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How To Become a Cosmetologist in Texas

If you’ve always had a passion for beauty, it’s never too late to learn how to get started. While things can seem uncertain, especially now, you can still do your research to learn how to become a beauty professional in Texas. We’ve outlined the steps you can take to achieve your beauty goals, but first, what is a cosmetologist?

A cosmetologist is someone who performs hair, skin, and nail services to help someone look and feel their best. In Texas, it’s often called an operator license. It takes dedication and a solid education to become a licensed professional, so here are the steps you can take to become one!

1. Find an Accredited Cosmetology Program in Texas

Not all cosmetology schools are the same, so you have to find the one that can best prepare you for your future career. When looking for a school with a cosmetology program, find one that offers a curriculum that matches your learning style. Look for a school that teaches what you’re passionate about, such as:

  • Hairstyling
  • Haircutting
  • Hair coloring
  • Chemical hair treatments
  • Facials
  • Manicures
  • And more!

Good cosmetology programs should not only teach you how to perform beauty skills, but help you manage your own business, too! That’s a huge focus in the curriculum at William Edge Institute, as we want our students to feel prepared when they pursue their dream jobs. We also offer placement assistance to set up interviews for students at local salons.

There are two key steps to finding the perfect school:

Schedule Your Tour

Tours are being held virtually right now, which means you can explore many beauty schools from the comfort of your own home! While you won’t get to see the school in person, you can still ask questions to see if the school is a good fit! Some good questions to ask on your tour are:

  • What makes your school different from others?
  • What resources do you offer to students?
  • How do you help students find a career after graduation?
  • Is your school accredited?
  • Do you offer financial aid?
  • What products do you teach with?

After your tour, think about what you liked and didn’t like. You can also consider if what they covered sounded interesting to you or if you may find a better fit in another program, such as a manicurist.

Woman using a computer

Apply to the School

Once you’ve found the perfect school for you, it’s time to apply! You may be able to start the application process during your tour, or you may need to put together everything you need from home. At William Edge Institute, our admissions requirements are:

  • Complete the application and pay the appropriate application fee
  • Schedule an interview and tour of the school
  • Provide a high school diploma, college diploma, or GED
  • Submit the appropriate paperwork

You can also start the application online!

If you have any questions about what you need to get started, get in touch with our Admissions team. We’d love to help you out!

2. Meet State Requirements

Each state has different requirements. In Texas, you must complete at least 1,500 hours of instruction at a cosmetology school. You can complete those hours in one of three ways:

  • Complete the 1,500 hours in a beauty school
  • Complete 1,000 hours in a beauty school and 500 hours of related high school courses in a cosmetology program at a public school
  • Hold a Class A Barber Certificate and complete 300 hours of education in an approved training program at a beauty school

3. Sit for the State Board

Once you’ve completed the required hours, it’s time to sit for the state board! As part of the requirements in Texas, you can expect to sit for the state board that covers everything you’ve learned in school! There are two parts to the exam:

  • Written Exam
  • Practical exam

Learn how to schedule your exam and what you need to bring on the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation site.

Once you’ve become a licensed cosmetologist, you can expect to complete at least 4 hours of continuing education courses to renew your license. Operator licenses last for two years before needing to be renewed. We love that the beauty industry encourages professionals to keep learning and growing!

A busy hair salon

Learn How To Get Started at William Edge Institute

If cosmetology sounds like something you would like to pursue, get the conversation started now with William Edge Institute! Schedule a virtual tour with us to learn more about our school and our unique Edge-ucation we offer to help future beauty professionals be successful in their careers.

As part of our curriculum, we focus on preparing our students to become business professionals, with budgeting and marketing skills to help future professionals find the career of their dreams. If something is holding you back, you can learn more about why now is a great time to start beauty school.

William Edge Institute

651 N Business IH35, Suite 330 New Braunfels, Texas 78130

830-387-4094