How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Lakeside OR

How to Select an Esthetician School near Lakeside Oregon

Lakeside OR esthetician client with cucumber facial Now that you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Lakeside OR, the process begins to search for and enroll in the ideal program. It’s imperative that the program you select not only furnishes the necessary training for the specialty you have decided on, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin 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 names are basically interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. We’ll discuss a bit further concerning that in the following segment. If you intend on commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Lakeside home. Tuition will also be a critical consideration when reviewing possible schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it’s not necessarily the right choice. There are a number of other considerations that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding 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 training programs are offered.

What is Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Lakeside OR Cosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human anatomy look more beautiful with the use of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but actually 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, the majority of states mandate that you go through some type of specialized training and then become licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only Lakeside OR beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses 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 customers either in their own residences or will go to the client’s house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by many titles 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 previously stated, in the majority of states practicing cosmetologists have to be licensed. In some states there is an exception. Only those performing more skilled services, for instance hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others working in cosmetology and less skilled, such as shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.

Esthetician Degrees

Lakeside OR esthetician client with face mask There are basically two options offered to receive esthetician training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs normally require 12 to 18 months to finish, while an Associate’s degree ordinarily 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 available if you wish to focus on just one area, for instance esthetics. A degree program will also likely include management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to operate a salon or other Lakeside OR business. More advanced degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such areas as salon or spa management. Whichever type of program you opt for, it’s essential to make certain that it’s recognized by the Oregon Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only certify schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded agencies, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the advantages of accreditation for the school you select in the upcoming section.

Online Esthetics Classes

woman attending esthetician school online in Lakeside OR Online esthetician programs are convenient for Lakeside OR students who are employed full-time and have family responsibilities that make it challenging to attend a more traditional school. There are numerous web-based beauty school programs offered that can be accessed through a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional beauty schools are typically fast paced given that many courses are as short as six or eight months. This means that a substantial amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are covering the same amount of material, but you’re not devoting many hours outside of your home or commuting back and forth from classes. However, it’s essential that the training program you select can provide internship training in local salons and parlors in order that you also obtain the hands-on training required 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 field. So make sure if you choose to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is available in your area.

What to Ask Esthetician Degree Programs

Lakeside OR models benefit from esthetic treatments Below is a series of questions that you need to research for any esthetician training school you are contemplating. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Lakeside home, as well as the expense of tuition, will most likely 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 reduced your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you should research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have collected several of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final determination.

Is the School Accredited? It’s necessary to make sure that the esthetician training program you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable in 97449 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous Lakeside OR businesses will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably 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 excellent reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating companies for reviews along with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Lakeside OR salon owners or managers, or someone working in the industry, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to propose others that you had not considered. And finally, contact the Oregon school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in total compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty? Many esthetician schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s imperative that you choose 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 well regarded for that program. If your dream is to open a Lakeside OR beauty salon, then you want 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 seeking will not provide the training you need.

Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and mastering esthetician skills and techniques demands lots of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is included in the beauty courses you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that enable students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a beauty program furnishes limited or no scheduled live training, but instead relies predominantly on using mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for developing your skills. Therefore look for other schools that furnish this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from an esthetician program, it’s imperative that he or she gets aid in securing that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer help develop relationships with Lakeside OR employers that are seeking trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and inquire which salons and establishments they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered? Many esthetician schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are considering have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you might get approved for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students too. If a school meets all of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not eliminate it as an alternative until you learn what financial aid may be available.

Attending Esthetician School Near Lakeside OR?

Perhaps you live in the Lakeside Oregon 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.

Lakeside

Pick the Right Esthetician Training Program near Lakeside OR

Picking and enrolling in the ideal esthetician college is essential to obtain the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel certain about your decision. Make certain to organize all of the responses you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that data to compare schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the institution and program you decide on are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. If you begin with that base, and address the additional questions supplied in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are prepared to begin your career as a professional esthetician in Lakeside OR.