How to Find the Best Cosmetology Academy near Stone Park Illinois
Once you have made a decision to become a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Stone Park IL, the process begins to search for and enroll in the best school. It’s essential that the program you select not only provides the appropriate training for the specialty you have decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your initial search, you may be a little bit puzzled about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. We’ll speak a bit further regarding 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 Stone Park residence. Tuition will also be a critical aspect when reviewing possible schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it’s not necessarily the ideal choice. There are various other considerations that you should evaluate when comparing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding 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 types of training programs are offered.
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What is Cosmetology
Cosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human body look more attractive through the application of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are referred to as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic may be anything that improves the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states mandate that you undergo some kind of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Stone Park IL 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, establish their own shops or salons. Others will start seeing clients either in their own homes or will go to the client’s house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many titles and work in a wide range of specialties including:
- Hairdressers
- Hairstylists
- Beauticians
- Barbers
- Manicurists
- Nail Technicians
- Makeup Artists
- Hair Coloring Specialists
- Estheticians
- Electrolysis Technicians
As previously mentioned, in most states working cosmetologists must be licensed. In a few states there is an exemption. Only those offering more skilled services, for example hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people working in cosmetology and less skilled, such as shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.
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Cosmetologist Degrees
There are basically 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 normally call for 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 major areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are offered if you wish to concentrate on just one area, for instance hair coloring. A degree program will also likely feature management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to manage a parlor or other Stone Park IL business. More advanced degrees are not typical, 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 imperative to make certain that it’s recognized by the Illinois Board of Cosmetology. Many states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded agencies, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the advantages of accreditation for the school you select in the next section.
Online Cosmetology Courses
Online beauty programs are convenient for Stone Park IL students who are working full-time and have family responsibilities that make it challenging to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of web-based cosmetology school programs offered that can be accessed by means of a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional cosmetology schools are often fast paced since many courses are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a considerable portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are covering the same amount of material, but you are not spending numerous hours outside of your home or travelling back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it’s important that the school you choose can provide internship training in nearby 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 difficult to acquire the skills necessary to work in any facet of the cosmetology field. So don’t forget if you choose to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is provided in your area.
Questions to Ask Beauty Degree Programs
Below is a list of questions that you need to investigate for any cosmetologist training school you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Stone Park IL home, together with the expense of tuition, will probably be your initial 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 preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have put together some of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final selection.
Is the School Accredited? It’s necessary to make certain that the cosmetology school you select 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not offered in 60165 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of Stone Park IL businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Each cosmetology school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating companies for reviews in addition to the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Stone Park IL salon owners or managers, or any person working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. Finally, check with 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? A number of cosmetology schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs commonly expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s essential that you choose a school that specializes in your area of interest. If your goal 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 start a hair salon in Stone Park IL, then you need 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 seeking will not provide the training you require.
Is Enough Live Training Provided? Studying and mastering cosmetology techniques and abilities requires plenty of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the beauty lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that allow students to practice their developing skills on volunteers. If a beauty academy offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather depends predominantly on using mannequins, it might not be the most effective option for cultivating your skills. So look for other schools that furnish this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from a beauty program, it’s imperative that she or he receives aid in landing that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish help develope relationships with Stone Park IL employers that are looking for qualified graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and ask which salons and establishments 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 respected as well.
Is Financial Aid Available? Many cosmetology schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid department. Consult 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 available to students as well. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not omit it as an alternative until you learn what financial assistance may be offered.
Best Cosmetology School Stone Park Illinois
Locating and enrolling in the right cosmetology college is imperative to receive the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. You originally came to this website because you have an interest in Best Cosmetology School and learning more about the topic How To Choose A Beauty College. So be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel confident about your decision. Don’t forget to collect all of the information you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that information to compare schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the school and program you choose are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. If you begin with that base, and address the additional questions supplied in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the right selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are prepared to begin your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Stone Park IL.
Other Beautiful Illinois Locations
Stone Park, Illinois
Stone Park is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 4,946 at the 2010 census.[3] Incorporated in 1939, the town was named for insurance magnate Clement Stone, who bought most of the land when it was still corn fields.
As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 5,127 people, 1,265 households, and 1,065 families residing in the village. The population density was 15,378.2 people per square mile (5,998.6/km²), making it the most densely populated municipality in Illinois. There were 1,315 housing units at an average density of 3,944.3 per square mile (1,538.6/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 53.99% White, 1.81% African American, 0.47% Native American, 2.03% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 38.85% from other races, and 2.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 79.13% of the population. The village was the first ever in Illinois to be more than 50% Hispanic.
There were 1,265 households out of which 52.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.0% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.8% were non-families. 11.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.05 and the average family size was 4.34.
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