Advanced Cosmetology is a Diploma program offered by The Spa School in Columbus, OH. The program takes 1,800 clock hours, about 65 weeks on the fastest schedule to complete, with a total tuition of $27,245.
Program Overview
Advanced Cosmetology, 1,800 hours. Advanced Cosmetology is the full practice of cosmetology, covering both basic and advanced skills. The course trains students in the skills needed for a cosmetology salon and in the advanced techniques and knowledge needed to work in, manage or own one, and it leads to the Ohio Advanced Cosmetologist license.
How it is taught. The course is taught in English through lecture, demonstration, visual aids, textbook review, practice and testing, moving from primary subjects to advanced ones, with clinic experience under instructor supervision.
Beyond the basics. Advanced students add Ohio cosmetology laws and rules, public health and safety, and 240 hours of advanced techniques in salon supervision, business management and ownership, and specialized equipment.
What sets this Program apart
- Built for future owners. The advanced units cover salon supervision and management, business management and ownership, and product and service sales.
- Hair, skin, nails and lashes. The course spans keratin treatments and curl reformations, artificial nails, facials and body treatments, lash lifts, brow lamination and lash extensions.
- An evening option. The Spa School is the group's only campus with evening junior and senior schedules.
- A student clinic open six days. Students serve guests in the campus clinic on weekdays, evenings and Saturdays.
Admission Requirements and Process
Becoming a student-artist is within reach for your future! Apply to Ohio State School of Cosmetology and The Spa School, where you can learn amazing salon skills from the professionals. A personal interview is required of all applicants in order to determine interest, aptitude, financial need and the ability to benefit from our training.
General Requirements
- High School Diploma or GEDAn applicant must provide either proof of valid high school education (high school diploma or high school transcript) showing high school completion; or a General Educational…
- Foreign Diploma EvaluationAn applicant who submits a foreign high school diploma must also provide notarized documentation from an approved outside agency that is qualified to translate documentations into…
- Minimum Age (17)Be at least 17 years old and provide proof of age through birth certificate, driver’s license, passport, or other government-issued identification.
- Personal InterviewA personal interview is required of all applicants in order to determine interest, aptitude, financial need and the ability to benefit from our training.
- Means to Pay TuitionAn applicant must have the means to pay tuition, fees and related expenses and must show financial stability and resources to reasonably ensure that lack of finances will not…
- Housing and TransportationAn applicant must demonstrate housing and transportation stability including reasonable housing for the duration of the course, and dependable transportation to and from school.
- Criminal HistoryGenerally, the School will not enroll any person convicted of a felony, or of the illegal possession or sale of drugs.
- Prior Post-Secondary HistoryThe School will usually not enroll an individual with a history of attending more than 2 prior post-secondary schools, or of not completing more than 1 prior post-secondary…
- Aptitude Test if RequiredIf in the opinion of the Admissions Representative a prospective student does not exhibit the skills, aptitude or language comprehension necessary to complete the course, the…
- Transfer StudentsTransfer students may be accepted at the sole discretion of the school on a case-by-case basis and will receive credit for no more than half of the hours of the program. A $150.00…
Application Process
- 1Schedule a TourCall or fill out a form to schedule a tour. Set up a tour and we can walk you through our school as well as the application process.
- 2Visit and InterviewVisit the location of your choice. A personal interview is required of all applicants in order to determine interest, aptitude, financial need and the ability to benefit from our training.
- 3Apply Through AdmissionsApply to the program you want to pursue. Application for enrollment may be made by contacting our office of Admissions by letter or phone.
- 4Apply for Financial Aid (FAFSA)Financial aid is available to those who qualify. Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) to see what you may qualify for.FAFSA Code for Columbus: 009531Fill Out the FAFSA
Program Schedule
Junior training. Every student starts with junior theory training in a classroom dedicated to orientation and theory: 11 weeks at 18 hours a week in the daytime, Tuesday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., or 14 weeks at 14 hours a week in the evening, Tuesday and Thursday from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Senior schedules. Senior training runs from 30 hours a week for 54 weeks to 24 hours a week for 67 weeks, 20 hours a week for 81 weeks on the modular schedule, or 18 hours a week for 104 weeks on the evening schedule, which includes a required Wednesday senior class block. Evening senior schedules are offered only at The Spa School.
Upcoming start dates. The 2026 calendar lists daytime starts at The Spa School on September 22 and November 24, 2026, and an evening start on October 13, 2026.
Attendance and leaves. Attendance is tracked on electronic time clocks, and a student more than 30 minutes late to clinic or 15 minutes late to class may not be signed in. A leave of absence is normally 30 to 60 days, requires a written request, and together with any earlier leaves cannot exceed 180 days in 12 months. The school closes for New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Campus Location
Why Accreditation Is Important
When you attend an accredited institution, you attend a school that has been independently evaluated for educational quality.
The Spa School is accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts & Sciences (NACCAS) and licensed by the Ohio State Cosmetology and Barber Board.
- A reliable indicator of quality
- Approved program of study
- Qualified instructors
- Recognition by employers nationwide
Accreditations
Student Demographics
These are demographics for all students at the Columbus Campus (IPEDS, 2024).
Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid Information
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition (1,800 hours, books and equipment included) | $27,245 |
| Registration fee | $100 |
| First day fee | $250 |
| Total | $27,595 |
Financial aid. The Spa School is eligible for federal financial aid, including Pell Grants, Direct Stafford Loans and Parent PLUS Loans, for students who qualify; its FAFSA school code is 009531. School-sponsored scholarships, tuition awards and private aid are also offered, and scholarships weigh financial need, academic performance, attendance and interest in the field.
Paying for school. Fees can be paid by cash, credit card, money order, check or eligible federal aid. After the $250 first day fee, the payment plan for this course is $1,135 a month for 24 months, the balance can be paid in full at any time, and a payment more than 20 days late carries a $25 charge. The first day fee covers processing, orientation, the student handbook, study aids and texts.
Cancellation and refunds. If the school denies admission, or a student cancels within three business days of signing the enrollment agreement, all money paid is refunded; cancelling later but before classes begin refunds everything except the $100 registration fee. After the first day of class the first day fee is not refundable, and tuition owed is 5% of total tuition before 3% of scheduled hours, 10% before 5%, 20% before 10%, 40% before 25%, 60% before 35%, 70% before 50%, and all tuition from 50%, plus a $150 withdrawal fee. Refunds are issued within 45 days.
Curriculum
Thirteen units, 1,800 hours. Orientation (6 hours), general sciences (80), hair and scalp properties (80), hair procedures and styling (140), haircutting (229), chemical procedures (387), nail procedures (120), skin care (368), artificial lashes (10), salon operations and communication (80), cosmetology laws and rules (10), public health and safety (50) and advanced techniques (240) make up the course, shown below; the hours divide into 895 clinic, 457.5 theory and 447.5 flex-time hours.
Grading and progress. Grades are Excellent (93-100%), Very Good (85-92%) and Satisfactory (75-84%), below 75% is failing, and clinic work is approved or unapproved. Students must pass the junior final exam, at least two periodic senior evaluations, the senior final exam and the advanced exam, keep a 75% cumulative average, attend at least 67% of scheduled hours, and finish within 150% of the program's length.
Graduation and licensure. Graduates complete all clock hours, classes and tests, meet their financial obligations and submit the State Board forms, and then receive a diploma. The Ohio Advanced Cosmetologist license requires passing the Ohio State Cosmetology and Barber Board's written and practical examinations and a written advanced skills test, at least a tenth-grade education and a minimum age of 16.
The required courses below are from The Spa School's published catalog.
Required Courses
| Name | Lecture | Lab | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orientation | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| General Sciences | 20 | 40 | 80 |
| Properties of the Hair & Scalp/Trichology | 20 | 40 | 80 |
| Hair Procedures/Practices/Styling | 35 | 70 | 140 |
| Haircutting | 57.5 | 115 | 229 |
| Chemical Procedures/Practices/Products | 97.5 | 195 | 387 |
| Nail Procedures & Practices | 30 | 60 | 120 |
| Skin Care Procedures & Practices | 92.5 | 185 | 368 |
| Artificial Lashes/Extensions | 2.5 | 5 | 10 |
| Salon Operations & Communications Skills | 20 | 40 | 80 |
| Cosmetology Laws & Rules | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| Public Health and Safety | 12.5 | 25 | 50 |
| Advanced Techniques | 60 | 120 | 240 |
| Totals | 457.5 | 895 | 1,800 |
Required Courses
| Name |
|---|
| Orientation |
| General Sciences |
| Properties of the Hair & Scalp/Trichology |
| Hair Procedures/Practices/Styling |
| Haircutting |
| Chemical Procedures/Practices/Products |
| Nail Procedures & Practices |
| Skin Care Procedures & Practices |
| Artificial Lashes/Extensions |
| Salon Operations & Communications Skills |
| Cosmetology Laws & Rules |
| Public Health and Safety |
| Advanced Techniques |
| Totals |
Career Outcomes
Careers. The course prepares graduates for entry-level work as cosmetologists, hairdressers, hair stylists, makeup artists, theatrical and performance artists, manicurists, pedicurists, estheticians or skin care specialists, and for managing or owning a salon.
Job help. The school does not guarantee employment, but it keeps a list of available job openings and offers counseling to any student or graduate who asks in writing.
What to expect as a Spa School student
The Spa School campus. The Columbus campus on North High Street has cosmetology classrooms and a clinic with shampoo bowls, dryers and a dispensary, plus classrooms and clinics for esthetics with current esthetics equipment and wet rooms for body treatments. The building is heated and air-conditioned, and every student is assigned a personal locker.
Student life. Students sign in daily in dress code with a full kit, take a daily shop duty, and keep food and drink other than closed water bottles out of class and clinic. The student clinic serves the public Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.