Cosmetology Education

From intensive, detailed full programs to their short, brief counterparts, the choices within cosmetology education are numerous. Whether you are looking for specific training in a specialized cosmetology profession or a more generalized program, here are some factors to consider when choosing what program is best for you:

Programs: The options among cosmetology programs are often extensive, which can make it difficult to choose which one is most suitable for you. Generally speaking, there are two types of programs: full programs or specialized programs.

• Full programs are the most comprehensive of the two and require the most hours to fulfill completion (average of 1,400-1,600 hours). However they also provide the most complete cosmetology training, providing education on hair styling, skin and nail care and makeup application.

• Specialized programs are usually shorter in duration because their course of study focuses on a fewer number of topics and, instead, provides intensive training on select services. Here are some of the specialized programs that a cosmetology school may offer:

• Cosmetology
• Electrolysis
• Nail Technology
• Teacher Training
• Esthetics

Duration: The length of a program will likely be dependent upon how detailed it is and how extensive the instruction will be. As mentioned before, full programs usually are significantly longer than specialized ones. Unlike full programs, which may exceed 1,500 hours, specialized programs may range between 300-700 hours. The number of hours that a program requires may also be contingent upon the state in which the beauty school is located. Since there is no national hour requirement for cosmetology programs, each state has their own licensing board that determines their own requirements. Therefore, the same program in one state may have a different hour requirement in another (a full program in Montana requires 2,000 hours, but one in New York state requires only 1,000). Some programs may take up to 2 years to complete or, for many specialized programs, as little as six months.

Cost: The cost of cosmetology education depends on a number of factors: type of program, school and location. Since specialized programs are the most comprehensive and shortest in duration, they are also less expensive to obtain than more general, full programs. A cost differentiation also exists between schools. Smaller schools usually have lower tuition rates than larger, designer schools. Location is another cost factor of cosmetology education, as similar schools in different areas could mean a price difference of hundreds or even a thousands of dollars. The average cost of a cosmetology program in major metropolitan cities (such as Los Angeles or New York City) is $10,000, whereas in smaller, rural areas the average cost is $6,500.

Admission Requirements: Most states only require a high school diploma or G.E.D. to be eligible for beauty school admission but some (such as Illinois) do not. However, students may have to take additional tests to be admitted to schools in states without any admission requirements.