Cosmetology Operator

The Cosmetology Operator programme provides the student with the opportunity to express creativity within the bounds of technical skill in safety, sanitation and health factors when working with hair, nails, skin, make-up, and salon management. Its objective is to provide students with the instruction and practice needed to gain licensure as a cosmetology operator through the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), with training in basic skills, safety, and the proper work habits needed for employment.

The curriculum conforms to the requirements established and monitored by TDLR and is designed to prepare the student to gain licensure by taking and passing the state examination. Clinic work allows students hands-on application and practice of newly learned skills under the supervision of an experienced Cosmetology Instructor. Successful completion does not automatically guarantee state licensure; the graduate must take and pass state-administered examinations.

The programme includes training in hair cutting and styling, hair coloring techniques, hair styling trends, facials and skin care, nail techniques, makeup application, waxing and hair removal, and salon operation and management, the ability to test for licensure, and 13 career skill badges. The Cosmetology Operator License exam fee is included in tuition if taken within three months of completion.

Southern Careers Institute was founded in 1960 and received its initial accreditation from the Council on Occupational Education in 1991. It trains students at eight Texas campuses and online, and its campuses are authorized testing sites for the National Healthcareer Association and Certiport. Students earn skill badges as they progress, and SCI Connect, the school’s career services portal, lets students build a profile with their resume, skill badges and videos of them performing job tasks for employers who post jobs there.

Before you start. Prior to the start date, you must visit the school and tour the campus and complete an interview with a licensed representative in the Admissions Department.

Age and education. You must be at least 16 years of age, but graduates must be at least 17 to be eligible for state licensure by TDLR. Applicants under 18 must provide proof of a high school diploma or GED and have a parent or legal guardian co-sign the enrollment agreement. You must not have accumulated more than 750 hours toward a Cosmetology Operator license at another institution, and you must provide verifiable official documentation of completion of secondary education (or a recognised equivalent, an associate degree, or an evaluated foreign credential) within 21 days of starting school.

Criminal history. Prospective students must provide criminal history information; anyone with a convicted or pending felony violent crime, a convicted or pending serious felony drug crime, any sex offense conviction or pending felony sexual case, or who is a registered sex offender is not eligible for enrollment.

Kit. The mandatory Cosmetology Operator kit ($175.00) is paid out of pocket by the student and is non-refundable.

English. SCI does not provide ESL instruction; students whose primary language is not English must document English proficiency.

Schedule. The Cosmetology Operator programme is scheduled for 25 hours per week, Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., including a 30-minute unpaid lunch, for five hours of attendance each day; the Onyx and Diamond modules are offered from 12:30 to 6:00 p.m. only. The estimated time of completion is 40 weeks. Courses run in three-week modules; the programme may not be offered for every start.

Attendance. Attendance is reported to TDLR and checked every 75 scheduled hours. Students below 70% attendance at a checkpoint are dismissed, and students below 85% at the end of a level may take a three-week Course Break ($75.00) to make up hours. Absences may be made up after 2:30 p.m. by arrangement with the Program Director or Director of Education.

Tuition: $18,700.00; mandatory fees: $175.00; total: $18,875.00.

Upon passing the written and practical examinations administered by TDLR, graduates may seek entry-level employment as a cosmetology operator in a salon or spa environment. Career opportunities may include, but are not limited to, cosmetologist, cosmetology operator, stylist, hair stylist, nail technician, skin technician, and wax technician.

Cosmetology operators can work in salons, spas, resorts, cruise ships, or their own business, and some specialise in an area such as hair styling, makeup artistry, or nail care. SCI states that its Cosmetology programme has been determined to meet the requirements to sit for the licensure exam in Texas.

Career services. Career Services are available to active students and graduates. Staff strive to meet every student before graduation for an exit interview that includes a customised job-search profile, an entry-level resume and a mock interview; they provide resume and interview help and work with local employers to match their needs with graduates’ skills. SCI does not guarantee employment or a specific starting salary.

Clinic work. The programme moves through levels, from Novice Stylist lectures and skills practice to Junior and Senior Stylist clinic labs, where activities may include performing customer procedures in the salon clinic, attending field trips, participating in guest speaker lectures, and practising, remediating and passing skills assessments. Senior Stylist units also build soft skills such as professionalism, teamwork, active listening, client relationships, consultation and time management, and include practice written exams for the TDLR Cosmetology Operator License Written Exam.

Board prep. The final Board Prep levels cover job readiness, with goal setting, job search techniques, portfolio development, a final resume, cover letter and mock interviews, followed by state board practical preparation. All attendance is reported directly to TDLR for tracking against licensure requirements, and students are expected to clock in and out as required.