Cosmetology Teacher Training
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Those looking to teach cosmetology to others, will need both industry expertise and good communication skills. Cosmetology education experts must have a firm grasp of cosmetology, in many if not all of its various concentrations and specializations. These professionals expend great effort to improve the aesthetic quality of hands, feet, nails, faces, and hair. Becoming a cosmetology teacher demands having spent many a year performing one, if not more, of these specialties, and doing so with great expertise.
Within the industry of cosmetology, there are a number of specialties and focuses that a professional can learn and practice in. Barbers, for instance, tailor their expertise toward the grooming of men, offering such services as shaving, hairpiece fittings, masculine hair cuts, and potentially skin treatments. Cosmetologists, in addition to hair stylists and hairdressers, concentrate on styling hair, and many do this for both men and women. Manicurists and pedicurists, sometimes referred to as nail technicians, work to improve the looks and feel of hands and feet respectively. Estheticians focus on all things related to skin care, including facials and makeup.
In addition to industry experience, vocational teachers in this field will likely need to take up additional education in order to instruct others. Firstly, this process entails returning to school to earn a bachelor's degree, as a minimum, in teaching education. Normally, a teaching license is required to formally offer education to students. However, many states allow cosmetology teachers to skip this licensing step, provided that they have attained an adequate level of experience. Earning potential for cosmetology teachers depends on their experience level and the amount of teaching education received; the most qualified cosmetology teachers earn upwards of $80,000 in a year.
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Accredited Schools Offering Cosmetology Teacher Training Degrees By Location
Massachusetts
Learn more about Jolie Hair and Beauty Academy
New Jersey
Pennsylvania
Texas
Career Specializations
Most cosmetology teachers might prefer not to limit themselves to one field, which may hinder the number of job opportunities that they could successfully fill. This said, some instructors may choose to specialize on instructing others in the field in which they themselves have attained the most professional experience. For example, a master barber may tailor his teaching work solely to those who look to likewise establish strong careers in barbering.
Degree Levels
- Bachelor's Degree in Teaching Education: 4 years to complete
- Master's Degree in Teaching Education: 1-2 years to complete
Education & Certification Requirements
Traditionally, those who wished to become teachers in the cosmetology field, or any other vocational subject for that matter, were required to earn a bachelor's degree after having amassed several years of quality professional experience in a practical setting. Following the completion of this undergraduate education, they would have to apply for state licenses in teaching. This path can still result in success, as the bachelor's diploma can potentially heighten the amount of pay received for their work, or lead to jobs in more formal and lucrative educational settings.
However, the contemporary vocation educational setting has encouraged the majority of states to do away with the previously mentioned preparation as a requirement for cosmetology teachers. If such teaching aspirants are able to demonstrate sufficient professional experience in their given field (the exact number of years and other qualifications varies from state to state), states are willing to forego the requirement of the bachelor's degree and subsequent state licensing. In fact, all that is necessary in this scenario is the attainment of a high school diploma.
Advancement as a cosmetology teacher is possible, but will definitely demand the earning of a college degree, likely a master's degree in teaching at least. Earning this degree qualifies cosmetology teachers to become master or senior teachers who can then proceed to educate less experienced cosmetology teachers still undergoing training. (BLS)
Salary Information
Those who just barely meet the requirements of cosmetology teachers can expect to earn around $35,000 a year. However, with added experience and a college degree, this figure can scale up to nearly $50,000 received in annual compensation. The best cosmetology teachers, especially those who have reached the level of master or senior teacher, are frequently rewarded with pay climbing to nearly $80,000. Those who decide to lend their teaching services to secondary schools (i.e. high schools and middle schools) can expect to earn a bit less than those cosmetology teachers working in vocational schools or at the university level. (BLS)
Job Outlook
Cosmetology teachers and other vocational educators stand to enjoy a mild rise in employment opportunities well into the future. By the year 2018, estimates predict that the number of jobs available to these professionals will increase by nine percent. In middle schools, this figure sinks to just three percent growth. On the other hand, secondary teachers of cosmetology will have the biggest expected increase of all, at 10 percent. Earning a great deal of experience in cosmetology and all its specializations is the best way to count on earning not only a job, but a position that is lucrative and professionally satisfying. (BLS)
Related Careers
Becoming a counselor is, interestingly, a career path that cosmetology teachers and other vocation educational professionals should strongly consider. Counselors are responsible for offering students guidance in terms of the career paths they have at their fingertips in the future. Those working in cosmetology, having experienced the ups and downs of life on the other side of education (especially high school), stand to offer such pupils a good deal of practical and experiential wisdom. Training is required of potential counselors, including having earned a master's degree and state licensing.
