How to Pick the Right Cosmetology Training Program near Normantown West Virginia
Now that you have decided to train as a cosmetologist and attend a beauty school near Normantown WV, the task begins to find and enroll in the right school. It’s imperative that the program you pick not only furnishes the appropriate education for the specialty you have decided on, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your preliminary search, you might be a little bit unclear about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are pretty much interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. We’ll speak a little bit further about that in the next section. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Normantown home. Tuition will additionally be a critical consideration when reviewing possible schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it’s not necessarily the right option. There are several other considerations that you should weigh 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 within this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of programs are available.
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Definition of Cosmetology
Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human anatomy look more beautiful through the application of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic can be anything that improves the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, the majority of states require that you undergo some kind of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work environments include not only Normantown WV beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gained experience and a client base, launch their own shops or salons. Others will begin servicing clients either in their own residences or will travel to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many professional names and work in a wide range of specializations including:
- Hairdressers
- Hairstylists
- Beauticians
- Barbers
- Manicurists
- Nail Technicians
- Makeup Artists
- Hair Coloring Specialists
- Estheticians
- Electrolysis Technicians
As already stated, in the majority of states working cosmetologists have to be licensed. In a few states there is an exception. Only those performing 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 Degrees
There are essentially two options available to obtain 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 generally require 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 trained in each of the main areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you wish to focus on 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 operate a parlor or other Normantown WV business. Higher degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such areas as salon or spa management. Whichever type of program you opt for, it’s important to make certain that it’s certified by the West Virginia Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only certify schools that are accredited by certain reputable agencies, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the benefits of accreditation for the school you choose in the upcoming section.
Online Beauty Courses
Online cosmetology classes are accommodating for Normantown WV students who are employed full-time and have family responsibilities that make it challenging to enroll in a more traditional school. There are many web-based cosmetology school programs available that can be attended through a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional cosmetology programs are often fast paced because many courses are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a considerable amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are covering the same amount of material, but you are not devoting many hours away from your home or driving back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it’s important that the school you select can provide internship training in area salons and parlors so that you also receive the hands-on training needed for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s impossible to acquire the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology field. So don’t forget if you choose to enroll in an online school to confirm that internship training is available in your area.
What to Ask Cosmetology Trade Schools
Following is a series of questions that you will want to look into for any cosmetology training program you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school relative to your Normantown WV residence, in addition to the expense of tuition, will most likely be your initial qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have compiled some of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final determination.
Is the School Accredited? It’s essential to make sure that the cosmetology school you select 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for getting student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not offered in 25267 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many Normantown WV employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Every beauty school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional 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. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating companies for reviews together with the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Normantown WV salon owners or managers, or someone working in the field, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not considered. And last, contact the West Virginia school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Some beauty schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular 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 choose a school that specializes in 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 respected for that program. If your dream is to launch a hair salon in Normantown WV, 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 poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you require.
Is Any Live Training Provided? Practicing and mastering cosmetology skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the beauty courses you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that make it possible for students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a beauty school provides little or no scheduled live training, but rather depends predominantly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the most effective option for acquiring your skills. Therefore try to find other schools that provide this kind of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from a cosmetology school, 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 offer aid develope relationships with Normantown WV businesses that are seeking trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and ask which salons and businesses 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 regarded as well.
Is Financial Assistance Available? Most beauty schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid office. Speak with a counselor and find out 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 accessible to students too. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications except for cost, do not discard it as an option until you determine what financial assistance may be available.
How To Choose A Cosmetology School Normantown West Virginia
Locating and enrolling in the ideal beauty college is imperative to get the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. You originally came to this website because you have an interest in How To Choose A Cosmetology School and learning more about the topic Beautician Courses. So be sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel positive about your decision. Be sure to collect all of the responses you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that data to contrast schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the school and program you choose are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the profession. If you begin with that foundation, and address the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. Once 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 Normantown WV.
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Normantown, West Virginia
James Norman, a son of John and Lydia (Brown) Norman, was born in Duffield, Derby, England in 1776 and was christened at Derby parish May 19, 1776. At this writing, it is not known when or how James came to America. We do know that he married Mary Nedley, who was born in 1775 in Virginia. In 1810, the Randolph County VA (WV) Census listed the 12 member family of James Norman.
James "Jimmy" Norman (1910-1982), son of Elmer Dotson Norman, helped build the two-story stone "Norman Cottage" in Normantown, WV just west of the school on US 33/119. His grandfather, James Paul Norman, told how James, Mary, and one son, Semore, came over the mountains by wagon, from present-day Barbour County WV, to settle in the fertile valleys sometimes called "the blue grass belt of WV" prior to 1830. They spent their first winter on the Left Fork of Steer Creek, in a bark lean-to, built in a small ravine just below the present road near where Richard Parsons now lives. The following year, they built a house at the forks of White Oak Camp Run and the Left Fork of Steer Creek. For many years a large stone stood in the meadow marking the site of their home. Then one hot summer day, Jimmy Norman removed it. In his words, "I had skinned my knuckles just one too many times, trying to maneuver the horses and equipment around that rock." According to Jimmy, James received a 1,000 acres land grant from the Governor of Virginia.
Jimmy recalled: "I can show you every corner." The stone house is on the original grant. James also received a grant in 1831 from the Governor of Virginia for 45 acres on Steer Creek, and in 1837 another tract of 50 acres on Steer Run. Daniel DeWeese (1821-1905), a Confederate Civil War Veteran and lifelong resident of Gilmer and Calhoun Counties, recalled James Norman in his 1904 book, "Recollections and Experiences of a Lifetime":
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