FAQs
What makes Portland Beauty Academy different?
Portland Beauty Academy is one of the few Competency-Based programs in the country, allowing us to customize our educational program to suit the needs of our students. Our exceptional staff of educators provides us with a unique blend of diversity in experience and knowledge. Our educators have a combined total work experience of 135 years, including extensive training in Paul Mitchell and Aveda. We are also one of the few that offers assessment testing for people with prior training.
What is the difference between Competency-Based learning vs. Clock Hour?
The Competency-Based program allows students to demonstrate that they are “competent” through academic and practical testing. This allows students to accelerate through their training faster than the traditional Clock-Hour program that are offered at other schools.
Will my license transfer to other states? Washington? California?
Once you have obtained your Oregon license you can transfer your license to Washington (reciprocity), and you only have to pay their licensing fee without testing again. California offers reciprocity once you have been actively licensed for three years. Every state has their own laws regulating Cosmetology licenses between states. We encourage you to contact the state you will be relocating to and speak directly with their State Board of Cosmetology.
Do you have Financial Aid? What Financing Options do you offer? Are you licensed?
Although we don’t currently offer Federal Financial Aid, we do offer Interest-Free in-house financing that will enable you to break your tuition into affordable monthly payments. The benefit to our students is that you will be able to complete your training completely DEBT-FREE! Through traditional Federal Loans, you could be paying on your original loan for many years, easily doubling what you originally borrowed. We have been licensed through the Oregon Department of Education for over 21 years.
Will I be learning less because I will be attending fewer hours?
Not at all, our accelerated learning program actually allows you to learn more in a shorter amount of time. Because of our flexible scheduling, you have much more control as to the speed of your learning process.
How large are the classes?
We keep the class size to no more than 14 students. This allows for greater one-on-one time with your instructor and a more positive classroom experience.
What is the schedule / How soon can I start?
PBS is open Tuesday through Saturday. We offer very flexible day and evening schedules that can easily work around your daily life. Please see our Class Schedule.
What are the skills that I will be learning that will allow me to earn a living in this industry?
During your time in the core classroom, you will be learning the fundamentals of the trade. Once you complete this basic training, we offer a wide variety of advanced training classes that will allow you to begin your career with a head start over our competitors.