How to Pick the Right Cosmetology College near Champaign Illinois
Once you have made a decision to train as a cosmetologist and attend a beauty school near Champaign IL, the task starts to find and enroll in the ideal school. It’s imperative that the program you select not only furnishes the necessary training for the specialty you have chosen, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your preliminary search, you may be somewhat puzzled about the contrast 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 further concerning that in the next segment. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Champaign residence. Tuition will likewise be a critical 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 option. There are a number of other considerations that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, for instance 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 kinds of training programs are available.
Start Your Career in Cosmetology By Requesting Your Free Information Below
Defining Cosmetology
Cosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human anatomy look more attractive through the application of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but really 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, most states mandate that you take some type of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only Champaign IL 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, launch their own shops or salons. Others will start seeing customers either in their own homes or will travel to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by many professional names and are employed in a wide variety of specialties including:
- Hairdressers
- Hairstylists
- Beauticians
- Barbers
- Manicurists
- Nail Technicians
- Makeup Artists
- Hair Coloring Specialists
- Estheticians
- Electrolysis Technicians
As previously mentioned, in most states practicing cosmetologists must 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, including shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Cosmetology Schools Near You!
Cosmetology Degrees and Certificates
There are basically two pathways offered to receive 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 typically call for 12 to 18 months to finish, while an Associate’s degree commonly takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be trained in all of the main areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are offered if you want to specialize in just one area, for instance hair coloring. A degree program will also probably include management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to operate a salon or other Champaign IL business. More advanced degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such areas as salon or spa management. Whatever type of program you decide on, it’s important to make certain that it’s recognized by the Illinois Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only approve schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded agencies, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the benefits of accreditation for the school you choose in the following segment.
Online Beauty Programs
Online beauty programs are convenient for Champaign IL students who are working full time and have family commitments that make it challenging to enroll in a more traditional school. There are numerous online beauty school programs offered that can be accessed through a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional beauty schools are often fast paced because many courses are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a large amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are dealing with the same volume of material, but you are not devoting many hours away from your home or commuting to and from classes. However, it’s vital that the training program you choose 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 part of the training, it’s difficult to gain the skills required to work in any area of the cosmetology field. So be sure 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
Following is a list of questions that you should investigate for any cosmetology training school you are contemplating. As we have already covered, the location of the school in relation to your Champaign IL home, together with the cost of tuition, will undoubtedly be your primary 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 choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have compiled some of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final selection.
Is the Program Accredited? It’s essential to make certain that the cosmetology training program you pick 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 assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which often are not obtainable in 61820 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many Champaign IL employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Each cosmetology school that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the field. 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, attesting that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating companies for reviews as well as the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Champaign IL salon owners or managers, or someone working in the business, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. And last, contact the Illinois school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Some cosmetology schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s imperative that you select a school that specializes in 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 aspiration is to open a hair salon in Champaign IL, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly rated school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you need.
Is Any Live Training Provided? Studying and mastering cosmetology skills and techniques requires lots of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the cosmetology classes you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that enable students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a beauty program furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but rather depends predominantly on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for developing your skills. So try to find other schools that offer this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from a cosmetology academy, it’s essential that she or he gets aid in finding that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer assistance maintain relationships with Champaign IL businesses that are seeking qualified graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and find out which salons and organizations they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Assistance Offered? Many cosmetology schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Speak with a counselor and find out 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 as well. If a school meets each of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not drop it as an option until you find out what financial aid may be offered.
Beauty School Requirements Champaign Illinois
Selecting and enrolling in the ideal cosmetologist school is essential to get the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. You originally came to this website because you have an interest in Beauty School Requirements and learning more about the topic Cosmetology School. So make sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel positive about your decision. Make sure to consolidate all of the information you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to contrast schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the institution and program you choose are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you begin with that foundation, and answer the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to begin your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Champaign IL.
Other Beautiful Illinois Locations
Champaign, Illinois
Champaign (English: /ˌʃæmˈpeɪn/) is a city in Champaign County, Illinois, United States. The city is 135 miles (217 km) south of Chicago, 124 miles (200 km) west of Indianapolis, Indiana, and 178 mi (286 km) northeast of St. Louis, Missouri. The United States Census Bureau estimates the city was home to 87,432 people as of July 1, 2017.[5] Champaign is the tenth-most populous city in Illinois, and the state's fourth-most populous city outside the Chicago metropolitan area. It is included in the Champaign–Urbana metropolitan area.
Champaign is notable for sharing the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign with its sister city of Urbana. Champaign is also home to Parkland College which serves about 18,000 students during the academic year.[6] Due to the university and a number of well known technology startup companies, it is often referred to as the hub, or a significant landmark, of the Silicon Prairie. Champaign houses offices for Sony, and for the Fortune 500 companies Abbott, Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), Caterpillar, Deere & Company, Dow Chemical Company, IBM, and State Farm.[7]
Champaign was founded in 1855, when the Illinois Central Railroad laid its rail track two miles (3 km) west of downtown Urbana. Originally called "West Urbana", it was renamed Champaign when it acquired a city charter in 1860. Both the city and county name were derived from Champaign County, Ohio.[8]
Business Results 1 - 10 of 194
51 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
24 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
63 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
57 Reviews 
2 Reviews 
15 Reviews 
28 Reviews 