How to Select the Best Beauty Classes near Ottumwa Iowa
Since you have made a decision to become a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Ottumwa IA, the task starts to search for and enroll in the right school. It’s essential that the school you pick not only furnishes the proper instruction for the specialty you have chosen, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your preliminary search, you may be a little bit puzzled about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are basically interchangeable and both refer to the same kind of school. We’ll discuss a bit more about that in the following segment. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Ottumwa home. Tuition will also be an important factor when assessing possible schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it’s not always the best option. There are several other qualifications that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are considering later in this article. Before we do, let’s talk a bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of training programs are offered.
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Defining Cosmetology
Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human anatomy look more attractive with the application of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are referred to 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, most states mandate that you undergo some form of specialized training and then become licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only Ottumwa IA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gotten experience and a client base, open their own shops or salons. Others will begin seeing customers either in their own homes or will travel to the client’s house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go 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 earlier stated, in the majority of states practicing cosmetologists have to be licensed. In some states there is an exemption. Only those conducting 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 get licensed in those states.
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Cosmetology Certificates and Degrees
There are essentially two pathways available to obtain cosmetology training and a credential upon 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 complete, 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 main areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are offered if you prefer to specialize in just one area, such as hair coloring. A degree program will also likely include management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to manage a parlor or other Ottumwa IA business. Higher degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whatever type of program you decide on, it’s essential to make sure that it’s approved by the Iowa Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only certify schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded agencies, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the benefits of accreditation for the school you select in the following section.
Online Cosmetologist Courses
Online cosmetology schools are accommodating for Ottumwa IA students who are working full-time and have family commitments that make it challenging to enroll in a more traditional school. There are many online cosmetology school programs available that can be accessed through a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional cosmetology programs are often fast paced since many programs are as short as six or eight months. This means that a significant portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are dealing with the same volume of material, but you’re not devoting numerous hours away from your home or commuting back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it’s essential that the school you select can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors to ensure that you also obtain the hands-on training required for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s impossible to gain the skills necessary to work in any facet of the cosmetology profession. So make sure if you choose to enroll in an online school to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.
Questions to Ask Beauty Training Programs
Below is a series of questions that you need to investigate for any cosmetology training program you are contemplating. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Ottumwa IA home, as well as the cost of tuition, will most likely 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 reduced your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have compiled some of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final decision.
Is the School 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 organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which often are not obtainable in 52501 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many Ottumwa IA businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably 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 outstanding reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. 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, signifying that their students are highly demanded. Check rating companies for reviews in addition to the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Ottumwa IA salon owners or managers, or anyone 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 looked into. Finally, check with the Iowa school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Many beauty schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs often broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you pick a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your intention 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 launch a hair salon in Ottumwa IA, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly rated school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you require.
Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Studying and refining cosmetology skills and techniques involves lots of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is provided in the cosmetology classes you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that enable students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a beauty school provides little or no scheduled live training, but instead relies heavily on the use of mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for cultivating your skills. Therefore search for other schools that offer this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from a cosmetology program, it’s essential that he or she receives aid in securing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer assistance maintain relationships with Ottumwa IA employers that are looking for qualified graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and inquire which salons and establishments they refer students to. Additionally, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Offered? Most beauty schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are considering have a financial aid department. Consult with a counselor and find out 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 offered to students also. If a school meets all of your other qualifications except for expense, do not omit it as an option before you determine what financial aid may be offered.
Colleges That Offer Cosmetology Ottumwa Iowa
Finding and enrolling in the right beauty college is essential to get the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. You originally came to this website because you have an interest in Colleges That Offer Cosmetology and learning more about the topic Cosmetology Schools. So be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel positive about your decision. Be sure to consolidate all of the information you get from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to compare schools. A good start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the academy and program you choose are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the field. If you begin with that base, and address the additional questions supplied in this post, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the proper selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to start your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Ottumwa IA.
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Ottumwa, Iowa
Ottumwa (/əˈtʌmwə/; ə-TUM-wə) is a city in and the county seat of Wapello County, Iowa, United States.[5] The population was 25,023 at the 2010 U.S. Census. Located in the state's southeastern part, the city is split into northern and southern halves by the Des Moines River.
In 1857, coal was being mined from the McCready bank, a site along Bear Creek four miles west of Ottumwa. In 1868, Brown and Godfrey opened a drift mine four miles northwest of town. By 1872, Brown and Godfrey employed 300 men and had an annual production of 77,000 tons. In 1880, the Phillips Coal and Mining Company opened a mine two miles northwest of town. In subsequent years, they opened 5 more shafts in the Phillips and Rutledge neighborhoods, just north of Ottumwa.[7] The Phillips number 5 shaft was 140 feet deep, with a 375 horse power steam hoist.[8] By 1889, the state mine inspector’s report listed 15 mine shafts in Ottumwa.[9] In 1914, the Phillips Fuel Company produced over 100,000 tons of coal, ranking among the top 24 coal producers in the state.[10]
John Morrell & Company played a significant role in the development of the City of Ottumwa from 1877 to 1973. The complex typified meat packing as it developed in the midwest during the last quarter of the nineteenth century and the first half of the twentieth century.[11]
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