How to Enroll In an Esthetics Training Program near Ashland Mississippi
Now that you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Ashland MS, the task begins to locate and enroll in the right program. It’s important that the school you choose not only furnishes the appropriate education for the specialty you have chosen, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your preliminary search, you might be a little bit confused about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are essentially interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. We’ll speak a bit more concerning that in the next segment. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Ashland home. Tuition will additionally be a critical factor when reviewing possible schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it’s not necessarily the right option. There are several other factors that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask about the cosmetology schools you are thinking about later within this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of programs are available.
Defining Cosmetology
Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human body look more beautiful with the application of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic can be almost anything that improves the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, the majority of states require that you go through some kind of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only Ashland MS beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have acquired experience and a clientele, launch their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing customers either in their own homes 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 specialties including:
- Estheticians
- Hairdressers
- Hairstylists
- Beauticians
- Barbers
- Manicurists
- Nail Technicians
- Makeup Artists
- Hair Coloring Specialists
- Electrolysis Technicians
As already stated, in most states working cosmetologists must be licensed. In a few states there is an exception. Only those offering more skilled services, for instance 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.
Esthetics Certificates and Degrees
There are basically two pathways offered to receive esthetician training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs usually 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 all of the major areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are available if you prefer to specialize in just one area, for example esthetics. A degree program will also most likely feature management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to operate a salon or other Ashland MS 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 choose, it’s important to make certain that it’s certified by the Mississippi Board of Cosmetology. Many states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded organizations, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the benefits of accreditation for the school you choose in the following segment.
Online Esthetics Schools
Online esthetician schools are convenient for Ashland MS students who are employed full-time and have family obligations that make it challenging to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of web-based beauty school programs offered that can be accessed via a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional beauty programs are typically fast paced given that many programs are as brief as six or eight 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 devoting many hours away from your home or commuting back and forth from classes. However, it’s imperative that the school you pick can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors to ensure that you also receive the hands-on training necessary for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s impossible to obtain the skills required to work in any area of the cosmetology profession. So don’t forget if you choose to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is provided in your area.
Questions to Ask Esthetics Programs
Following is a series of questions that you should investigate for any esthetician training program you are considering. As we have previously covered, the location of the school in relation to your Ashland home, together with the cost of tuition, will most likely be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue 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 preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have collected some of those supplemental questions that you should ask each school before making a final determination.
Is the Program Accredited? It’s necessary to make sure that the esthetician school you pick 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for getting student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not obtainable in 38603 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many Ashland MS businesses will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Any esthetician college 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. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating companies for reviews in addition to the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Ashland MS salon owners or managers, or someone working in the business, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. Finally, contact the Mississippi 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? Many esthetician schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s essential that you decide on a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your objective is to be trained as an esthetician, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your dream is to start a Ashland MS beauty salon, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly ranked school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you need.
Is Any Live Training Provided? Practicing and refining esthetician techniques and abilities involves lots of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is provided in the beauty lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that enable students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a beauty program offers little or no scheduled live training, but instead depends heavily on using mannequins, it might not be the most effective option for acquiring your skills. Therefore try to find other schools that furnish this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? As soon as a student graduates from an esthetician academy, it’s crucial that he or she receives assistance in securing that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer aid maintain relationships with Ashland MS businesses that are searching for qualified graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and inquire which salons and businesses they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Aid Offered? Almost all esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you may get approved for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students also. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications except for cost, do not drop it as an option until you find out what financial help may be offered.
Attending Esthetician School Near Ashland MS?
Perhaps you live in the Ashland Mississippi area, or have found a school that you will commute to or even relocate to attend. Either way, following is some interesting background information about the location of your new esthetician program.
Ashland, Mississippi
Ashland is a town in Benton County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 569 at the 2010 census.[2] It is the county seat of Benton County.[3] Ashland was incorporated on March 8, 1871, and has a Mayor-Aldermen form of government. Mitch Carroll is the 28th mayor of Ashland.
Ashland was established in 1871 as the county seat for the Benton County, which had been created the previous year. The Benton County Courthouse, the focus of the town's main square, was constructed in 1873. Many of Ashland's earliest residents hailed from Salem, an older community to the west that had been destroyed during the Civil War.[4]
Ashland is 18 miles (29 km) east of Holly Springs. The town is concentrated along Mississippi Highway 370, east of its intersection with Mississippi Highway 5. The Tennessee border is 14 miles (23 km) to the north.
Pick the Right Esthetician College near Ashland MS
Choosing and enrolling in the right esthetician program is imperative to get the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel confident about your decision. Make sure to consolidate all of the responses you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to contrast schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the school and program you choose are accredited and have impressive reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and address the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are ready to launch your new career as a professional esthetician in Ashland MS.
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