How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Oreland PA

How to Choose an Esthetics Course near Oreland Pennsylvania

Oreland PA esthetician client with cucumber facial Since you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Oreland PA, the task starts to search for and enroll in the best program. It’s essential that the school you pick not only furnishes the proper instruction for the specialty you have selected, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your initial search, you may be rather confused about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind of school. We’ll discuss a bit further about that in the upcoming section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Oreland residence. Tuition will also be a critical factor when assessing potential schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it’s not necessarily the right option. There are various other factors that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for instance 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 discuss a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of training programs are available.

What is Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Oreland PA Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human anatomy look more beautiful with the use of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic may be almost anything that enhances the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states require that you take some type of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work environments include not only Oreland PA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gained experience and a client base, open their own shops or salons. Others will begin seeing customers either in their own residences or will travel to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many names and work in a wide variety of specializations 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 must 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, including shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.

Esthetics Degrees

Oreland PA esthetician client with face mask There are essentially two options offered to receive esthetician training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs usually require 12 to 18 months to finish, 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 major areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are offered if you want to focus on just one area, for example esthetics. A degree program will also most likely incorporate management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to manage a salon or other Oreland PA business. Higher degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whatever type of program you choose, it’s imperative to make certain that it’s approved by the Pennsylvania Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only certify schools that are accredited by certain reputable organizations, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the advantages of accreditation for the school you choose in the upcoming segment.

Online Esthetics Programs

woman attending esthetician school online in Oreland PA Online esthetician schools are advantageous for Oreland PA students who are employed full-time and have family commitments that make it challenging to enroll in a more traditional school. There are numerous web-based beauty school programs offered that can be attended through a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional cosmetology schools are typically fast paced due to the fact that many programs are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a significant amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are dealing with the same volume of material, but you’re not spending numerous hours away from your home or commuting to and from classes. However, it’s essential that the training program you select can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors to ensure that you also obtain the hands-on training necessary for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s impossible to gain the skills needed to work in any area of the cosmetology profession. 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 Esthetics Trade Schools

Oreland PA models benefit from esthetic treatments Following is a list of questions that you should investigate for any esthetician training program you are contemplating. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Oreland residence, in addition to the cost of tuition, will probably 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 options based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have compiled several of those supplemental questions that you should ask each school before making a final decision.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s essential to make sure that the esthetician school you enroll in is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for getting student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not obtainable in 19075 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many Oreland PA employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation? Any esthetician college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly regarded. Check rating services for reviews in addition to the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Oreland PA salon owners or managers, or any person working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not considered. And finally, check with the Pennsylvania school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty? A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s essential that you decide on 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 well regarded for that program. If your desire is to open a Oreland PA beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly regarded school with a weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you need.

Is Any Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and mastering esthetician techniques and abilities involves plenty of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is included in the cosmetology lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that enable students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a beauty academy offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead relies predominantly on using mannequins, it might not be the best option for developing your skills. Therefore try to find other schools that offer this type of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from an esthetician school, it’s important that he or she receives support in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer assistance develop relationships with Oreland PA employers that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and inquire which salons and establishments they refer students to. Also, find out 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? Many esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Speak with a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students too. If a school meets all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not drop it as an alternative until you find out what financial assistance may be provided.

Attending Esthetician School Near Oreland PA?

Perhaps you live in the Oreland Pennsylvania 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.

Oreland, Pennsylvania

Oreland is a United States census-designated place (CDP) in Springfield and Upper Dublin townships, just outside the Chestnut Hill and Mount Airy areas of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Oreland has a ZIP code of 19075, and the population was 5,678 at the 2010 census.

In 1686, Thomas Fitzwater discovered vast lime deposits on his land in Oreland. He erected a kiln to process it, which by 1693 had attracted the attention of William Penn. Penn ordered a highway built from the port of the Delaware River to the kiln. Named Limekiln Pike, and still in existence today, it was one of the first roads in the area. These lime deposits and the ore deposits also found in the area gave Oreland its name. Mining and farming would dominate Oreland's economy until the 20th century, when Oreland transformed into a residential suburb of Philadelphia, as it remains today.

The village of Oreland was not laid out until 1889 near the North Penn Railroad running along the east side of town (currently SEPTA's Lansdale/Doylestown Line). The Plymouth Railroad ran from Conshohocken to Oreland through Plymouth and Flourtown. The tracks were mostly removed in the 1980s. The path where the trains used to run begins northeast of the Oreland Station Apartments, next to Ehrenpfort Road, and runs southwest towards Flourtown. The actual tracks, which still connect to SEPTA's Lansdale/Doylestown Line, end near the corner of Montgomery Avenue and Lyster Road. The path continues all the way to Flourtown, although in the 1990s the path was cut at Oreland Mill Road by housing built on both sides. The remainder of the path today is used primarily by children, runners and bikers.

Find the Right Esthetician School near Oreland PA

Picking and enrolling in the ideal esthetician college is important to receive the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel confident about your decision. Don’t forget to consolidate all of the information you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that information to compare schools. A good start in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the school and program you decide on are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. If you start with that foundation, 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 right choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to begin your career as a professional esthetician in Oreland PA.