Cosmetology

Does being in a high-energy, fast-paced work environment appeal to you?  Maybe you love to interact with the public and use your creativity to express yourself and enhance the beauty in others.  If so, Cosmetology may be a good fit for you!

View our short video about the Cosmetology Program:

At SIC, you can complete your cosmetology certificate in just one year and be on your way to working in a salon!  SIC will prepare you for the real-world work environment and employer demands through both individual and group instruction with small classes, which means you get more personal attention.  You’ll also find that SIC has one of the lowest tuition rates around.

The Cosmetology and Cosmetology Teacher programs at Southeastern Illinois College inspire the creative and professional aptitude of both men and women.  Both programs are designed to give students training in the arts, skills, and applied sciences that deal with adornment through care and treatment of the hair, nails, and skin.

Southeastern’s Cosmetology Program will prepare you for entry-level positions in this exciting and stable career field.  You’ll graduate with 38 college credits and log a minimum of 1500 clock (classroom and lab) hours.  You’ll learn skills in:

• Hair:  cut, style, formal styling, color, highlights, perms, beard trimming
• Nails:  manicures, pedicures, acrylics, shellac, nail art
• Makeup:  bridal, seasonal, special effects
• Skincare:  facials, waxing

Employment opportunities and salaries in the cosmetology field are based on attributes and factors such as experience, quality of work, speed of performance, dependability, enthusiasm, professional attitude, computer knowledge, and education.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for Cosmetologists, Hairstylists, and Barbers was $29,680 in 2021 before tips, and employment is projected to grow 11% between 2021 and 2031.  Manicurist and Pedicurist jobs are expected to grow 22% from 2021-2031, and median pay in 2021 was $29,210 before tips.

A professional career in cosmetology is limited only to the ambitions and desires of each individual.  This profession offers advantages and opportunities in an artistic, creative, and innovative field.  You may advance your career in different areas, such as:

• hairstylist
• color specialist
• nail technician
• makeup artist
• esthetics (skincare) professional
• sales in cosmetic or skincare lines
• management of a salon
• cosmetology teacher
• product educator and/or demonstrator

Or maybe you have plans to open your own salon.  Business courses included in the program provide a good foundation for students with entrepreneurial aspirations.  Additionally, you can get access to free assistance with this venture at SIC through the Small Business Development Center.

The program also offers internships during the last semester of training.  These internships allow students to perform hands-on, live work and affords an opportunity to network with employers for potential future jobs.

Although the Cosmetology program at SIC is strict with clinical hours and expectations to provide the best education and board certification preparation, it is not without fun activities.

The SIC Cosmetology Program is licensed through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulations.  Southeastern Illinois College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

---

Program Learning Outcomes

Goal 1: Perform hair care services for all types of hair, including hair analysis, hair cutting, hairstyling, hair coloring and lightening, permanent waving, and chemical relaxing.
Goal 2: Perform natural nail services, including manicuring and pedicuring.
Goal 3: Perform basic skin care services, including skin analysis, facials, makeup application, and superfluous hair removal.
Goal 4: Demonstrate customer service skills, self-growth, and personal and professional development.
Goal 5: Perform salon business skills such as front desk operations, dispensary inventory and loss prevention, resume building and interviewing skills, self-marketing and the basic knowledge of starting one’s own salon business.
Goal 6: Demonstrate knowledge of infection and disease control, public hygiene, and special sanitation procedures used for the protection of the client and the operator.
Goal 7: Possess the necessary skills to pass the Illinois State licensure written and practical exams required for a professional license to work in the Cosmetology industry.

Cosmetology Program Handbook

---

State Licensure or Certification Information

Find information on the specific states the institution has determined its Cosmetology program curriculum meets the state educational requirements for licensure or certification regardless of modality.

---

Admission requirements to the SIC Cosmetology program include, but may not be limited to:

• High school diploma or equivalent with an overall HS GPA of 2.8 or higher (on a 4.0 scale)
• NextGen ACCUPLACER placement exam with a score of 235+ in Writing; 236+ in Reading; and 220+ QAS in Math
• Required scores on the entrance test must be met at the time of registration OR placement coursework must be completed by August 9, 2024
• Successful completion of any developmental courses as indicated by scores(s) earned on the ACCUPLACER test

STUDENTS ARE ACCEPTED into the Cosmetology program in August of each year.  Students are required to attend a mandatory orientation.

---

State Board Pass Rates for SIC Cosmetology Students:

2023 – N/A

2022 – 100%

2021 – 100%

2020 – 100%

2019 – 100%

2018 – 83%

2017 – 84%

2016 – 92%

2015 – 89%

---

COSMETOLOGY REFRESHER

The cosmetology refresher course is three credit hours and involves an in-depth review of the methods and procedures of practical chemical application, hair treatments, hair styling, hair dressing, shop management, interpersonal relations, esthetics nail technology, as well as sanitation and decontamination as related to blood borne pathogens.  Plenty of hands-on training is provided through 250 hours of lecture, lab and student demonstrations.

Requirements for admission to the class include, but are not limited to:

• current cosmetology license, or
• current cosmetology teacher’s license, or
• past cosmetology license in good standing with the State of Illinois, or
• completion of 1500 hour cosmetology program or its equivalent

---

COSMETOLOGY TEACHER

The cosmetology teacher program prepares candidates to teach in a licensed cosmetology program and is perfect for those who wish to make a career change from stylist to teacher.

The program is 34 credit hours and courses taught cover topics ranging from effective writing and speaking to a survey of the science of education and educational psychology, as well as cosmetology teacher classes.

• Requirements for admission to the program include, but may not be limited to:
• Signed letter of application
• Enrollment Agreement
• Current cosmetology license
• Fourteen verifiable CEU hours
• Notarized affidavit(s) of verifiable documentation that shows proof of a minimum of two years’ experience within the last five years from employer(s) and/or clients
• Two verifiable references from past employers/clients.  Must include full names, addresses and phone number where references can be reached
• Copy of ASSET and/or COMPASS test results