Cosmetology Course Information

COSMETOLOGY COURSE DESCRIPTION

Standard Occupational Classification (SOC 39-5012.00) 
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 12.0401)

The curriculum involves 1500 hours to satisfy Kansas 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 entry level cosmetologists.
This course is taught in English. Textbooks and course materials are only offered in the English language.

COSMETOLOGY COURSE OVERVIEW

Course Hours: 1500 clock hours

The course is divided into pre-clinical classroom instruction and clinic classroom learning experiences.

  1. Pre-Clinical Classroom Instruction:  The first 320 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. 
  2. Clinic Classroom 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.
  3. Distance Education Learning Experience:  As a part-time student, you will participate in Distance Education. It will be part of your schedule beginning in Core. You will be on-campus for 20 hours and have 5 hours of Distance Education. As a full-time student enrolled in Distance Education, you will be on-site for 35 hours a week to complete the Core curriculum. Once Core is completed, you will participate in 7 hours of Distance Education as part of your weekly 35 hour schedule. Distance Education will be overseen by a licensed instructor. A student enrolled in a program with distance education may earn up to 25% of the program's total clock hours through distance education.

COSMETOLOGY COURSE OUTLINE

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Classroom Learning Experience:  Classroom education throughout the program includes cutting, coloring, texture, makeup, 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.

COSMETOLOGY COURSE SUBJECTS

The instructional program of Paul Mitchell The School Wichita meets or exceeds the state requirements. The following subjects are taught within the brick & mortar program and the hybrid program:

SubjectRequired HoursPractical Applications 
(1) Scientific Concepts  
(a) Sanitation: Personal, public, methods, chemistry, safety
precautions, and first aid
40 
(b) Hair and scalp: Structure composition; blood, nerve, muscle supply and function; growth and regeneration; analysis; conditions; and disorders35 
(c) Skin: Structure; function; blood, nerve and muscle supply and function; conditions; and disorders20 
(d) Nails: Structure, composition, growth and regeneration, irregularities, disorders, and diseases20 
(2) Physical Services  
(a) Shampoos and rinses: Purpose and effects, materials and supplies, types of shampoos, types of rinses, procedures, related chemistry, and client protection35 
(b) Scalp and hair care: Purpose and effects, materials and supplies, types of scalp treatments, procedures, safety measures, and related chemistry35 
(c) Facials and makeup: Purpose and effect of massage movements; materials, implements and supplies; facial nerves and muscles; procedures; related chemistry; effects of makeup; hair removal; eyebrow arching; lash and brow tinting; and safety precautions150 
(d) Manicuring180 
(e) Artificial nails: Purpose and effect, equipment, supplies and implements, procedures, related chemistry, and  safety precautions.  
(3) Chemical Services  
(a) Hair coloring17525
(b) Hair lightening: Purpose and effects, materials and supplies, scalp and hair analysis, classification/types, color selection, procedures, corrective measures, filler and conditioners, removal of artificial color, special effects, related chemistry, and safety precautions. 25
(c) Chemical waving: Propose and effects, materials and supplies, scalp and hair analysis, chemical classification, procedures, special effects, special hair problems, related chemistry, and safety measures15025
(d) Chemical hair relaxing: Purpose and effects, materials and supplies, Scalp and hair analysis, Chemical classification, Procedures, Special hair problems, Related chemistry, and Safety measures.12525
(4) Hair Designing  
(a) Hair Shaping: Purpose and effect, Materials, supplies and implements, techniques, use of implements such as razors and scissors, designing, and safety measure.15050
(b) Hairstyling: Purpose and effects, materials and supplies, finger waving and shaping, curl formation such as pin curls, complete pin curl set, complete pin curl and wave set, rollers, complete roller set, comb-out techniques, and complete comb-out125150
(c) Thermal techniques: Hair and scalp analysis, materials, supplies and implements, hair pressing, thermal curling and waving including iron curling, electric curling, curling iron set, air waving, blow dry styling, and safety measures.75100
(d) Care and styling of hairpieces10 
(5) Business Practices  
(a) Management practices, salon development, insurance, client records, and salesmanship.75 
(6) State Laws  
(a) Rules and regulations50 
(7) Student-Specific Needs50 
TOTAL HOURS1500400
TOTAL PROGRAM HOURS1500 Hours

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. No additional hours will be required to complete the additional training and these additional courses are not a requirement for state licensure.

Distance Education hours and assignments are graded and recorded daily. Theory chapter exams, final exams and final practical evaluations may be completed in the school facility.

COSMETOLOGY PROGRAM TESTING AND GRADING PROCEDURE

The following tests and grading procedures are used to assess student learning and mastery of course content in the 1500-hour course:

  1. Academic theory exams: Students must receive a grade of 80% 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.
  2. Core written and practical skills evaluation: Students must receive a grade of 80% 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 80% 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.
  3. Final exam 1: This test covers an overview of all related cosmetology subjects (e. g., anatomy, chemistry, etc. ). Students must receive a grade of 80% or higher on all final exams. Final Exam 1 must be completed within the school facility and cannot be taken through distance education.
  4. Final exam 2: The written exam covers an overview of all theory instruction, Kansas state law, and other items covered on the state cosmetology exam. Students must receive a grade of 80% or higher on all final exams. Final Exam 2 must be completed within the school facility and cannot be taken through distance education.
  5. Clinic Practical Skill Assessments: Future Professionals progress in practical skill assessments and theory hours will be digitally monitored on a weekly basis by the Future Professional Advisor using the MyPortico app. All assigned practical skill assessments must be completed in order to complete the program.
  6. Practical skills test (mock state board): Students must receive a 80% or higher grade on all final tests. Practical Skills Tests must be completed within the school facility and cannot be taken through distance education.
  7. 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 80% 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.

COSMETOLOGY INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNIQUES AND METHODS

The programs are 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, distance education, 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:

  1. Apple iPad
  2. 2 mbps up and 6 mbps down
  3. Pivot Point
  4. Safari and Chrome
  5. Zoom and Google Classroom