Becoming A Cosmetologist Atkinson IL

How to Enroll In the Best Beauty Program near Atkinson Illinois

Atkinson IL beauty salonNow that you have decided to become a cosmetologist and attend a beauty school near Atkinson IL, the process starts to search for and enroll in the best school. It’s essential that the program you select not only provides the necessary instruction for the specialty you have chosen, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your initial search, you might be rather confused about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind of school. We’ll discuss a bit more regarding that in the following section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Atkinson home. Tuition will additionally be an important consideration when assessing possible schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it’s not automatically the ideal choice. There are various other qualifications that you should evaluate when comparing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are looking at later in this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of training programs are offered.

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What is Cosmetology

Atkinson IL makeup school studentCosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human anatomy look more attractive through the application of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic can be almost 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 require that you undergo some type of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work environments include not only Atkinson IL beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have acquired experience and a clientele, establish their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing customers either in their own homes or will go to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many 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 already stated, in the majority of states working cosmetologists have to be licensed. In some states there is an exemption. Only those offering more skilled services, for instance hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people working in cosmetology and less skilled, such as shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.

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Cosmetologist Degrees and Certificates

Atkinson IL hair design student cutting hairThere are basically two options available to receive cosmetology training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs generally 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 instructed in each of the main areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are offered if you prefer to concentrate on just one area, for example hair coloring. A degree program will also likely feature management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to operate a parlor or other Atkinson IL business. More advanced degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whichever type of course you go with, it’s essential to make sure that it’s recognized by the Illinois Board of Cosmetology. Many states only certify schools that are accredited by certain respected agencies, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the advantages of accreditation for the school you select in the next section.

Online Cosmetology Schools

Atkinson IL student attending online beauty schoolOnline cosmetology programs are convenient for Atkinson IL students who are working full time and have family obligations that make it difficult to enroll in a more traditional school. There are many online cosmetology school programs available that can be attended through a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional beauty programs are frequently fast paced given that many programs are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a considerable portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are covering the same amount of material, but you’re not devoting numerous hours away from your home or commuting back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it’s imperative that the training program you select can provide internship training in area salons and parlors so that you also receive the hands-on training required for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s difficult to acquire the skills required to work in any facet of the cosmetology industry. So don’t forget if you choose to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is available in your area.

Questions to Ask Cosmetologist Training Courses

Questions to ask Atkinson IL cosmetology schoolsBelow is a list of questions that you will want to look into for any beauty training program you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Atkinson IL home, together with the cost of tuition, will most likely be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you should research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have collected several of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final determination.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s necessary to make sure that the cosmetology training program you choose is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for getting student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not available in 61235 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous Atkinson IL businesses will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Great Reputation?  Any beauty college that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly regarded. Check rating companies for reviews together with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Atkinson IL salon owners or managers, or someone working in the trade, 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, check with the Illinois school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in total compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty?  Some cosmetology schools offer programs that are broad 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 commonly expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you select a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your ambition is to be trained as an esthetician, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your desire is to open a hair salon in Atkinson IL, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly rated school with a weak 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 involves plenty of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is included in the beauty lessons you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that allow students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a beauty school offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead relies heavily on the use of mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for acquiring your skills. Therefore try to find alternate schools that provide this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program?  Once a student graduates from a beauty school, it’s imperative that she or he gets help in finding that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish assistance develope relationships with Atkinson IL businesses that are seeking trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which salons and establishments they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered?  The majority of cosmetology schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you may get approved 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 each of your other qualifications except for cost, do not discard it as an alternative before you find out what financial aid may be offered.

Becoming A Cosmetologist Atkinson Illinois

Atkinson IL nail tech students in trainingFinding and enrolling in the ideal cosmetologist school is essential to obtain the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. You originally came to this website because you have an interest in Becoming A Cosmetologist and learning more about the topic Beauty School Near Me. So be sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel certain about your decision. Be 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 employ that information to compare schools. A good beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the institution and program you decide on are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you start with that foundation, and address the additional questions supplied in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the ideal choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to start your career as a professional cosmetologist in Atkinson IL.

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    Atkinson, Illinois

    According to the 2010 census, Atkinson has a total area of 1.596 square miles (4.13 km2), of which 1.58 square miles (4.09 km2) (or 99%) is land and 0.016 square miles (0.04 km2) (or 1%) is water.[5]

    As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 1,001 people, 432 households, and 276 families residing in the town. The population density was 663.2 people per square mile (256.0/km²). There were 453 housing units at an average density of 300.1 per square mile (115.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.5% White, 0.4% African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 0.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.2% of the population.

    There were 432 households out of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.1% were married couples living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.94.

     

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