Cosmetology

The objective of the Cosmetology program is to prepare students with the knowledge, technical skills and work habits required for an entry-level position in the field of cosmetology. In addition to learning the basics of safety and sanitation, students explore their creative side by performing a variety of hair, skin and nail treatments on mannequins and clients.

Students are introduced to the fundamentals of hairdressing — haircutting, chemical processes, hair color and finish work — along with skin care, facials, hair removal, make-up application and basic nail processes, and the laws pertaining to cosmetology. They also learn professionalism, basic business practices and media marketing, and are encouraged to build a professional portfolio. Graduates receive a diploma.

Why IOT? The school says its classes are engaging (hands-on vocational training and real-world education), supportive (tutoring and instructors with many years of industry experience) and convenient (evening classes, accelerated programs and hybrid learning that can be completed in as little as 9 months).

Classroom instruction prepares students with the basic knowledge needed to perform services such as cutting, coloring and styling hair, while salon floor practice hours provide the opportunity to gain real-life experience using those skills. Students also receive a basic knowledge of how to run a cosmetology-related business, from business practices and marketing to professional standards and laws.

All students interested in applying must first meet with an Admissions Representative and successfully pass a 12-minute assessment test. Students must be a minimum of 18 years of age, or 17 years of age with the written consent of a parent or guardian, and possess a high school diploma or equivalent, a valid government or state issued GED, or proof of completing an officially recognized and accredited home schooling program (home-school applicants must also pass an entrance examination). Foreign education documents that cannot be confirmed must be evaluated by a third-party agency at the applicant’s expense.

Non-ATB applicants take the Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam; diploma programs require a minimum score of 10. Students with delinquent student loans must resolve them before being considered, and students who have defaulted on a student loan will not be considered for admission.

Hybrid (IDL) programs. Applicants must attest to their ability to succeed in a distance learning environment and pass the online “Computer Literacy and Internet Knowledge” (CLIK) pre-assessment with a score of 14 or higher. Minimum technology: a PC, laptop and/or tablet able to create documents in Microsoft or Google Docs, the ability to join Zoom or Microsoft Teams calls (speakers and microphone required), and continuous, reliable internet access.

No diploma or GED? Through a partnership with C4L Academy, students in an eligible career pathway program (ECPP) can earn a high school diploma while concurrently enrolled; ability-to-benefit applicants must pass the ACCUPLACER test (Reading 233, Writing 235, Arithmetic 230).

The program is 1,000 clock hours. It is a hybrid or interactive distance learning (IDL) program: classes are a combination of on campus and online for 50 weeks. On-campus classes are held two days per week and the remaining distance education coursework is completed at a location determined by the student.

At the Clovis campus, Cosmetology and Barbering on-campus sessions are held Tuesday and Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; online attendance events are monitored weekly.

Graduates will be prepared to seek entry-level employment in a variety of jobs in the cosmetology industry, including the salon and spa environments, in roles such as cosmetologists, hairstylists, makeup artists, manicurists, skincare specialists and beauty advisors. The program prepares students to take the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology written and practical exams.

IOT states that its program curriculum meets the educational requirements for licensure in California; individuals who wish to move to another state should research professional licensure and employment requirements in that state.

Graduates of the program will be trained to provide hair, nail and skin services in a broad range of cosmetology settings and in a safe manner; demonstrate lash application, tint and perming, and eyebrow lamination; achieve adequate academic preparedness for the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology exams; and demonstrate critical thinking, communication skills and professional behavior.

A mobile tablet, e-textbook, instructional material, student kit and uniforms are required and available for purchase. Students who successfully complete the program are documented as “Graduate” and receive a diploma.