what do you need to get a cosmetology license
Licensing Requirements for Cosmetology
To earn a cosmetology license, y'all will demand to prove to the appropriate licensing torso that you are set up to enter the field as a working professional person. Cosmetology training, which tin can take up to two years, is both grooming and a requirement for applying for licensure. However, every bit of import is understanding the licensure process, including how licenses are granted, who grants them, and what to look during the process.
State regulatory boards are more often than not responsible for issuing cosmetology licenses. State boards as well set standards for licensure. That means requirements can and exercise vary from state to state, sometimes considerably. In all states, however, you will be required to consummate a recognized cosmetology programme, complete a set number of training hours, and pass a comprehensive examination.
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What Are the Requirements for Getting a Cosmetology License?
The general requirements for getting your license involves completing the required number of training hours and taking an examination. Every bit mentioned previously, land requirements can vary, so it is important that you check with your state board.
Preparation Hour Requirements
Training hours refer to the corporeality of time you lot spend in school. These include both in-class learning and hands-on experiences. Generally speaking, the larger the training 60 minutes requirement, the longer you will be in school.
Grooming hours are a disquisitional component in earning your cosmetology license. Co-ordinate to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), the national average number of grooming hours required is between 1,400 and 1,600. However, that number tin can vary by hundreds of hours from state to state. For example, Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota require 2,100 hours, while New Jersey and Florida require just one,200.
Required Exams
No matter what state you live in, yous will need to take and laissez passer a comprehensive test before you get your license. The National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC) will most probable administer the test. If non, your state will administrate its own equivalent examination.
There are two sections to the NIC examination: the theory, or written portion, and the practical exam, which is hands-on. The theory exam consists of 110 questions spread across four domains:
The applied exam covers 10 key areas, all of which are timed and good in physical workspaces with actual tools and mannequins or models. They include work area and customer prep and setup of supplies, thermal crimper, haircutting, chemical waving, predisposition test and strand test, highlighting with foil, pilus color retouch, hair relaxer, and blood exposure procedures.
The price of the examination varies by state, but NIC offers exercise examinations for the written portion of the test for $39, equally well as an overview DVD that can help set y'all for the practical exam. That resource costs $30.
Apprenticeships
Some states allow you to complete an apprenticeship plan as an alternative to going to school. An apprenticeship involves working in the field in a spa, salon, or similar setting under the supervision of a qualified professional. That professional will be specifically certified or licensed to mentor you, which ways yous will learn on the task—not on mannequins or models in a classroom, but in an actual working facility, watching and practicing on real clients.
The tradeoff is the mentor gets free professional person support in a salon, spa, or other apprenticeship setting. Before you pursue this option, consider what goes into it and empathise that it can likely extend the length of your training. States that allow apprenticeship hours often require you lot to complete far more of them than traditional schoolhouse hours. California, for case, requires either 1,600 preparation hours, but iii,200 apprenticeship hours.
Specializing
Your cosmetology programme can prepare yous in the basics of pilus, peel, nails, and makeup. However, yous can also opt to concentrate in 1 or more areas as a specialty. Some schools offer specialty tracks equally office of a primary cosmetology program, while others might require you to complete the master program first then pursue additional hours in your specialty expanse.
If you lot know you want to specialize make sure the schoolhouse you choose offers that concentration. Mutual specialties include men'southward styling, blowout specialist, and hair colour specialist, artist, or painter.
Primary Cosmetologist
The height of the profession is "master cosmetologist" status. Achieving this professional status ways completing a cosmetology program, passing an exam, and earning your license. You volition demand to piece of work in the field for a period of time—usually about a year—while pursuing your state's mandated number of standing education and training hours. Then you can apply for a chief cosmetologist license, complete another exam, and earn a license as a master cosmetologist.
This additional credential tin enhance your employability, fast-rail you for management positions, and help you control a college bacon.
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Cosmetology Licensure
Every country in America requires licensure earlier you tin piece of work equally a professional cosmetologist. The process, however, will not exist the same for anybody.
How to Go Your Cosmetology License
Your detail licensing torso can tell you what you need to do to apply. Once your application is approved, yous tin can complete the licensing exam(south). Once these requirements are satisfied, the side by side step is paying whatsoever necessary fees—some states charge application fees, test fees, licensing fees, or all of the above. These costs tin run into hundreds of dollars in some states. Continue in mind that earning a master cosmetologist license is a split process that comes afterward.
Who Sets Cosmetology Licensing Requirements?
The governing licensing body is always the land board, only that system can vary from state to land. It's frequently the state section of cosmetology, only in some cases it'south the section of health. In other states, it's the division of professions or the bureau of occupational licenses. Those organizations determine the number of training hours, the required exam or exams, and whatever associated costs and fees.
Maintaining Your License
A role every bit a cosmetologist requires maintaining your license throughout your career. Requirements vary by land, ranging from annual licensure renewal to every four years in states such as Indiana and New York.
Many states require standing education units (CEUs)—extra training hours to update skills and knowledge—when it's fourth dimension to renew your license. Connecticut, for case, requires completion of 10 CEUs. States like Arizona, California, and Arkansas don't crave any CEUs. There are often fees for renewal and these can also vary. In Utah, the fee is $52. In Vermont, it'southward $130. You lot can discover licensing fees for where you live on your specific land page.
sponsored content, school availability varies past location
sponsored content, school availability varies by location
Getting Certified
Y'all can also pursue a certification. Dissimilar state licensure, certification is voluntary and not necessary to work as a cosmetologist. Some cosmetologists pursue certification to stand out from the competition when looking for work. In other cases, employers might crave their cosmetologists to go certified in an advanced or specialized procedure—similar permanent makeup, for example—before they're allowed to offer that service.
Cosmetology Schools in Your Country
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- D.C.
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New United mexican states
- New York
- Northward Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Isle
- South Carolina
- Southward Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Source: https://www.beautyschoolsdirectory.com/programs/cosmetology-school/licensing