It’s incredibly common for cosmetologists, beauty pros, and other professionals in the cosmetology industry to get their start at cosmetology school. It’s where we get our licenses, where we learn, where we get hands-on experience, and where we begin the careers we hope to shape the rest of our lives.
Sometimes, though, the winding path of our careers lead us back to our roots, back to cosmetology school, and back to where it all began—only this time, as cosmetology instructors.
Becoming a cosmetology instructor is actually a pretty sweet gig and one that not all that many cosmetologists consider right out of their career gate.
Some view it as the end of their creative career or even a detour from their original career goals. But teaching cosmetology—in whatever capacity you choose—can be a great way to hone your skills even further, boost your career immensely, and even make an unchangeable, important impact in the lives of other soon-to-be cosmetologists.
Don’t get us wrong—being a cosmetology instructor might not be the perfect fit for everyone, but if you love passing along your skills, look forward to a job filled with creative freedom, and relish the idea of mentoring and adding to the lives of students while continuing your own fulfilling beauty career, this could be the perfect career move for you.
Why You Should Become an Instructor
Personal Fulfillment
As an instructor, you’re in a position to offer hands-on knowledge that can directly impact and change a person’s life. Sure, being a cosmetology pro working in a salon or a spa is rewarding—we’d never deny that—but as an educator, you’re helping the next wave of beauty pros become the best they can be.
You can amplify your talent by teaching others, you can offer wisdom and vision, squash bad habits, and help train students to become the best versions of themselves possible. If that’s not personal fulfillment, what is?
Professional Growth
Lots of stylists, cosmetologists, and beauty pros think that the next step in any career is starting their own salon, spa, or studio. And for some, that is the right next step—but it’s not everything. Becoming a cosmetology instructor is an excellent way to grow as a professional in more ways than one.
Cosmetology teachers are often equipped with broader knowledge, different experience, and the drive to move on to other unique career paths afterward that they might not have known about unless they became an instructor in the first place.
For example, teachers have the opportunity to become beauty school administrators and managers, state board examiners, even product reps, and educational consultants.
Being an instructor isn’t the ending point for a career in education—in fact, it’s just the start.
You Can Keep Your Clients
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to give up being a cosmetology pro who services clients. If it’s important to you, you can keep your clients and work part-time.
All it takes is dedication and a little creativity, but you can have the best of both worlds.
How to Become an Instructor at Ms. Roberts Beauty
Any of you out there already beauty or cosmetology instructors? Share your insight and advice with your beauty community here. Drop a comment in the reply section below—we’re sure your fellow beauty pros will appreciate it!
COSMETOLOGY INSTRUCTORS 1000 HOUR COURSE OF STUDY OR OUTLINE
1000 hour course with over 2 year with license/1000 hour course with under 2 years of license
32-week course: Attendance is 37 ½ hours per week,7.5 hours per day and not less than 21 total hours in any one week. 1000 hours are to be completed 32 weeks from date classes began.
36.5week course: Attendance is 27 1/2 hours per week, not less than 5 consecutive hours per day. A min 16 hours of attendance in any one week is required 1000 hours are to be 36.5 weeks from date classes began.
50.5week course: Attendance is 22 hours per week, not less than 3 consecutive hours per day, as scheduled, day or evening. Student will attend not less than a total of 12 hours in any one week. 1000 hours are to be completed 50.5 weeks from date classes began
65.75 week course: Attendance is 16 ½ hours per week, not less than 3 consecutive hours per day, as scheduled, day or evening. Student will attend not less than a total of 12 hours in any one-week 1000 hours are to be completed 65.75 weeks from date classes began.
Additional schedules may be available.
- a) Each student training must complete a teacher program that includes a minimum of 1000 clock hours of instruction as follows:
- 500 hours of Post-Graduate School Training that includes all subjects in the basic cosmetology curriculum including theory and practice. Presentation of material must include the concepts that are intended to be taught and the skills to be acquired during the various phases of basic education.
2) 20 hours of Educational Psychology that shall include, but not be limited to, topics in educational objectives, student characteristics, and development, the learning process, and an evaluation of learning that relates to teaching. These hours shall be waived on behalf of cosmetology teacher students who have completed a course in Educational Psychology at an accredited college or university.
3) 20 hours of Teaching Methods (Theory) that shall include, but not be limited to, topics in individual differences in learning, lesson planning and design, lesson delivery, assessment of learning performance, classroom management, student motivation and classroom climate. These hours shall be waived on behalf of cosmetology teacher students who have completed a course in Teaching Methods-Secondary Level at an accredited college or university.
4) 150 hours of Application of Teaching Methods that include preparation and organization of subject matter to be presented on a unit by unit basis and presentation of subject matter through application of varied methods (lecture, demonstration, testing and assignments). Presentations must provide teaching objectives to be accomplished and correlate theoretical with practical application.
5) 50 hours of Business Methods that include inventory, recordkeeping, interviewing, supplies, the Act and this Part.
6) 260 hours of Student Teaching under the on-site supervision of an Illinois licensed teacher. The student teacher shall present theoretical and practical demonstrations to students in the basic curriculum.
- b) The approved program for a 500 hour Teacher Training Course shall be based on 2 years of practical experience and shall consist of the Teacher Training Curriculum outlined in subsection (a), with the exception of the 500 hours of post-graduate training.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS AND DIPLOMA
A diploma/transcript is issued to each student who has met the following requirements:
- Completed 1500 hours of Cosmetology, 350 hours Nail Technology, 1000 or 500 Cosmetology
- Maintained not less than 80% average on all required written examinations.
- Completed all practical goals
- Taken and pass all written and practical finals with and 80%
Or better
- Retired all financial obligations to the school unless otherwise agreed in wr
COSMETOLOGY INSTRUCTORS 1000 HOUR PROGRAM
Enrollment Fee……………………………………………………. $100.00 if not waived
Books, Uniform………….……………………………….……… $200.00
Tuition………………….……………………….……………………. $6000.00
Total Program Cost Fee………………………………………. $6300.00
COSMETOLOGY INSTRUCTORS 500 HOUR PROGRAM
Enrollment Fee……………………………………………………. $100.00 if not waived
Books, Uniform………….……………………………….……. $200.00
Tuition………………………………………….……………………. $3000.00
Total Program Cost……………………………………………… $3300.00
Scholarships/and payment plans are available to those who qualify
This program is not covered by Financial Aid