Professional Makeup School Girdwood AK

How to Pick the Right Cosmetology Degree Program near Girdwood Alaska

Girdwood AK wedding makeup artist with clientSince you have made a decision to train as a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Girdwood AK, the process starts to find and enroll in the ideal school. It’s essential that the program you pick not only furnishes the appropriate education for the specialty you have selected, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your preliminary search, you might be rather confused 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 kind of school. We’ll discuss a bit more concerning that in the upcoming segment. If you intend on commuting to classes you will need to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Girdwood residence. Tuition will additionally be an important aspect when reviewing possible schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it’s not necessarily the ideal option. There are many other considerations that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are considering later in this article. Before we do, let’s talk a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of courses are available.

Definition of Cosmetology

Girdwood AK hair stylist cutting hairCosmetology is an occupation 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 really a cosmetic can be anything that improves the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states mandate that you undergo some form of specialized training and then become licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only Girdwood AK beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have gained experience and a customer base, open their own shops or salons. Others will start seeing clients either in their own residences or will go to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by many professional names and are employed in a wide range of specializations including:

  • Hairdressers
  • Hairstylists
  • Beauticians
  • Barbers
  • Manicurists
  • Nail Technicians
  • Makeup Artists
  • Hair Coloring Specialists
  • Estheticians
  • Electrolysis Technicians

As formerly mentioned, in the majority of states practicing cosmetologists have to be licensed. In a few states there is an exception. Only those conducting more skilled services, for example hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others employed in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.

Cosmetologist Certificates and Degrees

nail techs training at Girdwood AK beauty schoolThere are essentially two options available to get cosmetology training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs generally take 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 trained in each of the major areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are offered if you wish to concentrate on just one area, for instance hair coloring. A degree program will also probably incorporate management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to operate a parlor or other Girdwood AK business. More advanced degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whichever type of training program you choose, it’s essential to make certain that it’s approved by the Alaska Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only approve schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded agencies, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the advantages of accreditation for the school you select in the next segment.

Online Beauty Programs

student attending online beauty school in Girdwood AKOnline beauty schools are convenient for Girdwood AK students who are working full-time and have family obligations that make it hard to attend a more traditional school. There are many online cosmetology school programs offered that can be accessed by means of a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional beauty programs are frequently fast paced given that many programs are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a substantial portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are covering the same volume of material, but you are not devoting many hours away from your home or commuting back and forth from classes. However, it’s important that the school you choose can provide internship training in area salons and parlors in order that you also obtain the hands-on training necessary for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s difficult to gain the skills required to work in any facet of the cosmetology industry. So make sure if you choose to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is available in your area.

What to Ask Beauty Schools

Questions to ask Girdwood AK cosmetology schoolsBelow is a list of questions that you will want to investigate for any cosmetologist training school you are contemplating. As we have already discussed, the location of the school relative to your Girdwood AK home, as well as the cost of tuition, will probably be your initial qualifiers. Whether you want to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have put together some of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final determination.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s essential to make certain that the cosmetology college 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not obtainable in 99587 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous Girdwood AK businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation?  Every cosmetology school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly sought after. Check rating services for reviews as well as the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Girdwood AK salon owners or managers, or someone working in the trade, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not thought of. And last, check with the Alaska 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 Specialty?  Many cosmetology schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s imperative that you enroll in a school that focuses on 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 aspiration is to open a hair salon in Girdwood AK, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly ranked school with a weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you need.

Is Enough Live Training Provided?  Practicing and mastering cosmetology techniques and abilities demands lots of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is provided in the cosmetology classes you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that allow students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a beauty school offers limited or no scheduled live training, but rather relies mainly on using mannequins, it might not be the most effective option for acquiring your skills. Therefore search for alternate schools that provide this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program?  When a student graduates from a cosmetology school, it’s crucial that she or he gets support in landing that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer aid develope relationships with Girdwood AK employers that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which salons and establishments they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Assistance Offered?  Most cosmetology schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid department. Talk to a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you might get approved for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students as well. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications except for expense, do not discard it as an option before you learn what financial assistance may be provided.

Considering Cosmetology Schools in Girdwood AK?

If you are considering attending Beauty School in Girdwood AK or in a nearby area, following is some interesting and useful information regarding the location of your new school campus.

Girdwood, Anchorage, Alaska

Girdwood is a resort town within the southern extent of the Municipality of Anchorage in the state of Alaska. Located near the end of the Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet, Girdwood lies in a valley in the southwestern Chugach Mountains, surrounded by seven glaciers feeding into a number of creeks, which either converge within the valley or empty directly into the arm. Girdwood is typically accessed by the Seward Highway (Milepost 90), with the main line of the Alaska Railroad paralleling the highway. By road distance, most of the community lies within 35 to 40 miles (56 to 64 km) of Downtown Anchorage. According to 2014 estimates, a little under 2,000 people live in the valley.

Founded as a community to supply miners during the Turnagain Arm gold rushes of the 1890s, Girdwood was mostly a small, quiet place until the middle of the 20th century. Two events drastically altered that. The first was the establishment of Alyeska Resort along the slopes of Mount Alyeska, which became an international destination coincidental with Anchorage's civic promotion of itself as "The Air Crossroads of the World". The second was the 1964 earthquake, which devastated the original townsite located directly along the arm. Following the earthquake, most of the town moved further up the valley to a new townsite, though a few homes remained and a strip mall was later constructed along the Seward Highway. Historically dominated in the years since the resort's opening by seasonally-occupied vacation homes and seasonal activity at the resort, the opening of the Alyeska Prince Hotel during the 1990s has shifted the resort, and hence Girdwood as a whole, more towards year-round activity and a year-round economy. This has led to periodic debates about community growth and affordability of housing for resort workers, many of whom over the years have resorted to camping illegally on public lands.

Girdwood still revolves heavily around seasonal activity, with skiing and snowboarding at Alyeska Resort bringing visitors and their money into the community. Summer activities are also popular, which include hiking, fishing and rafting. The Girdwood Forest Fair, held every July, is the community's most significant visitor attraction apart from resort-related activities. Girdwood is located within the northernmost extent of rain forest on Earth, and also serves as the closest point of access to Chugach National Forest from Anchorage proper.

Professional Makeup School Girdwood AK

Girdwood AK barber trimming hairSelecting and enrolling in the ideal cosmetologist college is essential to receive the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. You originally came to this website because you have an interest in learning more about Professional Makeup School. So be sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel confident about your decision. Don’t forget to organize all of the information you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that data to compare schools. A good start in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the institution and program you pick are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the field. If you begin with that base, and answer the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are prepared to launch your career as a professional cosmetologist in Girdwood AK.

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