Manicurist Course is a Diploma program offered by Advanced Barber College & Hair Design in Weslaco, TX. The program takes 600 clock hours — 20 weeks at 30 hours a week to complete, with a total tuition of $4,200. Figures from the school’s 2022 catalog; the catalog prints no total, so the total is the sum of its four items. The website prices only the Barber Course.
Program Overview
Manicurist Course, 600 clock hours. The objective of this program is to prepare the student to take and pass the required Manicurist Examination. The curriculum consists of eight hours of orientation, 37 hours of instruction in theory, and 555 hours of instruction in practical work, from preparing a manicure table and shaping nails to hand and arm massage, applying polish and the application of artificial and gel nails.
On the school’s website. The Courses page says that, due to the decrease in hours in the barber course, it is no longer beneficial to take the manicurist course on its own: taking the barber course for only 400 more hours lets a student not only do nails but also gain all the skills of a barber. The school’s Student Information form still offers Manicure as a course choice.
What sets this Program apart
Dedicated educators and school philosophy. Advanced Barber College & Hair Design is dedicated to educating quality participants who are able to meet both the present and future demand of the barber and beauty industry. Each student admitted to the college receives individualized instruction and exposure to practiced technical skills and familiarity with the industry’s equipment, and each student has adequate opportunities for supervised work with the public. The school’s intent is to graduate quality, not quantity.
First-rate course offerings. ABC offers courses that prepare the student for the Texas Barber Licensing exams, teaching everything necessary to earn licenses and to become successful in the field of barbering, in small focused group classes that better reach the specific educational needs of the student.
Our mission. To provide excellent professional training, preparing students for both the State Barber Exam and a successful career in the barber industry. The curriculum emphasizes both basic and advanced skills so students build a solid foundation of knowledge and service, and the staff provide textbook studies, hands-on training serving clients, and opportunities to attend annual trade shows.
Since 1988. Advanced Barber College & Hair Designs, Inc. was founded in April 1988 and opened its doors for business on July 5th, 1988.
Admission Requirements and Process
Admission. Advanced Barber College & Hair Design, Inc. offers training programs that are conducted continuously and is an equal educational opportunity institution: qualified applicants are admitted regardless of race, ethnic background, physical handicap, or other non-ability or skill-related characteristic. ABC is a brick and mortar school and only offers classes in person.
Prerequisites. Students must be at least 16 years old and meet one of the following educational requirements: a high school diploma, a GED, a transcript from school, or ATB. As per the Department of Education, the Ability-To-Benefit test option for federal financial aid was eliminated on July 1, 2012 except for students enrolled before that date, and the college has adopted that standard.
Before acceptance. Each applicant must appear for a personal interview with school officials and complete an enrollment application.
Before classes begin. Each student must provide a Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation enrollment form, a copy of his or her high school diploma, GED, school transcript or ATB test, four identical passport-size pictures, and the $50.00 school enrollment fee, $25 of which is sent to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
Transfer students. A student who transfers to ABC after an interruption is reported to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation and re-evaluated on an application for transfer, based on the hours needed to complete under state law; a transfer fee of $235.00 is paid to ABC. Clock hours cannot be transferred from one program to another within the school.
General Requirements
- Minimum ageYou must be at least 16 years old (the school’s Admission page; its 2022 catalog says 17).
- EducationProvide a high school diploma, GED, a school transcript showing your graduation date, or an ATB test where it applies.
- InterviewAppear for a personal interview with school officials and complete an enrollment application before you are accepted.
- State enrollment formComplete a Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation enrollment form before classes begin.
- PhotosProvide four identical passport-size photos, 2 in × 2 in.
- IdentificationBring a state-issued identification and a copy of your Social Security card.
- Private pay studentsStudents paying privately may instead show proof of 7th grade education (U.S. or Mexico); no Social Security number is required.
Application Process
- 1Request informationAsk about the course, its monthly starts and its schedule through Request Information.
- 2Complete the Student Information formFill in the school’s Student Information form: your details, citizenship, education, prior barber school, student loans, the course you are interested in and how you heard about ABC.
- 3InterviewAppear for a personal interview with school officials and complete the enrollment application.
- 4EnrollProvide the TDLR enrollment form, proof of education, identification, four passport photos and the $50.00 non-refundable registration fee due at enrollment.
- 5Apply for financial aidComplete the FAFSA at studentaid.gov and list Advanced Barber College & Hair Design, federal school code 034123.FAFSA Code for Weslaco: 034123Complete the FAFSA
Program Schedule
Manicurist Course, 600 clock hours. The catalog sets the program at 20 weeks at 30 hours a week, with a maximum time frame of 30 weeks (900 scheduled hours). Full-time students attend scheduled six-hour days, 8:00 am to 2:30 pm with a 30-minute lunch. Absences or tardiness can subject the student to an additional tuition charge of $7.00 for every hour attended past the contract completion.
Calendar. The school is in session twelve months of the year, Monday through Friday, with the office open 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Enrollment is on a continuing basis, with classes starting on the first Monday of each month. The school closes for New Year’s Day, Spring Break in March, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Summer Break in July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Break.
Progress. Students must attend 90% of their scheduled hours each month and keep a 70% grade average; the maximum time frame is one and one-half times the length of the course.
Required Courses
| Subject # | Name |
|---|---|
Campus Location
Why Accreditation Is Important
Attending an accredited school means its training has been reviewed against independent standards that protect students.
This school: Advanced Barber College & Hair Design, Inc. is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education and has been licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation since 1988.
- A reliable indicator of educational quality
- Reviewed against independent standards
- Recognized by employers and licensing boards
Accreditations
Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid Information
| Manicurist Course (600 hours), 2022 catalog | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $4,200.00 |
| Tools | $1,300.00 |
| Books | $225.00 |
| Registration and other fees | $300.00 |
| Total | $6,025.00 (sum of the items; the catalog prints no total) |
Licensing fees. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation charges a $50.00 manicurist written fee, a $72.00 manicurist practical fee and a $30.00 license fee, outside the school’s price.
Financial aid. Financial aid is available for those who qualify. Advanced Barber College & Hair Design, Inc. is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education and certified by the U.S. Department of Education to participate in the Federal Pell and Loan program, and is approved for training by the Texas Veterans Commission (GI Bill®). The Department of Assistive & Rehabilitative Services (DARS) is also listed. To apply for federal aid, list federal school code 034123 on the FAFSA.
Tools and books. Students may buy tools and books from outside vendors, but the school highly recommends buying them from ABC because state law requires professional tools and books; outside items that do not meet the requirements cannot be part of the tool kit and must be re-purchased.
Refunds. The state refund policy refunds 90% of tuition for withdrawal within the first 10% of the course’s clock hours, 80% up to 20%, 75% up to 25%, 50% up to 50%, and nothing after 50% of the course.
Curriculum
600 clock hours: 8 hours of orientation, 37 hours of theory and 555 hours of practical work. The theory covers Texas barber laws, professional ethics, hygiene and good grooming, bacteriology, sterilization and sanitation, the nails and their disorders, manicuring equipment and procedures, anatomy and physiology, the skin and advanced nail techniques. To graduate, the student completes the 600-hour course and passes the school’s practical and theory exit examinations.
Grading. Every student receives two grades a week in both written and practical work: 90-100 Excellent, 80-89 Good, 70-79 Average, below 69 Failing. An overall program average of 70% or above, the course hours, a passing exit exam and no financial obligations to the school earn the diploma.
Required Courses
| Subject # | Name | Total |
|---|---|---|
Career Outcomes
Career opportunities. The catalog lists competition, instructor, school director, state inspector, permanent wave specialist, platform specialist, hair color specialist, barber shop or salon owner, theatrical hairstylist, beauty and barber supply sales person, and freelance work.
Job placement. The school cannot guarantee employment after graduation but makes every effort to establish contact between graduates and prospective employers; it receives calls from employers wishing to hire its graduates, and those requests are kept on file and available to students. On the school’s site: ABC offers placement and licensure services so that everyone who joins the ABC family can get a job and make a successful living.
What to expect as a Advanced Barber College & Hair Design student
The campus. The school opened in 1988 at 2818 S. International Blvd. in Weslaco in a building of approximately 10,000 square feet, with offices, classroom, dressing room, lounge area and clinic floor. The clinic floor is equipped with ninety-one barber chairs and 13 shampoo bowls and chairs, each station with a custom-designed cabinet, sink and personal vanity; the practical and theory classroom has 10 stations for hands-on training, and the main classroom has seating, six big screen TVs and a stage for presentations. A library is available during school hours.
Dress code. Students dress professionally at all times and wear the school smock, purchased at the school, zipped or buttoned and clean during school hours, with clean, polished closed shoes and no hats or caps. Students wear their ID name tag at all times.
Attendance. Full-time students attend their scheduled six-hour days, 8:00 am to 2:30 pm with a 30-minute lunch, and must maintain at least 120 clock hours a month (60 for part-time students). Students arrive with their books, smocks, name tags and supplies by 8:00 am, clock in on arrival and out on leaving, and finish any client work before clocking out.
Career guidance and advising. Each student may meet with an advisor for an evaluation of academic progress and goals, and may be referred to social service agencies, housing assistance, tutoring, health services or study groups. Students complete an “In Case of Emergency” form when enrolling, and a first aid kit is available.
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Other Programs at Weslaco
Advanced Barber College & Hair Design in Weslaco, TX also offers this program at 2818 S. International Blvd., Weslaco, TX 78596.