How to Choose the Right Beauty Degree Program near Exeter Maine

Since you have made a decision to train as a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Exeter ME, the process starts to search for and enroll in the ideal school. It’s essential that the school you select not only furnishes the necessary instruction for the specialty you have decided on, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your initial search, you might be a little bit unclear about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both relate to the same type of school. We’ll talk a bit further concerning that in the following segment. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Exeter residence. Tuition will also be a critical factor when assessing possible schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it’s not always the right choice. There are various other factors that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask about the cosmetology schools you are thinking about later in this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of programs are available.

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Defining Cosmetology

Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human anatomy look more beautiful 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 actually a cosmetic can be anything that enhances the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states mandate that you go through some type of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work environments include not only Exeter ME beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have acquired experience and a customer base, launch their own shops or salons. Others will start seeing customers either in their own residences or will go to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many titles and work in a wide range of specializations 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 a few states there is an exemption. Only those performing more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others working in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.

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Cosmetology Certificates and Degrees

There are essentially two options offered to obtain 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 finish, 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. Shorter programs are offered if you want to focus on just one area, such as hair coloring. A degree program will also likely incorporate management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to run a parlor or other Exeter ME business. Higher degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whatever type of course you opt for, it’s essential to make sure that it’s recognized by the Maine Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only approve schools that are accredited by certain reputable organizations, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the benefits of accreditation for the school you choose in the upcoming section.

Online Beauty Classes

Online cosmetology programs are advantageous for Exeter ME students who are employed full-time and have family obligations that make it difficult to attend a more traditional school. There are many web-based cosmetology school programs offered that can be attended through a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional cosmetology schools are typically fast paced due to the fact that many courses are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a significant amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are covering the same amount of material, but you are not devoting many hours outside of your home or travelling back and forth from classes. However, it’s vital that the program you select can provide internship training in area salons and parlors to ensure that you also get the hands-on training necessary 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 field. So be sure if you choose to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.

What to Ask Beauty Training Courses

Below is a series of questions that you should research for any cosmetologist training program you are considering. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Exeter ME home, as well as the expense of tuition, will probably be your primary 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 preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have put together several of those additional questions that you need to ask every school before making a final determination.

Is the School Accredited? It’s essential to make certain that the cosmetology training program you choose is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified 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 guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which typically are not offered in 04435 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of Exeter ME employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation?  Each cosmetology institute that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly sought after. Check rating services for reviews in addition to the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Exeter ME salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to suggest others that you had not looked into. Finally, consult the Maine school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus?  Many cosmetology schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific 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 decide on 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 launch a hair salon in Exeter ME, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly ranked school with a weak program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you require.

Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided?  Practicing and perfecting cosmetology techniques and abilities requires lots of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is provided in the beauty courses you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that enable students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a beauty school offers little or no scheduled live training, but instead relies heavily on using mannequins, it may not be the most effective alternative for acquiring your skills. So search for alternate schools that provide this type of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance?  When a student graduates from a cosmetology school, it’s important that she or he receives help in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish aid develope relationships with Exeter ME employers that are searching for qualified graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and ask which salons and organizations they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Assistance Offered?  Most beauty schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are considering have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you may qualify for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students too. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not discard it as an option before you learn what financial help may be provided.

Colleges For Cosmetology Exeter Maine

Locating and enrolling in the right cosmetology school is important to obtain the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. You originally came to this website because you have an interest in Colleges For Cosmetology and learning more about the topic Beauty Academies. So make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel confident about your decision. Make sure to organize 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 beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the college and program you choose are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and answer the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are qualified to launch your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Exeter ME.

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