Not all beauty schools are equal, and you may feel overwhelmed when you search for the right beauty school for you. One confusing term you might run across is “accreditation.”
Accreditation is the approval a school gets from the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). The AACS reviews beauty schools to make sure all of their programs meet the highest standards of beauty education.
This means that the courses you take in cosmetology, hair care, nail care, and other subjects at an accredited school give you the most for your tuition money. It is important to know that students who apply to non-accredited schools are not always eligible for financial aid, as those schools are not required to accept the Federal Application for Student Financial Aid (FAFSA).
Choosing an accredited school means:
- You may be eligible for federal financial aid
- You may have an advantage in the job market because employers know that applicants from accredited cosmetology schools are salon professionals with the quality training
- You may have more earning potential because you are eligible to work at more places and may get paid more
In short, a degree or certificate from an accredited beauty or cosmetology school is the gold standard in beauty education.
