A broad-spectrum cosmetology program will usually offer a curriculum of hair styling, nail care, skin care, and makeup in order to provide students with a strong foundation in overall beauty practices. An apprenticeship generally follows a cosmetology course, and students generally know in which area they would like to apprentice by the end of their course.
Because this qualification is so specialized, the number of hours required to complete the course is controlled by each state's individual Board of Cosmetology. Each state requires that students take between 1,500 and 3,000 course hours to become a fully licensed cosmetologist. In most states, the title of hair stylist is included in this number of hours. In others, such as New York, however, the qualification of hair stylist requires considerably fewer hours to obtain.
It is important for a student to look into the requirements of the state where she wishes to practice cosmetology, as the variation between the states can be huge. If a person wishes to practice cosmetology in one of the states that requires more hours of experience than most, such as Iowa, they must either train in that state or make sure that she gains enough experience hours to be considered a fully-qualified cosmetologist when she applies for work. More information about schools and additional requirements for cosmetologists can be found at BeautySchools.edu.