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However, you may want to more heavily consider the schools that do have accreditation or approval (even if for other programs it offers) as a signal of quality, or do additional research on reviews or word of mouth reputation to make sure you will be receiving worthwhile training. If you are taking a beauty program that does not culminate in licensure because your state does not require licensing in that discipline-for example, makeup artistry in many states does not require a license-state board approval or accreditation is not required. For licensing purposes, the fact that a school is state-approved for that discipline is sufficient. For cosmetology, such organizations include the National Accrediting Commission for Career Arts & Sciences (NACCAS) and the Council on Occupational Educationi (COE), among others.īecause the accreditation process is rigorous and costly, many excellent beauty schools do not seek accreditation. Department of Education to review programs in different subject areas. Many beauty schools go a step further and receive accreditation from a programmatic accreditor, which is an organization that has authority from the U.S. One is by receiving approval from the state board many state boards will publish a list of approved schools. There are several possible paths for beauty schools to demonstrate that they offer a program (such as in cosmetology) that satisfies state requirements. This means that the program satisfies the state’s requirements for total training hours, coursework topics, and quality of education in preparing students for the job.
#Nj state board of cosmetology license verification license
When you select a beauty school with the intent of getting a license after you graduate, be sure that the program is approved by the state board of cosmetology to provide training for licensure. Licensure steps vary by state but typically involve receiving training of a certain number of hours at approved institutions, passing one or more exams, and paying an application fee.įor certain fields that may be unregulated in some states, such as lash extensions, a certification and licensure may be all you need to get started in that job. For example, if a cosmetology license is required in your state to perform a specific beauty service, it is illegal to work professionally in that field without the license in good standing.
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Licensure, on the other hand, is a specific process defined by the state of your residence that allows you to perform certain services on clients. But, the certification alone doesn’t itself clear you to work as a cosmetologist in any state. For example, the prestigious CIDESCO certification may make you stand out if you are applying to highly competitive beauty jobs. Certification isn't required or regulated by states but can make you more hirable. However, you can usually perform more services with a cosmetology license than with other beauty licenses.Ī certification is very different from a license, even though you may hear the terms used interchangeably.Ĭertification means you've completed some specialized training in certain treatments. How much you can afford to spend on trainingĬosmetology licensure programs usually take longer and cost more than other programs because of the license's broad scope.
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