Cosmetology Instructor is a Certificate program offered by Sandra Academy of Salon Services in Morristown, TN. The program takes 8 weeks full time or 16 weeks part time (300 clock hours) to complete, with a total tuition of $2,500.
Program Overview
The Cosmetology Instructor program at Sandra Academy of Salon Services is 300 clock hours of teacher training for licensed cosmetologists who want to earn a Tennessee instructor license. Students learn to write lesson plans, lecture and demonstrate, direct student projects, use library resources and audiovisual aids, and run theory classes and the clinic floor.
Tennessee requires at least 100 of the 300 hours to be spent on lesson planning and motivation, and an applicant must have held a license for at least three years before receiving an instructor license. Applicants bring a copy of their state license when they enroll.
Sandra Academy is a private school of cosmetology with campuses in New Tazewell and Morristown in East Tennessee.
What sets this Program apart
- Eight weeks full time. Or 16 weeks part time.
- Classroom and clinic practice. Teach theory lessons and manage the student clinic floor.
- Two campuses and a hybrid option. New Tazewell or Morristown, with online theory at the same price.
Admission Requirements and Process
Sandra Academy is committed to providing quality educational opportunities to all students and does not discriminate based on sex, age, race, color, religion, or ethnic origin in admitting students. During the admissions process, each prospective applicant is given access to the institution’s catalog prior to program acceptance and admission, and is informed about current programs and statistics, facilities, and state licensing requirements.
General Requirements
- Age 18 or OlderTo enroll in a program at Sandra Academy, a student must be 18 years of age or older.
- High School CompletionProvide official transcripts showing high school completion or official transcripts of a High School Equivalency Diploma. Home schooled students are required to present documents…
- Identification DocumentsProvide a Social Security card or proof of eligible non-citizenship status, and a valid driver’s license, state ID with photo, or valid passport.
- Photos and CertificatesProvide two personal photos and copies of all marriage certificates.
- Immunization CertificationSandra Academy requires certification of immunizations prior to acceptance for admission to a program. Appropriate forms are available on the school website.
- State License (Instructor)Applicants enrolling in the Instructor Program must have a copy of their State license. The individual must hold a license for a minimum of three (3) years before they are able to…
Application Process
- 1Contact AdmissionsContact our admissions team or call 423-626-7877 to learn about current programs, facilities, and state licensing requirements.
- 2Complete the ApplicationComplete the Sandra Academy application. You will be given access to the school catalog before acceptance and will acknowledge receipt of pre-enrollment information in writing. Contact admissions to get started.
- 3Complete Your FAFSADetermine your dependency status, create your FSA ID on the Federal Student Aid website, and complete your FAFSA, then contact the admissions team.FAFSA Code for Morristown: E41092
- 4Submit Required DocumentsProvide proof of high school completion, identification, Social Security card or proof of eligible non-citizenship, two personal photos, marriage certificates, and certification of immunizations. Transfer students must submit certification of completed hours before signing an enrollment agreement.
- 5Sign the Enrollment AgreementOnce admitted to a program and before attending classes, you receive a copy of your completed Enrollment Agreement. Payment arrangements are determined at the finance interview; a $100 registration fee applies.
- 6Attend OrientationSandra Academy conducts an orientation program on the first day of class which provides information about the instructional programs, goals of each course, policies affecting students and services available to students.
Program Schedule
300 clock hours: 8 weeks at the full-time schedule of 40 hours a week, or 16 weeks part time at 20 hours a week. Classes run only when enough students enroll, and the school may reschedule or postpone a start.
Hybrid option. The catalog also offers this program as a hybrid at the same hours and price. Theory modules are completed by distance education, with a computer, laptop, smartphone or tablet with camera and microphone; practical work on live models is never taught online. Distance work is assessed on campus at least once a month, the comprehensive final exam is taken on campus, and transcripts identify the distance-education hours. Hours earned by distance education may not be accepted for licensure or reciprocity in other states.
Class times. Programs run year-round. Day and evening classes begin the first Monday of each month. Day classes meet Monday to Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and evening classes Monday to Friday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. The school observes New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Progress and attendance. Students must attend at least 67 percent of their cumulative scheduled hours and finish within 150 percent of the program length. Theory is tested after each unit and practical work is graded as it is completed, on a scale where 70 to 79 is average and 69 or less is failing. Hours count only when clocked, and a student absent for 14 calendar days without notice is withdrawn.
Campus Location
Why Accreditation Is Important
When you attend an accredited institution, you attend a school that has been independently evaluated for educational quality.
Sandra Academy of Salon Services is accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts & Sciences (NACCAS) at both its New Tazewell and Morristown campuses. It is licensed by the Tennessee Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners and authorized by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.
- A reliable indicator of quality
- Approved program of study
- Qualified instructors
- Recognition by employers nationwide
Accreditations
Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid Information
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $2,500 |
| Registration fee | $100 |
| Kit, books and technology fee | $800 |
| Total | $3,400 |
Paying for school. The catalog states that Sandra Academy is approved for Title IV federal student aid, available to those who qualify. The school does not publish a FAFSA school code on its website or in the catalog. Tuition may also be paid in monthly installments due on the 1st or 15th, set at the finance interview. The school publishes a 2025-26 net price calculator.
Other charges. The catalog lists a $150 administrative fee for students who withdraw or are terminated before finishing, a $1,000 charge to change programs, a $25 late fee for payments more than 10 days late, a $20 returned-check fee, and extra instructional charges for students who run past their contracted end date. Licensing exam and application fees are paid to the state and its testing vendor.
Cancellation and refunds. Cancelling within three business days of signing returns all money paid. After that but before classes start, everything is refunded except the $100 registration fee. Once classes begin, the school keeps a share of tuition based on scheduled hours: 20 percent under 5 percent of the program, then 30, 40, 45 and 70 percent, and all of it at 50 percent or more. Kits and books a student has received are not refundable. Refunds are paid within 45 days.
Curriculum
The catalog sets the program at 300 clock hours (9 credit hours), including at least 100 hours of lesson planning and motivation as the Tennessee Board requires. It does not print hours for the remaining subjects, so no subject breakdown is listed here.
Career Outcomes
Graduates who pass the Tennessee instructor exams can teach in cosmetology schools. The catalog cites a Jobs4TN annual median wage in Tennessee of $53,507 for postsecondary career and technical education teachers.
When all program requirements are met, the school certifies the student’s hours to the state. Graduates take the Tennessee written and practical licensing exams, then create an account at CORE.tn.gov and apply for their license with the Tennessee Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners.
What to expect as a Sandra Academy of Salon Services student
Both campuses have lecture and demonstration classrooms, a clinic floor with 20 individual styling stations with hydraulic chairs, a platform area for presentations and competitions, a dispensary, laundry, study areas and offices. The New Tazewell campus has about 8,990 square feet and the Morristown campus about 5,975 square feet, all on one ground-level floor that is accessible to students with disabilities. Every client service is performed by supervised students.
Students have computers and internet access for study. The catalog asks applicants to weigh the physical side of the work: long hours standing with the hands at shoulder level, bending over shampoo bowls, long periods seated at a nail station, and exposure to chemicals and fumes that can cause allergic reactions. Pay in the field may be salary, commission, a mix of both, or independent booth rental, and building a clientele can take a personal investment in advertising.
Students are expected to present themselves professionally, keep their kit and station clean and inspected, and follow the Tennessee sanitation rules. Alcohol, drugs and smoking are not permitted on campus, and students may be drug tested.