How long will it take me to complete cosmetology school?

Besides getting into an industry that is creative, fast-paced and often times very flexible, one of the biggest perks about cosmetology school is the amount of time you can complete a beauty program and get started in your career. Unlike traditional colleges, which will often take you four years to complete a bachelor’s degree, you can find a cosmetology school that allows you to complete your training in as little as eight months or up to two years depending on if you decide to pursue your education full or part-time. Some schools require that you complete the necessary training in a set amount of time, so it is important to check with schools you are interested in. On average, a full cosmetology program can be completed in 12 to 14 months.

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What factors influence the length of a cosmetology school?

Each state has its own licensing requirements for cosmetology professionals, which will be the main factor in how many hours you will be required to complete in a beauty program from an accredited cosmetology school. Typically, you will attend school six to eight hours a day, as if you werre working a full-time job, five days a week. For example, in Tennessee you must complete 1,500 hours of cosmetology school before applying for licensure, with most programs being able to be finished in roughly a year.

The next thing to consider when looking at cosmetology schools is to look at different programs. The amount of time it takes to complete a full cosmetology program that covers hairstyling, makeup, esthetics, nails and more will take you longer than if you opt for choosing to focus on a specialty. Again, these specialized programs, such as massage therapy, barbering and makeup, are based on the required hours on a state by state level so each program will vary slightly. A good rule of thumb is a program that requires 600 hours of training will last roughly five months and a program that requires 750 hours of training may take closer to six months.

Be sure to check your state’s requirements for each individual program.

Can I choose to go to cosmetology school part-time?

A number of students who are interested in going to beauty school will choose to take classes and training on a part-time basis. Often times, these students are parents or have decided to work part-time in order to pay for tuition costs themselves. A majority of the cosmetology schools across the country will give you this option, but be sure to check when searching for programs in your area to see if your state requires you finish your training within a maximum time frame.

Now all you need to do is find a school!

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