Becoming A Professional Makeup Artist New Bedford MA

How to Choose the Right Beauty Degree Program near New Bedford Massachusetts

New Bedford MA wedding makeup artist with client Once you have made a decision to train as a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near New Bedford MA, the task begins to locate and enroll in the right school. It’s essential that the program you select not only furnishes the necessary instruction for the specialty you have selected, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your initial search, you might be rather unclear about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are basically interchangeable and both relate to the same type of school. We’ll talk a bit more about that in the upcoming section. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your New Bedford home. Tuition will also be a critical factor when reviewing potential schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it’s not always the ideal option. There are various other considerations that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask about the cosmetology schools you are thinking about later within this article. Before we do, let’s talk a bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of training programs are offered.

Defining Cosmetology

New Bedford MA hair stylist cutting hair Cosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human body look more attractive through the application of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that many 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 almost anything that enhances the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, most states mandate that you go through some kind of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only New Bedford MA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have acquired experience and a client base, open 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 have many professional names and work in a wide variety of specializations including:

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

As already stated, in most states working cosmetologists have to be licensed. In a few states there is an exemption. Only those performing more skilled services, for example hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others employed in cosmetology and less skilled, such as shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.

Cosmetology Certificates and Degrees

nail techs training at New Bedford MA beauty school There are primarily two pathways offered to receive cosmetology training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs generally take 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 instructed in each of the major areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are offered if you prefer to concentrate on just one area, for example hair coloring. A degree program will also probably feature management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to operate a salon or other New Bedford MA business. Higher degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whichever type of training program you go with, it’s essential to make certain that it’s recognized by the Massachusetts Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only recognize 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 choose in the next section.

Online Cosmetology Courses

student attending online beauty school in New Bedford MA Online cosmetology classes are convenient for New Bedford MA students who are working full-time and have family obligations that make it hard to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of online cosmetology school programs offered that can be attended through a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional beauty programs are typically fast paced given that many courses are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a substantial amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are covering the same amount of material, but you are not spending numerous hours outside of your home or driving back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it’s important that the school you choose can provide internship training in area salons and parlors so that you also obtain the hands-on training needed for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s impossible to gain the skills needed to work in any area of the cosmetology field. So be sure if you decide to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.

Questions to Ask Beauty Training Courses

Questions to ask New Bedford MA cosmetology schools Below is a list of questions that you will want to research for any beauty training program you are considering. As we have previously covered, the location of the school in relation to your New Bedford MA home, together with the expense of tuition, will most likely be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have collected several of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final determination.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s essential to make sure that the cosmetology training program you enroll in is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged local or national agency, 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 necessary for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not available in 02740 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many New Bedford MA employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Any cosmetologist college that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials 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 regarded. Visit rating services for reviews as well as the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with New Bedford MA salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the business, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to suggest others that you had not looked into. Finally, consult the Massachusetts 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 Specialty? A number of cosmetology schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs commonly expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s essential 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 start a hair salon in New Bedford MA, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly regarded school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you need.

Is Any Live Training Provided? Studying and refining cosmetology techniques and abilities involves lots of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is provided in the cosmetology courses you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that make it possible for students to practice their developing skills on volunteers. If a beauty program offers limited or no scheduled live training, but rather relies heavily on the use of mannequins, it might not be the most effective option for cultivating your skills. So try to find alternate schools that furnish this type of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from a cosmetology academy, it’s essential that he or she gets support in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish help develope relationships with New Bedford MA businesses that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and find out which salons and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered? The majority of beauty schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid department. Talk to a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you may qualify for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students also. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not omit it as an alternative before you find out what financial aid may be available.

Considering Cosmetology Schools in New Bedford MA?

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

New Bedford, Massachusetts

New Bedford is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 95,072,[3] making it the sixth-largest city in Massachusetts. New Bedford is nicknamed "The Whaling City" because during the 19th century, the city was one of the most important whaling ports in the world, along with Nantucket, Massachusetts and New London, Connecticut.[4] The city, along with Fall River and Taunton, make up the three largest cities in the South Coast region of Massachusetts and is known for its fishing fleet and accompanying seafood producing industries as well as having a high concentration of Luso Americans (Portuguese or from a former Portuguese colony).

Before the 17th century, the Wampanoag, who had settlements throughout southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island, including Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, were the only inhabitants of the lands along the Acushnet River. Their population is believed to have been about 12,000. While exploring New England, Bartholomew Gosnold landed on Cuttyhunk Island on May 15, 1602. From there, he explored Cape Cod and the neighboring areas, including the site of present-day New Bedford. However, rather than settle the area, he returned to England at the request of his crew.

Europeans first settled New Bedford in 1652. English Plymouth Colony settlers purchased the land from chief Massasoit of the Wampanoag tribe. Whether the transfer of the land was legitimately done has been the subject of intense controversy. Like other native tribes, the Wampanoags did not share the settlers' concepts of private property. The tribe may have believed they were granting usage rights to the land, not giving it up permanently.

New Bedford MA barber trimming hair Locating and enrolling in the right cosmetology program is imperative to obtain the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. You originally came to this website because you have an interest in learning more about Becoming A Professional Makeup Artist. So be sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel certain about your decision. Make certain to collect all of the responses you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information 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 excellent reputations within the profession. If you start with that foundation, and answer the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the right selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to begin your new career as a professional cosmetologist in New Bedford MA.