How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Orrington ME

How to Choose an Esthetician Program near Orrington Maine

Orrington ME esthetician client with cucumber facial Now that you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Orrington ME, the process starts to locate and enroll in the ideal program. It’s essential that the school you select not only furnishes the appropriate education for the specialty you have chosen, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your initial search, you might be a little bit confused about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind of school. We’ll speak a bit more regarding that in the upcoming section. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Orrington home. Tuition will likewise be a critical aspect when assessing potential schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it’s not always the right choice. There are a number of other qualifications that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask about 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 types of courses are available.

Definition of Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Orrington ME Cosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human body look more beautiful with the application of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic may be anything that improves the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, most states require that you go through some kind of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Orrington ME beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gained experience and a clientele, establish their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing clients either in their own residences or will travel to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by many professional 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 already mentioned, in the majority of states working cosmetologists have to be licensed. In a few states there is an exception. Only those offering more skilled services, for example hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people employed in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.

Esthetician Degrees and Certificates

Orrington ME esthetician client with face mask There are basically two options offered to get 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 generally 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 main areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are available if you wish to focus on just one area, for example esthetics. A degree program will also most likely incorporate management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to operate a salon or other Orrington ME business. More advanced degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whatever type of training program you decide on, it’s imperative to make certain that it’s certified by the Maine Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only approve schools that are accredited by certain reputable organizations, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the benefits of accreditation for the school you decide on in the next segment.

Online Esthetician Classes

woman attending esthetician school online in Orrington ME Online esthetician classes are convenient for Orrington ME students who are working full time and have family commitments that make it challenging to enroll in a more traditional school. There are numerous online cosmetology school programs offered that can be accessed through a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional cosmetology schools are typically fast paced since many programs are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a substantial amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you’re not devoting many hours outside of your home or driving to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s essential that the training program you choose can provide internship training in local salons and parlors to ensure that you also receive the hands-on training necessary for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s difficult to obtain the skills needed to work in any area of the cosmetology field. So be sure if you choose to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is provided in your area.

What to Ask Esthetics Training Classes

Orrington ME models benefit from esthetic treatments Below is a series of questions that you should look into for any esthetician training school you are considering. As we have previously covered, the location of the school in relation to your Orrington residence, in addition to the expense of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have compiled several of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final selection.

Is the School Accredited? It’s essential to make certain that the esthetician college you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for getting student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable in 04474 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 Orrington ME employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation? Each esthetician college that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly demanded. Check rating services for reviews as well as the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Orrington ME salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the business, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to suggest others that you had not looked into. And finally, consult the Maine 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? A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, for instance hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently 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 goal is to be trained as an esthetician, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your vision is to launch a Orrington ME beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly rated school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you require.

Is Any Live Training Provided? Learning and refining esthetician techniques and abilities involves lots of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is provided in the beauty courses you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that enable students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a beauty program offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather depends predominantly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for acquiring your skills. So search for alternate schools that offer this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from an esthetician academy, it’s imperative that she or he receives assistance in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish aid maintain relationships with Orrington ME employers that are searching for qualified graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which salons and establishments they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Assistance Available? Almost all esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and learn 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 offered to students as well. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications except for expense, do not omit it as an option until you find out what financial help may be available.

Attending Esthetician School Near Orrington ME?

Perhaps you live in the Orrington Maine 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.

Orrington, Maine

Orrington was originally part of Condustiegg (or Kenduskeag) Plantation, which also included the present-day cities of Bangor and Brewer. Orrington was incorporated as a town in 1788 with its major village at Brewer, then called "New Worcester". Bangor incorporated three years later in 1791. Brewer broke away from Orrington in 1812 to form a separate town.

The name "Orrington" reportedly resulted from a spelling mistake. The settlers intended to name it "Orangetown" after Orangetown, Maryland, but it was written on the record-books in distant Massachusetts, of which Maine was then a territory, as "Orrington". "Orring" was a reasonable phonetic rendering of "orange" before the standardization of English spelling.[6]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 27.33 square miles (70.78 km2), of which, 24.99 square miles (64.72 km2) of it is land and 2.34 square miles (6.06 km2) is water.[1]

Select the Right Esthetics College near Orrington ME

Finding and enrolling in the right esthetician college is important to get the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel positive about your decision. Don’t forget to collect all of the information you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that information to compare schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the school and program you choose are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. If you start with that foundation, and address the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the ideal choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are ready to start your new career as a professional esthetician in Orrington ME.