer to concentrate on just one area, such as hair coloring. A degree program will also most likely feature management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to operate a salon or other Millwood WV business. Higher 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 opt for, it’s essential to make certain that it’s recognized by the West Virginia Board of Cosmetology. Many states only approve schools that are accredited by certain respected agencies, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the advantages of accreditation for the school you choose in the upcoming section.
Online Cosmetologist Classes
Online cosmetology schools are accommodating for Millwood WV students who are employed full-time and have family commitments that make it difficult to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of web-based cosmetology school programs available that can be attended through a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional beauty programs are frequently fast paced due to the fact that many programs are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a substantial portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are dealing with the same volume of material, but you’re not spending many hours outside of your home or travelling back and forth from classes. However, it’s vital that the school you pick can provide internship training in local salons and parlors in order that you also get the hands-on training required for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s impossible to obtain the skills required to work in any facet of the cosmetology field. So don’t forget if you decide to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.
What to Ask Cosmetology Degree Programs
Following is a list of questions that you should investigate for any beauty training program you are contemplating. As we have already discussed, the location of the school relative to your Millwood WV home, in addition to the cost of tuition, will probably be your initial qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have put together several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final decision.
Is the School Accredited? It’s important to make sure that the cosmetology training program you enroll in 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not obtainable in 25262 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many Millwood WV businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Every beauty school that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating companies for reviews in addition to the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Millwood WV salon owners or managers, or someone working in the field, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not looked into. And finally, consult the West Virginia school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? A number of beauty schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs commonly broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s essential that you enroll in 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 aspiration is to open a hair salon in Millwood WV, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly regarded school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you need.
Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Learning and refining cosmetology techniques and abilities demands lots of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the cosmetology classes you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that allow students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a beauty school furnishes limited or no scheduled live training, but rather depends mainly on using mannequins, it might not be the best option for developing your skills. So try to find alternate schools that offer this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from a beauty school, it’s essential that she or he gets assistance in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish assistance maintain relationships with Millwood WV employers that are searching for qualified graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are considering 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. Higher rates not only verify that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Aid Offered? The majority of beauty schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are considering have a financial aid department. Consult with a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you may get approved for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students as well. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not drop it as an option before you determine what financial help may be provided.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Millwood WV?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Millwood WV area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
West Virginia Route 62
West Virginia Route 62 is a north–south state highway in western West Virginia. The southern terminus of the route is at West Virginia Route 25 in Dunbar. The northern terminus is at Interstate 77 and U.S. Route 33 in Ripley.
Up until the late 1960s, WV 62 was designated as U.S. Route 35 from Dunbar to Point Pleasant, crossing the Silver Bridge into Gallipolis, Ohio. After the Silver Bridge collapsed in 1967 (necessitating the building of a new bridge, the Silver Memorial Bridge—finished in 1969), US 35 was moved to the south bank (replacing the former WV 17) of the Kanawha River and US 35's previous route was designated as WV 62.
Select the Right Cosmetologist School near Millwood WV
Choosing and enrolling in the ideal beauty school is important to get the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel positive about your decision. Make sure to organize 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 sensible start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the academy and program you choose are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you start with that foundation, and answer the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the ideal choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are ready to begin your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Millwood WV.
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