To work in the cosmetology field, you typically only need a high school diploma or GED and your license. It takes around 1500 hours of training at a cosmetology school, depending on your state, and an exam to get your license and start working. This makes it easy for many people right out of high school to start their careers within one year. New programs are reducing this time by providing opportunities for students to get a head start on their cosmetology training.
Incorporating Cosmetology Training in High Schools
High school students can start their cosmetology training early
Across the country, many high schools have started to offer courses in cosmetology, such as hair design, skin care, massage, and nail technology, to prepare students for a future career in the industry. The schools offer these courses as part of their technical education as a way to prepare students who are not planning to enter a four-year university after graduation. It does not just provide education; it also gives students insights into the realities of the career so that when they graduate, they have a better idea of whether or not they actually want to work as hairstylists, nail technicians, estheticians, or other careers in the industry.
In some programs, students also get a chance to earn some of the required hours of cosmetology school for free, so they get a jump start on their education while ultimately paying less for their training. Truly motivated students may even be able to complete all required hours before they graduate high school so that they only have to take their exam to get a cosmetology license.
What are the Benefits?
These programs let students jump start their careers and become better stylists
There are many benefits to taking cosmetology programs while still in high school. They help students explore career options before they have to pay for the training, both within the field and without. Students who know they want to work in cosmetology but are unsure whether they want to specialize in hair, skin, or nails can take courses in all three areas to help them choose one. After high school, they can concentrate in the chosen area, which may also reduce the amount of training they need, depending on the license requirements. For example, nail technicians typically need less training hours than cosmetologists or barbers. Students may also realize that they do not want to work within the field, saving time and money they would have otherwise spent in cosmetology school.
Although many of the programs do not completely replace cosmetology school, according to Beauty Schools Directory they provide irreplaceable opportunities for students who plan to enter the field. They get hands-on experience that will help them to do better in their careers. Some programs also offer internships so that students get a chance to see the realities of working in a beauty salon.
Benefits Beyond the Cosmetology Industry
Graduates who do not go on to a cosmetology career benefit from the program
Not all students who take cosmetology courses during high school enter the field. In one program, only about half actually continued on with cosmetology training for a career. Many students looked at their education as a backup plan in case their ideal career path did not work out. Other students used their cosmetology training to secure work to fund their advanced education, according to Gainesville Times. Many of the skills students learn in these courses also apply to other careers, such as customer service.
More and more high schools around the country are recognizing that students need to learn more than just getting a high school diploma or preparing for attending a four-year university. For many students who plan to enter the skilled trade and service industry, classes in cosmetology, horticulture, machinery, and more prepare them for the jobs they will get once they graduate from school. Even if these students still need to attend cosmetology school after the completion of their high school program, they will be better prepared than their peers. They may even be able to shorten the amount of training they need to do before they take the state licensing exam, which reduces their education costs and expedites their ability to start working.
If you already have your cosmetology license, then you need to worry about renewing it. Check out Beauty Academy’s continuing education courses for a cost-effective and hassle-free solution.