How to Select a Cosmetology College near Mattoon Wisconsin
Since you have decided to train as a cosmetologist and attend a beauty school near Mattoon WI, the task begins to find and enroll in the best school. It’s imperative that the school you select not only furnishes the appropriate education for the specialty you have decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your initial search, you may be somewhat unclear about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are pretty much interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind of school. We’ll speak a bit more regarding that in the following section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Mattoon residence. Tuition will additionally be an important aspect when reviewing possible schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it’s not automatically the ideal choice. There are many other qualifications that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask about the cosmetology schools you are considering later in this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of training programs are available.
What is Cosmetology
Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human body look more attractive with the application of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic may be almost anything that enhances the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, most states require that you undergo some type of specialized training and then become licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only Mattoon WI beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have acquired experience and a client base, establish their own shops or salons. Others will start seeing customers either in their own homes or will go to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many titles and work in a wide range of specialties including:
- Hairdressers
- Hairstylists
- Beauticians
- Barbers
- Manicurists
- Nail Technicians
- Makeup Artists
- Hair Coloring Specialists
- Estheticians
- Electrolysis Technicians
As previously mentioned, in most states working cosmetologists have to be licensed. In some states there is an exemption. Only those conducting more skilled services, for example hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others working in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.
Cosmetologist Certificates and Degrees
There are basically two options available 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 normally require 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 instructed in each of the main areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are available if you wish to specialize in just one area, for example hair coloring. A degree program will also likely feature management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to operate a parlor or other Mattoon WI business. Higher degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whichever type of program you go with, it’s important to make certain that it’s certified by the Wisconsin Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only certify schools that are accredited by certain respected organizations, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the advantages of accreditation for the school you decide on in the following segment.
Online Cosmetologist Schools
Online beauty classes are advantageous for Mattoon WI students who are employed full time and have family obligations that make it hard to enroll in a more traditional school. There are a large number of online cosmetology school programs available that can be attended via a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional beauty schools are often fast paced since many programs are as short as six or eight months. This means that a significant amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are covering the same amount of material, but you’re not devoting numerous hours outside of your home or travelling to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s important that the training program you pick can provide internship training in area salons and parlors so that you also get the hands-on training needed for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s difficult to gain the skills necessary to work in any facet of the cosmetology profession. So make sure if you decide to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is available in your area.
Questions to Ask Beauty Training Classes
Below is a list of questions that you should investigate for any cosmetologist training program you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Mattoon WI home, as well as the price of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have compiled some of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final determination.
Is the Program Accredited? It’s essential to make certain that the cosmetology school you select 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not obtainable in 54450 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 Mattoon WI employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Every beauty school that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating services for reviews together with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Mattoon WI salon owners or managers, or any person working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. And last, contact the Wisconsin 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 Focus? Many cosmetology schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, for instance hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs often broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you enroll in a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your intention 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 start a hair salon in Mattoon WI, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly ranked school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you need.
Is Any Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and refining cosmetology skills and techniques demands lots of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is included in the beauty lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that allow students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a beauty school offers little or no scheduled live training, but instead relies mainly on using mannequins, it may not be the best option for cultivating your skills. Therefore look for alternate schools that furnish this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from a beauty program, it’s essential that he or she receives assistance in finding that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer assistance maintain relationships with Mattoon WI employers that are looking for qualified graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and ask which salons and organizations they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Assistance Available? Most cosmetology schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students as well. If a school meets all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not drop it as an option before you learn what financial aid may be offered.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Mattoon WI?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Mattoon WI area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Mattoon, Wisconsin
As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 438 people, 171 households, and 119 families residing in the village. The population density was 267.1 inhabitants per square mile (103.1/km2). There were 194 housing units at an average density of 118.3 per square mile (45.7/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 82.6% White, 0.2% African American, 1.8% Native American, 1.6% Asian, 9.4% from other races, and 4.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16.0% of the population.
There were 171 households of which 32.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.9% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 30.4% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.03.
The median age in the village was 38 years. 23.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.8% were from 25 to 44; 22.6% were from 45 to 64; and 18.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 51.1% male and 48.9% female.
Select the Right Cosmetologist College near Mattoon WI
Picking and enrolling in the right cosmetology college is imperative to obtain the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel positive about your decision. Make sure to compile all of the responses you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to contrast schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the academy and program you select are accredited and have impressive reputations within the profession. If you begin with that foundation, and address the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to launch your career as a professional cosmetologist in Mattoon WI.
Other Beautiful Locations in Wisconsin
Business Results 1 - 10 of 0
