Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Dresher PA

How to Pick a Beauty College near Dresher Pennsylvania

nail technicians training at Dresher PA beauty school Since you have made a decision to train as a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Dresher PA, the task starts to search for and enroll in the right school. It’s essential that the school you choose not only provides the appropriate instruction for the specialty you have decided on, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your initial search, you may be somewhat 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 type of school. We’ll talk a bit further concerning that in the following section. If you intend on commuting to classes you will need to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Dresher home. Tuition will additionally be an important factor when assessing prospective schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it’s not automatically the best option. There are a number of other considerations that you should weigh when reviewing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask concerning the cosmetology schools you are thinking about later within this article. Before we do, let’s talk a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of programs are offered.

Definition of Cosmetology

Dresher PA makeup ar4tist applying makeup Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human body look more attractive with the application of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic may be anything that enhances the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, the majority of states require that you take some kind of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only Dresher PA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gotten experience and a customer base, establish their own shops or salons. Others will start seeing customers either in their own homes or will travel to the client’s house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many names and work in a wide range of specialties including:

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

As already mentioned, in most states practicing cosmetologists have to be licensed. In a few states there is an exemption. Only those performing more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people working in cosmetology and less skilled, such as shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.

Cosmetology Certificates and Degrees

Dresher PA hairdresser cutting hair There are basically two avenues offered to receive cosmetology 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 take 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 available if you wish to specialize in just one area, for instance hair coloring. A degree program will also likely feature management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to run a parlor or other Dresher PA business. Higher degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whatever type of training program you choose, it’s imperative to make sure that it’s approved by the Pennsylvania Board of Cosmetology. Many states only certify schools that are accredited by certain respected agencies, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the advantages of accreditation for the school you select in the next section.

Online Cosmetologist Programs

student attending cosmetology school online in Dresher PA Online beauty classes are accommodating for Dresher PA students who are employed full-time and have family obligations that make it difficult to enroll in a more traditional school. There are numerous web-based beauty school programs offered that can be attended by means of a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional cosmetology schools are often fast paced due to the fact that many courses are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a considerable portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are covering the same amount of material, but you’re not devoting numerous hours outside of your home or commuting back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it’s important that the program you choose can provide internship training in area salons and parlors to ensure that you also obtain the hands-on training required for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s impossible to gain the skills necessary to work in any area of the cosmetology field. So don’t forget if you decide to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is available in your area.

Questions to Ask Cosmetology Training Courses

Questions to ask Dresher PA beauty schools Following is a list of questions that you should investigate for any cosmetology training school you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Dresher PA residence, in addition to the expense of tuition, will most likely be your primary 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 narrowed your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have compiled some of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final decision.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s important to make sure that the cosmetology training program you enroll in 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 comply with their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which often are not offered in 19025 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many Dresher PA businesses 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? Each beauty college that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly demanded. Check rating companies for reviews together with the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Dresher PA salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the field, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not considered. And last, consult the Pennsylvania school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty? Many beauty schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s imperative that you decide on a school that specializes in your area of interest. If your intention 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 desire is to open a hair salon in Dresher PA, then you need 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 pursuing will not provide the training you need.

Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and mastering cosmetology techniques and abilities involves plenty of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the beauty classes you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that allow students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a beauty academy provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather depends heavily on the use of mannequins, it might not be the most effective option for developing your skills. Therefore look for alternate schools that provide this kind of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from a beauty program, it’s imperative that she or he gets assistance in finding that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer aid maintain relationships with Dresher PA businesses that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and ask which salons and businesses they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

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

Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Dresher PA?

If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Dresher PA area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.

Dresher, Pennsylvania

Dresher (previously Dreshertown) is a community in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 5,610 at the 2000 census. Because Dresher is neither an incorporated area nor a census-designated place, all statistics are for the ZIP code 19025, with which the community is coterminous.

As of the census of 2000, there were 5,610 people, 1,765 households, and 1,538 families residing in the community. The population density was 1,734.04/sq mi. There were 1,830 housing units at an average density of 564.67/sq mi. The racial make-up was 89.9% White, 1.0% African American, 0.7% Native American, 6.8% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.8% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.2% of the population.

Out of the 1,765 households, 47.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 80.4% were married couples living together, 2.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 12.9% were non-families. 12.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 3.05 and the average family size was 3.31.

Pick the Right Cosmetology College near Dresher PA

Dresher PA barber blow drying client's hair Locating and enrolling in the ideal cosmetology program is imperative to get the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel confident about your decision. Don’t forget to organize all of the information you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to compare schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the institution and program you select are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you start with that foundation, and address the additional questions supplied in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to begin your career as a professional cosmetologist in Dresher PA.