How to Become a Cosmetologist - Certification and Training
Cosmetologists might work in nail salons, hair salons, spas, barber shops, or resorts as well as private facilities such as assisted living communities. They may work for an employer, rent “chair space” from an established salon or own their business outright.
What Does Cosmetology Include?
The field of cosmetology covers many occupations in the personal care realm. Most cosmetologists specialize in one or more areas such as hair styling, design, braiding, or barbering. Manicurists are different than nail technicians, but you can be both, or you can choose to specialize in makeup for private clients or for theater.
Cosmetologists might work in nail salons, hair salons, spas, barber shops, or resorts as well as private facilities such as assisted living communities. They may work for an employer, rent “chair space” from an established salon or own their business outright.
Besides their special area of work, a cosmetologist must be adept at understanding what a customer wants, making small talk, and running the business portion such as scheduling appointments and accepting payments. If you have your own business, you’ll also need to know basic bookkeeping, employee scheduling, and similar chores associated with running a business.
How to Become a Cosmetologist
Although you might think you can enroll in the nearest technical school to become a cosmetologist, you should do some homework before you commit to a school. Make sure the school has the classes for the area you plan to work in and that the school has the proper credentials so your education will be accepted by the state board.
Each state has different requirements for licensure. You’ll most likely need to be 16 or older, hold a GED or high school diploma, and complete a board-approved cosmetology program in order to qualify for licensure. That means you can conceivably attend a trade or technical school while still in high school and get a head start on your career before graduation.
Your certificate program will include on the job training, so make sure this training counts towards any state work-hours requirement. Many state certification boards also require you have a high moral character so if you’ve had any brushes with the law make sure this fact won’t affect your choice of careers.
What is the Difference Between Beauty and Cosmetology?
Cosmetology schools usually offer one or more limited certification programs, and these are often offered in a technical school setting. The programs are designed to allow the student to enter the workforce quickly, usually in under a year.
Beauty schools are more detailed and offer more programs. Laser training, salon management, massage therapy, and fashion design are examples of specialized training you might find at a beauty school. Although beauty schools usually offer some of the same short programs found at cosmetology schools, they also offer programs that take as long as two years to complete.
Typical Educational Requirements
Cosmetology school requirements vary from state to state; most have a minimum age requirement of 16. You may also be required to have a high school diploma or GED, but some states accept an entrance exam. The lower age requirement allows some students to take classes while still in high school so you should check with your state board regulations before you enroll.
Typical Certifications Needed
As mentioned above, each state requirement for certification is different. A standard example would be 16 years of age, GED or diploma, and completion of a board-approved program. You may also be required to have completed a specific number of on-the-job training hours to qualify.
Once you meet the requirements you can sit the licensing exam. This may be written, practical, or both. Typical written exam topics might be salon sanitation, state laws, and chemical usage. A practical exam might be styling a mannequin to specific directions.
Your license must be renewed periodically. Although there isn’t any continuing education requirement it’s a good plan to stay informed on new developments that pertain to your field.
Academic Standards
Your academic standards will depend on your school of choice but it’s a good plan to set your goals high. By maintaining a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher you will qualify for more types of financial aid. In addition, a higher GPA will ensure acceptance into a college when you decide to continue your education.
Exam and Experience Requirements Needed
As mentioned before, each state has different exam and experience requirements to qualify to sit for the state board exam. A typical example of required experience is 1,500 total hours, which includes the class time of the program, program work hours, and apprenticeship after graduation.
Specialized programs typically have additional requirements. For example, a nail technician would need additional hours in the field of nails and cosmetology teachers are required to have additional work hours completed.
Cosmetology Degree & Certification Options
As mentioned, a certificate program is a great way to enter cosmetology, allowing you to start working in under a year. However, it’s a basic program that doesn’t cover advanced techniques or specialized skills. It’s mainly for entry into barbering, hair styling, or nail technician roles. For specialized areas like braiding, theatrical makeup, or hair design, you may want to continue at a beauty school that offers programs in those specific fields.
An associate degree program typically combines the basics of cosmetology with beginning business courses. If you eventually plan to open your own salon or spa or otherwise work independently this may be your best choice, as you will get a solid understanding of best business practices while also completing the coursework required for your state licensure.
A third option is to take an associate degree program followed by one or more specializations at a beauty school. This will allow you to become licensed, open your own business, and then focus on your preferred area of cosmetology. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) over 70% of barbers and over 40% of hair stylists are self-employed so it’s a good idea to take your long-term plans into consideration before enrolling in a program.
Fields of Study
Trade school programs are short and designed to get you started with the basics of your profession. Here are the primary areas of training for cosmetology trade school programs:
- Barber: cut and style primarily men’s hair; learn to shave as well as trim beards and mustaches. Barbers learn to cut shorter, more traditional hair styles but may also offer coloring and perm services.
- Hair stylist: focus is on longer hair styles; may use a diverse range of styling products to achieve a certain style; Usually stay up to date on the latest styles and trends; may recommend certain products for skin and hair.
- Nail technician: also called a manicurist or pedicurist, a nail technician cleans, trims, and files nails for both men and women, and usually offers polish and products such as acrylic nails.
Additional training in a special area may be attained at a beauty school after you’ve finished your cosmetology certificate program. You might decide to specialize in one or more of the following areas, or many other personal care specialties:
Some beauty schools offer additional programs in related areas, such as:
- Massage therapy
- Fashion design
- Laser treatments
- Salon management
- Teacher training
- Nail airbrushing and art
- Makeup artist
Here are some sample courses you might take in your cosmetology certificate program:
- Beauty Culture Lab
- Beauty Culture Theory
- Cosmetology Career Planning
- Fundamentals of Hair Color
- Salon Business
- Salon Management and Marketing
- Work Ethics
Here are some sample courses you might take in an Associate’s program, in addition to the certificate courses above:
- Accounting Principles
- Business Mathematics
- First Aid
- Leadership Development
- Marketing Fundamentals
- Psychology
- Chemistry
Find Your Cosmetology Program
Choosing an Accredited School
Once you narrow your choices check each school for accreditation. Verify they are accepted by the state board that licenses cosmetology as well as regional or national accreditation as accepted for federal aid and scholarships.
Choose the type of classes that will work best for your personal lifestyle. While much of cosmetology school is hand-on and must be done on campus many schools offer some online courses as an alternative to traveling to campus and adhering to a strict class schedule.
An established school will offer job placements to graduates, and this is vital to cosmetology students because most states require work experience in addition to completion of the coursework. If you can’t find the information on the school website don’t hesitate to ask and get a definitive answer before you enroll.
A school is only as good as it’s reputation, so make sure your school choice is well regarded by the industry. Graduation from a less reputable school may mean you have to accept a lower salary. If your prospective employer recognizes and respects your school, it will give you a solid foundation on which to build your career in cosmetology.
| Quick Facts: Barbers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists | |
|---|---|
| 2023 Median Pay ?The wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. Median wage data are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey. In May 2023, the median annual wage for all workers was $48,060. | $35,080 per year $16.87 per hour |
| Typical Entry-Level Education ?Typical level of education that most workers need to enter this occupation. | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Work Experience in a Related Occupation ?Work experience that is commonly considered necessary by employers, or is a commonly accepted substitute for more formal types of training or education. | None |
| On-the-job Training ?Additional training needed (postemployment) to attain competency in the skills needed in this occupation. | None |
| Number of Jobs, 2023 ?The employment, or size, of this occupation in 2023, which is the base year of the 2023-33 employment projections. | 649,400 |
| Job Outlook, 2023-33 ?The projected percent change in employment from 2023 to 2033. The average growth rate for all occupations is 4 percent. | 7% (Faster than average) |
| Employment Change, 2023-33 ?The projected numeric change in employment from 2023 to 2033. | 45,300 |
Potential Scholarships to Look Into
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Sydell & Arnold Miller Family Art of Hairdressing Student Scholarship
Amount: $5,000Deadline: February 28, 2021, July 31Offers one scholarship of $5,000 to new or current students of an accredited beauty school or program. Must submit a video showing three examples of student’s styling skills and a creative description of student’s vision for hairdressing.
-
Beauty Changes Lives Scholarships
Amount: $5,000Deadline: February 10, July 31One $5,000 scholarship is awarded based on student’s three favorite haircuts as well as their creative vision for cutting hair.
-
Alice Madden Barton Scholarship Program
Amount: VariesDeadline: June 30, December 31Sponsored by Great Clips, this scholarship is available to all high school graduates interested in cosmetology or barbering as a career. Awards are given twice a year, in January and July.
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