How to Pick a Cosmetologist School near Platteville Wisconsin
Once you have made a decision to become a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Platteville WI, the task begins to locate and enroll in the best school. It’s essential that the school you pick not only furnishes the necessary education for the specialty you have selected, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your initial search, you may be rather unclear about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are pretty much interchangeable and both relate to the same type of school. We’ll speak a bit further concerning that in the next segment. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Platteville home. Tuition will additionally be an important consideration when assessing prospective schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it’s not automatically the ideal choice. 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 considering later in this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of courses are offered.
What is Cosmetology
Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human anatomy look more beautiful through the use of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic can be almost anything that improves the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, the majority of states require that you take some type of specialized training and then become licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only Platteville WI beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues 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 seeing clients either in their own homes or will go to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many names 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 earlier mentioned, in most states working cosmetologists have to be licensed. In some states there is an exemption. Only those conducting more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others working in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.
Cosmetologist Certificates and Degrees
There are basically two options offered to get 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 normally take 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 all of the major areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are offered if you want to focus on just one area, for example hair coloring. A degree program will also most likely include management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to operate a salon or other Platteville WI business. Higher degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whatever type of program you choose, it’s imperative to make certain that it’s approved by the Wisconsin Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only certify schools that are accredited by certain respected agencies, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the benefits of accreditation for the school you decide on in the next segment.
Online Cosmetology Classes
Online cosmetology schools are advantageous for Platteville WI students who are employed full time and have family responsibilities that make it hard to enroll in a more traditional school. There are many online cosmetology school programs available that can be accessed by means of a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional beauty programs are frequently fast paced given that many programs are as short as six or eight months. This means that a substantial portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you’re not spending numerous hours outside of your home or travelling to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s essential that the school you select can provide internship training in area salons and parlors so that you also receive the hands-on training needed for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s impossible to gain the skills necessary 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.
What to Ask Cosmetology Degree Programs
Below is a list of questions that you need to investigate for any cosmetology training program you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Platteville WI residence, together with the cost of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first qualifiers. Whether you want to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have reduced 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. Below we have put together several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each school before making a final selection.
Is the Program Accredited? It’s essential to make certain that the cosmetology school 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable in 53818 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous Platteville WI employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Any beauty school 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 businesses where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating companies for reviews in addition to the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Platteville WI 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 propose others that you had not considered. And finally, contact the Wisconsin school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Some cosmetology schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific 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 sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and well regarded for that program. If your aspiration is to start a hair salon in Platteville WI, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly rated school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you need.
Is Any Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and perfecting cosmetology skills and techniques requires plenty 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 campus that enable students to practice their developing talents on volunteers. If a beauty program provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather depends predominantly on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the most effective option for acquiring your skills. Therefore try to find alternate schools that offer this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from a beauty academy, it’s essential that he or she gets assistance in finding that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer aid maintain relationships with Platteville WI employers that are looking for qualified graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and find out which salons and establishments they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Assistance Offered? Almost all cosmetology schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are considering have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you may qualify for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students also. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications except for expense, do not eliminate it as an alternative until you determine what financial help may be provided.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Platteville WI?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Platteville WI area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Platteville, Wisconsin
Platteville is the largest city in Grant County in southwestern Wisconsin. The population was 11,224 at the 2010 census, growing 12% since the 2000 Census. Much of this growth is likely due to the enrollment increase of the University of Wisconsin–Platteville. It is the principal city of the Platteville Micropolitan Statistical area which has an estimated population of 49,681.
Platteville was a small farming and fur trading community along the Platte River, from which the town got its name.[5] In the 1820s, lead ore or Galena was discovered in the area, a mining boom took the area by storm. The mining district encompassed a significant portion of southwest Wisconsin, including the counties of Grant, Iowa, Lafayette, and Jo Daviess County (Illinois), which played a major role in the mining of lead and zinc ore. The Galena, Illinois mining district, an area south of Platteville, had been known to many for years.[6] Beginning in 1825, lead prices saw a dramatic boost and the Platteville economy flourished.[7] The "grey gold" (a common nickname for lead ore) was brought development of businesses and schools. Platteville's landscape was shaped by the mining that helped build the town, and mineral holes abounded everywhere.[8]
By the 1849s lead ore production was decreasing. However, the mining of zinc ore quickly filled the void for prospective work. Platteville was now an established town, complete with schools, an academy, newspaper, several churches, and a telegraph service as of November 1849."[9]
Enroll in the Right Beauty College near Platteville WI
Locating and enrolling in the right cosmetology program is imperative to get the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel confident about your decision. Be sure to organize all of the responses you get from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on 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 institution and program you choose are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the field. If you start with that base, and answer the additional questions supplied in this post, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the right selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are qualified to begin your career as a professional cosmetologist in Platteville WI.
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