The Rise of Beauty Schools

Mr. Jim Cox, the Executive Director for the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (Scottsdale, Arizona. / Ph: 1.800.831.1086 / www.beautyschools.org ), was recently interviewed regarding the future of cosmetology school education. To read the full interview refer to the above website. To read the highlights of the interview, see below:

Cosmetology careers have become increasingly popular, and profitable, over the years. And as such, new schools are continually opening to deal with the growing number of students wishing to get involved in the beauty industry. At this time, there are close to 2,000 cosmetology schools in the United States. And where it used to be that most schools were small and privately owned, we now see brand names such as Paul Mitchell and Aveda getting into the business.

While it remains true that the majority of students enrolling in cosmetology school are recent high-school graduates, he is seeing an increasing number of older students, who are dissatisfied with their jobs, (or unable to find a job - see U.S. News and World Report article on this blog, entitled: Top 4 Career Choices) embarking on a new career path. There is no longer the stigma attached to those who study cosmetology, as being the type of student who could not make it in an academic college setting.

Studying cosmetology today is not like it was years ago. It has expanded from the basics of hair, and nails; to include: skin care/esthetics, holistic wellness, hydrotherapy, reflexology, and massage (depending on your state and school).

To qualify as a cosmetologist requires between 10 and 14 months of training. During this time, the student will complete a number of practical study hours ranging from 1,000 to 2,200. And depending upon the course and school, the tuition can range between $6,000 and $20,000. After graduation, and prior to licensing, the student will be required to pass their State Board Examination (some states require only a written exam, while others require both a written and a practical examination).

The written portion of the exam may be designed buy your individual state, or, if your state is a member of the National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC), they will administer what is known as the "Multi-State Exam". Currently, 36 states use the Multi-State Exam, correctly known as the National Interstate Cosmetology Written Exam - NIC. A list of these states is available below.

The most recent data available from the United States Internal Revenue Service, the United States Department of Labor, and the National Accrediting Commission of Arts and Sciences (NACCAS), shows that the average cosmetologist is earning between $45,000 and $50,000 per year (including tips).

Comparing this data to IRS data from other professions, it becomes clear that a cosmetology school graduate can anticipate earning the same amount of money each year as a person who graduated from a traditional four year college / university.

For a list of states using the "Multi-State Exam": www.nictesting.org
For help passing your exam (State or "Multi-State"): www.cosmetologystateboardexam.com