How to Pick the Best Beauty Program near Boxborough Massachusetts
Now that you have decided to train as a cosmetologist and attend a beauty school near Boxborough MA, the task starts to search for and enroll in the right school. It’s important that the program you pick not only provides the necessary training for the specialty you have selected, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your preliminary search, you may be rather unclear about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both refer to the same type of school. We’ll talk a bit further about that in the following section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Boxborough home. Tuition will also be a critical consideration when evaluating possible schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it’s not always the right choice. There are several other qualifications that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are looking at later within this article. Before we do, let’s talk a bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of training programs are offered.
Start Your Career in Cosmetology By Requesting Your Free Information Below
Definition of Cosmetology
Cosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human body look more beautiful with the application of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic can be almost anything that improves the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states require that you go through some kind of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only Boxborough MA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gained 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 have 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 already mentioned, in the majority of 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. Others employed 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 Certificates and Degrees
There are basically two options available to get cosmetology training and a credential after 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 finish, while an Associate’s degree ordinarily takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be trained in each of the main areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are offered if you want to specialize in just one area, such as hair coloring. A degree program will also probably include management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to run a parlor or other Boxborough MA business. Higher degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whatever type of course you decide on, it’s important to make certain that it’s approved by the Massachusetts Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only certify schools that are accredited by certain respected organizations, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the advantages of accreditation for the school you decide on in the next section.
Online Cosmetology Courses
Online cosmetology classes are accommodating for Boxborough MA students who are working full-time and have family commitments that make it challenging to attend a more traditional school. There are many online cosmetology school programs offered that can be attended via a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional cosmetology schools are frequently fast paced given that many courses are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a considerable portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are covering the same amount of material, but you’re not spending numerous hours away from your home or travelling back and forth from classes. However, it’s imperative that the school you select can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors to ensure that you also receive the hands-on training needed for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s impossible to obtain the skills necessary to work in any facet of the cosmetology industry. So be sure if you decide to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is provided in your area.
Questions to Ask Beauty Schools
Following is a series of questions that you will want to research for any cosmetologist training school you are considering. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Boxborough MA residence, together with the cost of tuition, will most likely be your first qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably 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 should research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have collected some of those supplemental questions that you should ask each school before making a final determination.
Is the Program Accredited? It’s important to make certain that the cosmetology training program you choose 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for securing student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not obtainable in 01719 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of Boxborough MA employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Each cosmetology institute that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating companies for reviews together with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Boxborough MA salon owners or managers, or any person working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to propose others that you had not looked into. And last, contact the Massachusetts school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Many cosmetology schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s imperative that you choose 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 well regarded for that program. If your aspiration is to open a hair salon in Boxborough MA, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly rated school with a weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you need.
Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and refining cosmetology techniques and abilities demands lots of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is provided in the cosmetology courses you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that make it possible for students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a beauty academy furnishes minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather relies heavily on using mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for acquiring your skills. Therefore search for other schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from a beauty school, it’s important that she or he receives aid in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide assistance maintain relationships with Boxborough MA businesses that are seeking skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and ask which salons and businesses they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Aid Available? Most cosmetology schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are reviewing 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 available to students too. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not discard it as an alternative before you find out what financial assistance may be offered.
Top Cosmetology Colleges Boxborough Massachusetts
Picking and enrolling in the ideal cosmetology college is important to receive the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. You originally came to this website because you have an interest in Top Cosmetology Colleges and learning more about the topic Cosmetologist School. So make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel positive about your decision. Make certain to collect all of the information you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to contrast schools. A good start in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the academy and program you select are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. If you begin with that base, and address the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are qualified to start your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Boxborough MA.
Other Beautiful Massachusetts Locations
Boxborough, Massachusetts
Boxborough is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 4,996 at the 2010 census.[1] The town name is often simplified to "Boxboro" on highway signs and official documents.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 10.4 square miles (27 km2), of which 10.4 square miles (27 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2), or 0.48%, is water.
Boxborough is bordered by Littleton to the north, Acton to the east, Stow to the south, and Harvard to the west. Prior to incorporation in 1783, the area that is now Boxborough was part of Stow, Harvard, and Littleton.[2]
Business Results 1 - 10 of 2800
16 Reviews 
10 Reviews 
9 Reviews 
2 Reviews 
5 Reviews 
4 Reviews 
8 Reviews 
46 Reviews 
2 Reviews 
51 Reviews 