How Long Does it Take to Get a Cosmetology License in Washington?

If there has been one career that has proven to be recession proof, it is cosmetology. No matter what, people love to feel and look their best. This has helped the demand for trained and certified hair stylists remain steady even during tough economic times.

This makes cosmetology a great career to pursue. Training for these careers takes time, but it is an investment that is well worth it.

Cosmetology License in Washington

Requirements for State Board Certification vary widely from state to state, but most require a minimum number of training hours paired with the successful completion of a certification test. Each state has a Board of Cosmetology that oversees this training, testing and certification process.

Each accredited beauty school in that state centers its curriculum on the other requirements the state has in place for certification. This gives the graduates from school the best opportunity of being successful.

Beauty School Training Programs

Beauty school training programs are offered by cosmetology schools, vocational schools and technical colleges in almost every community across the United States. Most of these programs offer both classroom-based theoretical instruction and hands-on training in a student salon on campus. Some schools also offer online classes, and students only commute to campus for practical lab work or to work in the salon.

Beauty colleges typically require between 1,200 and 1,800 hours of cosmetology training in their programs. These hourly requirements are based on the state’s licensure requirements. For example, getting a cosmetology license in Washington State requires 1,600 hours, so schools in Washington offer programs that take 1,600 hours to complete.

Once the training hours are completed, your beauty school education will have prepared you for the certification exam and you will be ready to test for it. Passing this exam will be the last hurdle you must clear in order to receive your cosmetology license. After licensing is complete, you can begin working as a hair stylist.

Apprenticeship Programs

Some states allow you to serve as an apprentice instead of attending a traditional beauty school program. Washington is one of these states. Being an apprentice is much like working as an intern. You train by following the directions given by an experienced cosmetologist, and learn from his or her experience. Many states require you receive more training hours during an apprenticeship program than at a beauty college. In Washington, you must complete 2,000 apprenticeship hours before licensing.

Renewal

You must renew your cosmetology license in Washington every two years. This is a typical renewal time in most states. Unlike most states, however, Washington does not require continuing education hours to keep your certification. They are always a great idea, though, because they help you keep your skills sharp and become aware of current trends in the industry.

Evergreen Beauty College offers cosmetology programs on three Washington State campuses. We can help you to discover all of the training options available. These may include online classes, traditional coursework and apprenticeship training.