Licensed to Style!
Congratulations cosmetology school graduates- you did it! You pursued your dream, dedicated considerable time and effort to develop your skills, and you’re now eager to take on the beauty world by storm.
Armed with a pair of shears and a blow dryer, you head out to get that super-cool job you envisioned since you were a toddler. But-it’s not happening. You are getting offers of…folding towels? Answering phones? You wonder now if it was all worth it.
Well, it surely was worth it! You can have it all. Graduating from beauty school is indeed an achievement, but think of it as the cornerstone of building your career. To truly accelerate growth, cosmetology graduates need to take the state board exam and acquire a cosmetology license. That’s when the real fun, and really great job offers will find you!
It’s highly recommended to take the exam as soon after graduation as possible, while the information you studied is still fresh in your mind. During the end of your senior year, you probably took a mock state board test to prepare for the real thing, so think of the board exam as a larger version of that. Read here for more motivation on taking state boards and here if you want some ideas on reducing test anxiety (hey, we all sweat it when hearing the word “exam”, so be confident in your skills- you’ll be fine).
Here’s some additional information concerning that oh-so-important license to be a winning stylist:
Reciprocity: This is when you’ll need to transfer credits or experience if you attend cosmetology school in one state and then wish to work in a different state. Depending on the state and school, you’re usually required to take additional courses and tests to be legally licensed to work in a state other than the one where you attended school. Reciprocity requirements vary according to state. Before contemplating moving to another state, research the cosmetology laws of that state.
For help on this topic, read more: blogs.empire.edu/reciprocity-for-cosmetology-licenses
License Renewals: Cosmetology licenses must be renewed every year, and yearly inspections of establishments and the individual workstations of cosmetologists are also made to ensure that state laws regarding licensing are being met.
Requirements include continuing education classes and seminars to keep your knowledge up-to-date. But being the great beautician you are, you’re already looking forward to that part, aren’t you?
For a listing of all state requirements on licensing and reciprocity, check out this link: licensing requirements for all states.
Locations: Wondering where to take the exam? Need information on setting it up? You should first contact the school you attended for information. You can also contact the state board offices in your state for the testing location closest to your home.
Costs, Fees: Again, state laws vary, so be sure to look at this state board websitehttp://www.finallywhatyouneed.com/stateboards.html for a lot of good info on fees by state, along with sample questions to challenge your knowledge. A great resource!
Confused? Yes, licensing is confusing, as each state has different laws and requirements. It’s not the fun part of beauty, but without that license to style, you can’t be the best you can be. Do it now- it will be wisest choice you’ll make. Besides going to school of course!
