How Do You Get Your License at Beauty School?

Becoming a cosmetologist is hard work.

Getting a cosmetology license is a goal that requires several years of commitment and hard work. Although specific exams and requirements vary from state to state, the overall educational path of a cosmetologist is generally the same across the United States. Once you are licensed for your state, your career options and opportunities are significantly wider.

Instructions

1. 

   The first step toward becoming a licensed cosmetologist is going to beauty school. Beauty schools offer programs in a variety of fields, including nail technician training, esthetics, barbering, electrology, and others. Requirements for admission will vary from school to school; not all of them require you to have completed high school. Look at the courses offered to determine what beauty school meets your needs, as each has different specialties.

   Classes at beauty school include hands-on experience with models and dummies, as well as traditional book learning. You will have to study a textbook, but you will also have to cut real people's hair (or give them manicures, or whatever you're studying). Although beauty schools are almost always private, the programs are not as long as traditional college programs. Most programs can be completed in less than two years, and the shorter ones, like esthetics, can take less than six months.

2. 

   In order to earn your cosmetology license, you have to complete a certain number of training hours, usually between 1,400 and 1,600. For example, Arkansas requires 1,500 hours of experience for cosmetologists, but Iowa requires 2,100 hours.

   Some states allow you to complete these hours as an "apprentice," without concurrently attending school, but the hour requirement for this situation is usually greater. Your school will help you earn these hours during hands-on training courses and with real-world experience, and will help make sure that you meet your state's requirements.

3. 

   The final step toward completing your cosmetology license is usually to pass your state's certification exam. Again, the requirements for this vary from state to state, so you should check with your school for the exact procedure. This exam has a practical segment and a written segment, which cover the different procedures and safety practies that you will need to know. Many states use the National Cosmetology Practical Examination, for which there are many guides online.

   If you meet all of your state's requirements, your license might take less than two weeks to be processed. States including Alaska require a licensing fee, usually between $100 and $200, which must be paid each time the license is renewed, usually every two years.

References

• Beauty Schools Directory
• National Cosmetology Practical Examination - Candidate Information Bulletin
• Barbering FAQ