Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Oreland PA

How to Choose a Cosmetology College near Oreland Pennsylvania

nail technicians training at Oreland PA beauty school Now that you have made a decision to become a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Oreland PA, the process begins to locate and enroll in the best school. It’s imperative that the school you select not only furnishes the appropriate training for the specialty you have selected, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your initial search, you may be somewhat confused about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. We’ll discuss a bit further concerning that in the next segment. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Oreland home. Tuition will additionally be an important aspect when evaluating possible schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it’s not automatically the right option. There are a number of other factors that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask concerning 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 training programs are offered.

Definition of Cosmetology

Oreland PA makeup ar4tist applying makeup Cosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human body look more attractive with the use 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 really 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, most states mandate that you go through some form of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only Oreland 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, open their own shops or salons. Others will start seeing customers either in their own homes or will travel to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many titles and are employed in a wide range of specializations including:

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

As already mentioned, in most states working cosmetologists have to be licensed. In certain states there is an exemption. Only those conducting 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 become licensed in those states.

Cosmetologist Certificates and Degrees

Oreland PA hairdresser cutting hair There are primarily two avenues available to get cosmetology 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 typically 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 instructed in all of the main areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you prefer to concentrate on just one area, for instance hair coloring. A degree program will also probably incorporate management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to operate a salon or other Oreland PA business. Higher degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whichever type of course you choose, it’s important to make certain that it’s approved by the Pennsylvania Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain reputable organizations, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the benefits of accreditation for the school you decide on in the upcoming section.

Online Cosmetology Schools

student attending cosmetology school online in Oreland PA Online beauty schools are advantageous for Oreland PA students who are working full time and have family responsibilities that make it difficult to attend a more traditional school. There are numerous online cosmetology school programs offered that can be attended by means of a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional beauty programs are frequently fast paced since many programs are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a considerable amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are covering the same amount of material, but you are not spending many hours outside of your home or commuting back and forth from classes. However, it’s vital that the training program you pick can provide internship training in local salons and parlors in order that you also obtain the hands-on training necessary for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s difficult to acquire the skills necessary to work in any area 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.

Questions to Ask Cosmetologist Degree Programs

Questions to ask Oreland PA beauty schools Below is a list of questions that you need to research for any cosmetologist training school you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Oreland PA residence, as well as the expense of tuition, will undoubtedly be your initial qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably 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 consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have put together several of those additional questions that you need to ask every school before making a final decision.

Is the School Accredited? It’s essential to make certain that the cosmetology college you pick 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 comply with their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not obtainable in 19075 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of Oreland 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 a Good Reputation? Every beauty institute that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding 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, attesting that their students are highly demanded. Check rating services for reviews together with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Oreland PA salon owners or managers, or someone working in the field, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not looked into. Finally, consult the Pennsylvania school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in total compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty? Many cosmetology schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs commonly expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you choose a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your objective 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 hair salon in Oreland PA, then you need 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 pursuing will not deliver the training you need.

Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Studying and refining cosmetology techniques and abilities requires plenty of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is included in the cosmetology lessons you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that make it possible for students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a beauty program furnishes minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead relies heavily on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the most effective option for acquiring your skills. So look for alternate schools that furnish this kind of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from a beauty school, it’s essential that he or she receives assistance in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer aid maintain relationships with Oreland PA businesses that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and ask which salons and organizations they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered? The majority of beauty schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Consult 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 also. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not eliminate it as an alternative before you learn what financial assistance may be available.

Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Oreland PA?

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

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.

Pick the Right Beauty Training Program near Oreland PA

Oreland PA barber blow drying client's hair Selecting and enrolling in the ideal beauty program is important to obtain the necessary 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 consolidate all of the information you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to compare schools. A good beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the college and program you select are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you start with that foundation, and address the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are qualified to start your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Oreland PA.