Beauty School Esthetician Bedford NY

How to Pick the Right Cosmetologist Degree Program near Bedford New York

Bedford NY wedding makeup artist with client Once you have made a decision to become a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Bedford NY, the process starts to search for and enroll in the right school. It’s essential that the school you choose not only provides the appropriate training for the specialty you have selected, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you might be a little bit puzzled about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. We’ll discuss a bit more about that in the next section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Bedford residence. Tuition will additionally be a critical consideration when assessing possible schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it’s not necessarily the ideal option. There are a number of other qualifications that you should evaluate when comparing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask about the cosmetology schools you are looking at later within this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of programs are available.

Defining Cosmetology

Bedford NY hair stylist cutting hair Cosmetology is a profession that is all about making the human body look more beautiful with the application of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are referred to as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but really a cosmetic may be almost anything that enhances the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, most states mandate that you undergo some type of specialized training and then become licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only Bedford NY beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have gained experience and a client base, open their own shops or salons. Others will begin servicing clients either in their own homes or will go to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by many titles 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 must 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 employed in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.

Cosmetology Degrees and Certificates

nail techs training at Bedford NY beauty school There are basically two avenues offered to get 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 usually take 12 to 18 months to complete, while an Associate’s degree commonly takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be trained in all of the main areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are available if you want to concentrate on just one area, for example hair coloring. A degree program will also most likely incorporate management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to run a parlor or other Bedford NY business. Higher degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whichever type of course you choose, it’s imperative to make certain that it’s recognized by the New York Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain reputable agencies, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the benefits of accreditation for the school you decide on in the upcoming segment.

Online Beauty Programs

student attending online beauty school in Bedford NY Online beauty classes are advantageous for Bedford NY students who are working full-time and have family obligations that make it difficult to attend a more traditional school. There are many online beauty school programs available that can be accessed by means of a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional beauty schools are often fast paced due to the fact that many programs are as short as six or eight months. This means that a large portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are dealing with the same volume of material, but you are not spending many hours away from your home or commuting back and forth from classes. However, it’s important that the program you choose can provide internship training in local salons and parlors to ensure that you also obtain the hands-on training needed for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s difficult to obtain the skills required to work in any facet of the cosmetology field. So be sure if you decide to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is provided in your area.

What to Ask Cosmetology Degree Programs

Questions to ask Bedford NY cosmetology schools Following is a list of questions that you need to look into for any beauty training program you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Bedford NY residence, as well as the cost of tuition, will probably be your initial 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 options 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 collected some of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final selection.

Is the School Accredited? It’s important to make sure that the cosmetology school you choose 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for getting student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not offered in 10506 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of Bedford NY businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Great Reputation? Any cosmetology school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. 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 sought after. Check rating companies for reviews together with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Bedford NY salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the field, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. And finally, check with the New York school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus? Some beauty schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs often broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you choose a school that specializes in 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 aspiration is to start a hair salon in Bedford NY, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly rated school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you need.

Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and mastering cosmetology skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is included in the cosmetology lessons you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that allow students to practice their developing talents on volunteers. If a beauty school offers limited or no scheduled live training, but instead relies mainly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for developing your skills. Therefore look for alternate schools that offer this kind of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from a cosmetology program, it’s essential that he or she gets assistance in finding that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide assistance develope relationships with Bedford NY businesses that are seeking qualified graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and inquire which salons and organizations they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Assistance Available? The majority of beauty schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and identify 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 too. If a school meets each of your other qualifications except for cost, do not discard it as an option before you determine what financial help may be provided.

Considering Cosmetology Schools in Bedford NY?

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

Bedford (town), New York

The town of Bedford was founded on December 23, 1680, when 22 Puritans from Stamford, Connecticut, purchased a tract of land three miles square known as the "Hopp Ground" from Chief Katonah and several other Native Americans for coats, blankets, wampum and cloth.[7]

Bedford was made a part of Connecticut in 1697 when a patent fixed the boundaries as a six-mile square. Only when King William III of England issued a royal decree in 1700 settling a boundary dispute did Bedford become part of New York.

The town served as the county seat of Westchester County during the American Revolutionary War after the Battle of White Plains, until Bedford was burned by the British in July 1779.[8][9] After the Revolution, Bedford was made one of two seats of county government, alternating with White Plains, until 1870. Westchester County's oldest government building is the Court House in Bedford village, which was built in 1787 and renovated in the 1960s.

Bedford NY barber trimming hair Picking and enrolling in the ideal cosmetologist program 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 learning more about Beauty School Esthetician. So be sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel positive about your decision. Don’t forget to organize all of the responses you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that data to contrast schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the college and program you decide on are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. If you begin with that base, and answer the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to start your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Bedford NY.