Cosmetologist Course Descriptions
Cosmetologist: Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) 39-5012.00
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) Code 12.0401
The curriculum involves 1250 hours to satisfy Utah state requirements. The course includes extensive instruction and practical experience in cutting, hair coloring, perming, customer service, personal appearance and hygiene, personal motivation and development, retail skills, client record keeping, business ethics, sanitation, state laws and regulations, salon-type administration, and job interviewing.
*Graduates are prepared to be an entry level cosmetologist.
This course is taught in English. Textbooks and course materials are only offered in the English Language.
Cosmetologist Course OVerview
The course is divided into pre-clinical classroom instruction, clinic classroom and distance education learning experiences.
- Pre-clinical Classroom Instruction: The first 168 hours are devoted to pre-clinical classroom instruction where Future Professionals develop foundational knowledge and practical skills through classroom workshops, demonstrations, theory instruction, and guided practice. Instruction emphasizes design principles, technical procedures, safety and sanitation, professional conduct, and readiness for supervised services.
- Clinic Learning Experience: Future Professionals apply classroom learning through supervised practical instruction and guest services. With coaching and guidance from Learning Leaders, they refine technical skills, consultation and communication, guest experience, product recommendations, and professional work habits. Learning continues through mini-classes, feedback, and structured practice.
- Distance Education Learning Experience: A student enrolled in a program with distance education may earn up to 50% of the program's total clock hours through distance education.
COSMETOLOGist COURSE OUTLINE
- Core Curriculum: The Core Curriculum introduces the foundational principles and skills of the program through theory instruction, demonstrations, and hands-on practice. Future Professionals build essential technical knowledge, safety and sanitation practices, client care, and professional habits. Learning Leaders monitor progress, and learning is evaluated through written, oral, and practical methods, as applicable. Completing Core successfully prepares students for the next phase of their education, including supervised clinic classroom experiences.
- Clinic Classroom Learning Experience: In the clinic classroom, Future Professionals provide services to guests under Learning Leader supervision. They keep learning and reinforce classroom instruction through coaching, mini-classes, practical worksheets, and progress evaluations. They practice consultations, service planning, technical proficiency, guest communication, sanitation and safety, and professional service habits.
- Classroom Learning Experience: Classroom education throughout the program includes cutting, coloring, texture, extensions, skin, and nails. Instruction combines theory, demonstrations, and practical application. Additional learning opportunities may address retailing and product knowledge, communication, professional development, motivation, and career readiness, facilitated by appropriate school team members or guest artists.
- Adaptive Phase: During the Adaptive phase, Future Professionals expand their knowledge through specialty classroom instruction and progressively challenging practical work. They continue developing technical consistency, problem-solving, guest service, confidence, and professionalism, with feedback and assessments supporting their progress.
- Creative Phase: The Creative phase focuses on refining technical and professional abilities as Future Professionals prepare to enter the industry. They apply artistic judgment, strengthen independence and accountability, and practice the standards of guest experience, teamwork, and professional conduct expected in a salon environment, with continued Learning Leader guidance.
COSMETOLOGist COURSE SUBJECTS
The instructional program of Paul Mitchell The School St. George meets or exceeds the state requirements. The following subjects are taught within the brick & mortar program and the hybrid program:
| Subject | Required Objectives Include | Objective Clock Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Overview of the curriculum | 1 | |
| History of Cosmetology | 2 | |
| Implement, tools and equipment for cosmetology | 6 | |
| Analysis of the hair, skin, nails, and scalp | Properties of hair, skin, and scalp; and working with various hair textures | 15 |
| Diseases and disorders of the hair, skin, nails or scalp prevention | Bacteriology; sanitation; sterilization; decontamination; and infection control | 40 |
| Personal, client, and shop safety | First aid; disinfection methods and procedures; sterilization methods and procedures; aseptic techniques; sanitary procedures; blood exposure procedures; Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations; safety data sheet; and department of Health and Human Services requirements including Section 26B-7-402 and Rule R392-702 | 24 |
| Hair types and textures | Cut; Style; and product | 4 |
| Basic hairstyling and hair cutting | Draping; clipper variations; scissor cutting; shear cutting; razor cutting; and wet styling and thermal styling; | 25 |
| Hair extensions | Tape ins; wefts; keratin tip or “K-tip”; application process; cutting and blending; and maintenance and care | 15 |
| Coloring | Draping; the color wheel; understanding color theory; color application; permanent color; toning and glossing; corrective toning; color correction; filling/replacing lost pigment; virgin application; and low lights | 30 |
| Bleaching | Product understanding; best practices for using bleach; understanding hair texture; compromised hair; chemical breakage; hair porosity and elasticity; virgin application; non-virgin application; color correction; highlights; bleach placement; balayage; and on scalp bleach | 25 |
| Permanent or “perm” waving | Different types of perms; rod sizes; best practices; virgin application; non-virgin application | 15 |
| Chemical relaxers | Hair textures; best practices; compromised hair; maintenance; and product understanding including the effects of formaldehyde, formalin, or methylene glycol | 20 |
| Anatomy and physiology of the eye area | 10 | |
| Eyebrow extensions | Preparation; Contraindications; aftercare; removal | 1 |
| Eyelash and eyebrow chemical services | Preparation; contraindications; product knowledge; lash lift; brow lamination; lash tinting; arching and shaping of the eyebrows; brow tinting; and aftercare | 16 |
| Hair removal | Draping; hard wax; soft wax; sugaring; depilatories; tweezing; shaving; and pre and post care | 13 |
| Extractions | Manual; and Comedone extractor | 3 |
| Facials | manual methods; cleansing clays; and masks | 10 |
| Chemistry for nail technology | 15 | |
| Theory of a basic manicure and a basic pedicure | 5 | |
| Artificial nail techniques | Wraps; nail tips; gel nails; other acrylic nails; and nail art | 15 |
| Sculptured nails | Hard gel; poly gel; acrylic nail; and extreme nail art form | 15 |
| Business and shop management | Developing a clientele; professional image; professional ethics; professional associations; public relations; and advertising | 30 |
| Legal issues | Malpractice liability; regulatory agencies; and tax laws | 5 |
| Elective Topics based on technology and industry advancements | 69 |
Minimum Service Counts for the Cosmetologist License
| Service Count Category | Minimum Service Count | Service Count Clock Hours | Total Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cutting, clipping, or trimming various styles and hair textures of the head using scissors, shears, clippers, or another appliances | 70 | 1 | 70 |
| Shampooing with scalp treatments | 6 | 1 | 6 |
| Basic wet styling and blow drying, thermal styling | 50 | 1 | 50 |
| Removing hair from the face or neck using shaving equipment | 15 | 0.75 | 11.75 |
| Beard and mustache cut and trim | 10 | 0.5 | 5 |
| Wigs and hair pieces for the head, including cutting, wet styling, fitting, measuring, and forming caps | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Gently massaging head, neck, and shoulders by manual or mechanical means | shall complete with each service count | time included in each service count | time included in each service count |
| Hair extensions including preparation and application | 5 | 4 | 20 |
| Cutting, trimming, or blending hair extensions using scissors, shears, clippers or another appliance | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| Permanent waving | 12 | 3 | 36 |
| Any combination of bleaching, balayage, highlighting, or lightening | 12 | 4 | 48 |
| Chemical relaxer which may be done on virgin hair, non-virgin hair, or as a touch-up application | 5 | 2 | 10 |
| Hair coloring to include tinting, toning, glossing, color correction, filling or replacing lost pigment, or low lights. These services may be performed on virgin hair, non-virgin hair, or as a touch-up application | 12 | 2.5 | 30 |
| Waxing of the brow, lip, nose, cheeks, or chin using hard or soft wax or sugaring in any combination | 15 | 0.5 | 7.5 |
| Small or medium area waxing | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Large area waxing | 5 | 1.5 | 7.5 |
| Manual extractions, including using a comedone extractor | 10 | 0.25 | 2.5 |
| Back or basic facial | 15 | 1 | 15 |
| Cleansing the skin, applying oils, or antiseptics | shall complete with each service count | time included in each service count | time included in each service count |
| Limited chemical exfoliation including pre and post care | 8 | 1 | 8 |
| Arching of the eyebrows by tweezing | 5 | 0.25 | 1.25 |
| Eyelash perming or brow lamination | 5 | 1 | 5 |
| Tinting eyelashes or eyebrows | 5 | 0.5 | 2.5 |
| Securing the eyelash using tape or pad | 5 | 0.75 | 3.75 |
| Natural manicure including the use of manual tools or e-file | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Natural pedicure including the use of manual tools or e-file | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Sculptured nails including the use of manual tools or e-file | 10 | 1.5 | 15 |
| Artificial nails including the use of manual tools or e-file | 10 | 1.5 | 15 |
| Removal of artificial or sculptured nails including the use of manual or e-file | 5 | 0.5 | 2.5 |
| Smooth, shave or remove dead skin from the feet using blades, including corn or callus planer, or rasp | 7 | 0.25 | 1.75 |
| Gently massage the hands, feet, lower arms, or lower legs by manual means | shall complete with each service count | time included in each service count | time included in each service count |
| Draping | shall complete with each service count | time included in each service count | time included in each service count |
| Client consultation | shall complete with each service count | 0.25 | 84.25 |
| Sanitation, sterilization, decontamination, and infection control | shall complete with each service count | 0.25 | 84.25 |
| Electives based on technology and industry advancements | 220 | ||
| Cosmetology practical exam review | 1 | 8 | 8 |
*The time included in each service count cannot be accurately determined until the service has been fully completed.
The institution offers employment assistance to help graduates’ efforts to secure education-related employment that includes, but is not limited to training in professionalism, resume’ development, job interview preparation and job search skills.
All final theory exams and final practical exams must be completed in the school facility, they cannot be completed through distance education.
Cosmetologist Program Testing and Grading Procedure
The following tests and grading procedures are used to assess student learning and mastery of course content in the 1250-hour course, which includes the hybrid distance education program:
- Academic theory exams: Students must receive a grade of 75% or higher on each assigned theory exam. Exams are completed at the conclusion of each online theory module. Depending on the length of the distance education module, theory exams will occur weekly or bi-monthly. The theory exams will evaluate the student’s academic performance for each subject of the distance education curriculum.
- Core written and practical skills evaluation: Students must receive a grade of 75% or higher on each written exam and each practical skill exam in order to complete the Core program. The exams are an overview of instruction taught during the Core schedule. All Core written and practical skill exams must be passed with a 75% in order to transition to the Clinic Classroom. If students are unable to pass each exam after two attempts, the student may be asked to withdraw from the program and re-enroll in the next available Core class start date. The Core written and practical skills evaluation must be completed within the school facility and cannot be taken through distance education.
- Final exam 1: This test covers an overview of all related cosmetology subjects (e.g., anatomy, chemistry, etc.). Students must receive a grade of 75% or higher on all final exams. Final Exam 1 must be completed within the school facility and cannot be taken through distance education.
- Final exam 2: The written exam covers an overview of all theory instruction, Utah state law, and other items covered on the state cosmetology exam. Students must receive a grade of 75% or higher on all final exams. Final Exam 2 must be completed within the school facility and cannot be taken through distance education.
- Clinic practical worksheets: Students must complete all clinic practical worksheets.
- Distance education assessments: Students must complete a distance education written assessment and practical skill assessment. These are based on performance and must be completed on-campus each month. The distance education assessment will focus on the distance education subjects covered during that time period. Students must receive a grade of 75% or higher on each distance education written assessment and each practical skill assessment. Only students enrolled in the distance education program are required to complete these assessments.
Cosmetologist Instructional Techniques and Methods
The 1250 clock hour education is provided through a sequential set of learning steps which address specific tasks necessary for State Board preparation, graduation and job entry level skills. Clinic equipment, implements and products are comparable to those used in the industry. Each student will receive instruction that relates to the performance of useful, creative and productive career oriented activities. The course is presented through well-developed lesson plans that reflect the latest educational methods. Subjects are presented by means of lecture, demonstration and student participation. Audio- visual aids, guest speakers, field trips, and other related learning methods are used in the course.
In order to enroll in the hybrid program of study, the Future Professional must have the following hardware, software, and network requirements:
- Apple iPad (Wi-Fi 32GB)
- High-Speed Internet minimum of 15 Mbps
- Milady Mindtap
- Google Chrome or Safari
- Zoom