How to Choose the Best Cosmetology School near Hickory Corners Michigan
Now that you have decided to train as a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Hickory Corners MI, the process begins to find and enroll in the right school. It’s imperative that the school you pick not only provides the necessary training for the specialty you have selected, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your initial search, you may be rather confused about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are essentially interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind of school. We’ll speak a little bit more about that in the next segment. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Hickory Corners residence. Tuition will additionally be an important factor when assessing potential schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it’s not automatically the right option. There are various other factors that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask about the cosmetology schools you are considering later in this article. Before we do, let’s talk a bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of courses are available.
Start Your Career in Cosmetology By Requesting Your Free Information Below
What is Cosmetology
Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human body look more attractive with the application of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic may be anything that improves the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states mandate that you undergo some form of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only Hickory Corners MI beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have acquired experience and a customer base, open their own shops or salons. Others will begin seeing customers either in their own residences or will go to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by many professional names and are employed in a wide range of specializations including:
- Hairdressers
- Hairstylists
- Beauticians
- Barbers
- Manicurists
- Nail Technicians
- Makeup Artists
- Hair Coloring Specialists
- Estheticians
- Electrolysis Technicians
As formerly stated, in the majority of states working cosmetologists have to be licensed. In certain states there is an exception. Only those offering 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 be licensed in those states.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Cosmetology Schools Near You!
Cosmetology Degrees and Certificates
There are primarily two pathways offered to get cosmetology training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs typically call for 12 to 18 months to complete, while an Associate’s degree usually takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be trained in all of the major areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are available if you prefer to focus on just one area, such as 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 Hickory Corners MI business. More advanced degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whichever type of program you go with, it’s imperative to make certain that it’s approved by the Michigan Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain respected agencies, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the benefits of accreditation for the school you decide on in the following section.
Online Beauty Classes
Online beauty programs are advantageous for Hickory Corners MI students who are working full-time and have family obligations that make it hard to enroll in a more traditional school. There are many online cosmetology school programs available that can be accessed via a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional cosmetology programs are often fast paced due to the fact that many programs are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a large portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are covering the same amount of material, but you are not devoting many hours away from your home or travelling back and forth from classes. However, it’s vital that the training program you pick can provide internship training in area salons and parlors so that you also receive the hands-on training necessary for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s impossible to gain the skills needed to work in any area of the cosmetology industry. So don’t forget if you choose to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is available in your area.
Questions to Ask Cosmetologist Programs
Following is a list of questions that you should investigate for any cosmetologist training school you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Hickory Corners MI residence, together with the price of tuition, will undoubtedly be your initial 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 initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have compiled several of those supplemental questions that you should ask each school before making a final decision.
Is the Program Accredited? It’s necessary to make sure that the cosmetology college you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which typically are not available in 49060 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many Hickory Corners MI employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Each cosmetologist school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly sought after. Check rating companies for reviews as well as the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Hickory Corners MI salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the trade, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not looked into. And last, contact the Michigan school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Some beauty schools offer programs that are comprehensive 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 commonly broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s imperative that you decide on a school that specializes in your area of interest. If your ambition is to be trained as an esthetician, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your aspiration is to launch a hair salon in Hickory Corners MI, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly regarded school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you need.
Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Practicing and refining cosmetology skills and techniques requires lots of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is provided in the cosmetology courses you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that allow students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a beauty program furnishes limited or no scheduled live training, but rather relies heavily on using mannequins, it may not be the most effective alternative for acquiring your skills. So search for alternate schools that furnish this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from a beauty academy, it’s important that he or she gets assistance in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide aid maintain relationships with Hickory Corners MI businesses that are seeking qualified graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which salons and establishments they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Aid Available? Almost all cosmetology schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid office. Speak with 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 too. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not eliminate it as an option until you learn what financial aid may be provided.
Schools With Cosmetology Programs Hickory Corners Michigan
Selecting and enrolling in the right cosmetology college is essential to get the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. You originally came to this website because you have an interest in Schools With Cosmetology Programs and learning more about the topic Cosmetologist Colleges. So make sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel certain about your decision. Make sure to collect all of the information you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that information to compare schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the school and program you pick are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the profession. If you start with that foundation, and answer the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the right selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are ready to begin your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Hickory Corners MI.
Other Beautiful Michigan Locations
Hickory Corners, Michigan
The first settler, the Rev. Moses Lawrence, built his home in 1834 on the shore of Lawrence Lake about a half mile east of the present town. In 1837, surveyors found a large hickory tree in the center of section 28, from which the settlement took its name. Solomon C. Hall built the first house in the town and became the first postmaster in July 1844.[2]
Hickory Corners is located in southwestern Barry County at the intersection of Kellogg School Road and West Hickory Road. It is 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north of the southern boundary of Barry County with Kalamazoo County and 2.5 miles (4.0 km) east of state highway M-43.
The Gilmore Car Museum, a collection of classic automobiles, is located at the intersection of M-43 and West Hickory Road, with a Hickory Corners mailing address. The museum includes the Michigan Motor Sports Hall of Fame.
Business Results 1 - 10 of 290
2 Reviews 
7 Reviews 
23 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
2 Reviews 
19 Reviews 
7 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
1 Reviews 