How to Choose the Best Beauty Academy near Biddeford Maine
Since you have made a decision to become a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Biddeford ME, the task starts to locate and enroll in the right school. It’s essential that the school you choose not only furnishes the appropriate instruction for the specialty you have selected, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you might be rather puzzled about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are basically interchangeable and both refer to the same type of school. We’ll discuss a little bit further concerning that in the next segment. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Biddeford home. Tuition will additionally be a critical factor when assessing possible schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it’s not automatically the ideal choice. There are various other factors that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask about the cosmetology schools you are looking at later in this article. Before we do, let’s talk a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of programs are available.
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Definition of 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 a number of cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but really a cosmetic can be anything that enhances the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states require that you undergo some form of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work environments include not only Biddeford 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 begin servicing clients either in their own homes or will travel to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many titles 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 previously mentioned, in most states practicing cosmetologists must be licensed. In certain states there is an exemption. Only those conducting more skilled services, for instance hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people employed in cosmetology and less skilled, such as shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.
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Cosmetology Certificates and Degrees
There are primarily two avenues available to receive 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 typically 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 prefer to specialize in just one area, such as hair coloring. A degree program will also probably incorporate management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to manage a salon or other Biddeford ME business. More advanced degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whatever type of training program you go with, it’s imperative to make certain that it’s approved by the Maine Board of Cosmetology. Many states only approve schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded organizations, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the advantages of accreditation for the school you decide on in the upcoming segment.
Online Cosmetologist Programs
Online cosmetology classes are accommodating for Biddeford ME students who are working full-time and have family commitments that make it challenging to enroll in a more traditional school. There are a large number of online beauty school programs available that can be accessed by means of a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional beauty programs are typically fast paced since many programs are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a large portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you are not devoting many hours outside of your home or driving back and forth from classes. However, it’s imperative that the program you select can provide internship training in area salons and parlors in order that you also obtain the hands-on training required for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s impossible to acquire the skills required to work in any facet of the cosmetology field. So be sure if you choose to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is available in your area.
Questions to Ask Cosmetology Programs
Below is a list of questions that you will want to look into for any beauty training school you are contemplating. As we have already discussed, the location of the school relative to your Biddeford ME residence, together with the expense of tuition, will most likely be your primary qualifiers. Whether you wish to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have compiled several of those supplemental questions that you should ask every school before making a final decision.
Is the Program Accredited? It’s essential to make sure that the cosmetology college you enroll in is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified local or national agency, 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 important for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which typically are not available in 04005 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 Biddeford ME businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Every cosmetologist college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly sought after. Check rating companies for reviews in addition to the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Biddeford ME salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the field, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. And finally, contact the Maine school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Many beauty schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s essential that you choose 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 well regarded for that program. If your desire is to start a hair salon in Biddeford ME, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly regarded school with a weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you require.
Is Enough Live Training Provided? Practicing and mastering cosmetology skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is provided in the beauty classes you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that enable students to practice their growing talents on volunteers. If a beauty school provides limited or no scheduled live training, but rather relies heavily on the use of mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for developing your skills. Therefore search for alternate schools that furnish this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from a cosmetology school, it’s important that he or she gets aid in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide assistance maintain relationships with Biddeford ME employers that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which salons and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, 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 respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Available? Most beauty schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid office. Consult with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school belongs to 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 before you find out what financial aid may be offered.
Cosmetologist Colleges Biddeford Maine
Locating and enrolling in the right cosmetology program is essential to get the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. You originally came to this website because you have an interest in Cosmetologist Colleges and learning more about the topic Cosmetology School Requirements. So make sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel positive about your decision. Don’t forget to compile all of the information you get from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that information to contrast schools. A good beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the institution and program you select are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you start with that foundation, and answer the additional questions provided 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 test, you will be confident that you are prepared to launch your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Biddeford ME.
Other Beautiful Maine Locations
Biddeford, Maine
Biddeford is a city in York County, Maine, United States. It is the principal commercial center of York County. The population was 21,277 at the 2010 census. Twin city of Saco, Biddeford includes the resort community of Biddeford Pool, Fortunes Rocks and Granite Point. The town is the site of the University of New England and the annual La Kermesse Franco-Americaine Festival. First visited by Europeans in 1616, it is the site of one of the earliest European settlements in the United States.
Abenaki Indians, whose main village was upriver at Pequawket (now Fryeburg), once hunted and fished in the area. The first European to settle at Biddeford was physician Richard Vines in the winter of 1616-17 at Winter Harbor, as he called Biddeford Pool. This 1616 landing by a European predates the Mayflower landing in Plymouth, Massachusetts, (located 100 miles to the south) by approximately four years, a fact that is overlooked in much of New England lore.[4] In 1630, the Plymouth Company granted the land south of the River Swanckadocke to Dr. Vines and John Oldham. In 1653, the town included both sides of the river, and was incorporated by the Massachusetts General Court as Saco.[5]
Biddeford was first incorporated as the Town of Saco in 1653.[6] Roger Spencer was granted the right in 1653 to build the first sawmill. Lumber and fish became the community's chief exports. In 1659, Major William Phillips of Boston became a proprietor, and constructed a garrison and mill at the falls. During King Philip's War in 1675, the town was attacked by Indians. Settlers withdrew to Winter Harbor for safety, and their homes and mills upriver at the falls were burned. In 1693, a stone fort was built a short distance below the falls, but it was captured by the Indians in 1703, when 11 colonists were killed and 24 taken captive to Canada. In 1688, Fort Mary was built near the entrance to Biddeford Pool.[7] The town was reorganized in 1718 as Biddeford, after Bideford, a town in Devon, England, from which some settlers had emigrated. After the Fall of Quebec in 1759, hostilities with the natives ceased.[5]
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