Alabama Licensing Overview for a Cosmetologist
Licensing for cosmetologist in Alabama is controlled by the Alabama Board of Cosmetology.
General Guidelines for a Cosmetologist in Alabama
Specific requirements to perform cosmetologist services can generally be used as a guideline, but make sure to check with your local governing rules and regulations.
Who’s allowed to perform these services?
Cosmetologist
General requirements for a cosmetologist license?
At least 17 years old; 10th grade education
What’s the state licensing site for a cosmetologist?
What are some training programs available for a cosmetologist?
How long is a license good for and when do I need to renew?
Renewed every 2 odd-number years during your birth month
What are fees associated with licensing?
$80
Cosmetologist / Esthetician Licensing
A cosmetologist is a beauty professional who specializes in the beautification and health of their client’s hair, skin and nails. An esthetician is a beauty professional that specializes in the beautification and health of their client’s skin, particularly through hair removal, skin and facial treatments and the application of makeup. With additional training, a cosmetologist can become an esthetician and vice versa. While there are fundamental differences between cosmetologists and estheticians as we have just explained, the process of becoming licensed within each career is almost the same. With this being said, the process of being a fully licensed cosmetologist and/or esthetician varies between each state.
The following pages look at the detailed information on individual state licensing to help give you the best advice as you move forward in your career path.
There are four main steps that need to be completed to become a qualified cosmetologist / esthetician in the state of Alabama. These include:
- The successful completion of a cosmetology / esthetician course
- Submission of an application of intent with the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering
- Successfully undergo state testing and pass the minimum requirements of each test
- Maintain your knowledge base through regular education to keep your cosmetologist / esthetician license current.
Education
There are basic educational requirements needed before one can become a licenced cosmetologist and/or esthetician in the state of Alabama. The minimum education requirement for this profession is a certificate or diploma in cosmetology / esthetician undertaken at a registered beauty school, through vocational training or through a junior college. To successfully complete this course, students are required to undertake a minimum of 1500 hours of training before they can be signed off. For further training, some beauticians may choose to gain an associate degree to boost their qualifications. For those looking to begin their own start up business, an associate degree is quite a desirable skill to possess. The hours to become an esthetician are quite similar, with students needing to complete 1000 registered hours at a registered school of estheticians.
Another popular method in which to become a standard cosmetologist in the state of Alabama is through an apprenticeship. To gain an apprenticeship, a student must be over the age of 16 years and have successfully completed year 10 of high school. For those wishing to undertake an apprenticeship instead of attending a registered beauty school, they will need to be accepted under the charge of a licensed cosmetologist and complete three years and 3000 supervised hours within the field. An apprentice esthetician must complete 2000 supervised hours and has the same prerequisites as those of the cosmetology apprenticeship.
Application for Licensure
Upon the successful completion of a cosmetology/esthetician course or an apprenticeship, students within the state of Alabama are required to submit an application for licensure. This license application must be submitted to the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering for both a cosmetology license and an esthetician license. The cost of this application is $40 for a student graduating from a beauty school and $75 to register an application as an apprentice.
Licensing Exam
The state of Alabama requires students who wish to become fully licensed as either a cosmetologist or an esthetician to successfully pass a licensing exam. Alabama uses the National Cosmetology Examination through the National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC) as their written examination. This exam consists of two parts: a theoretical exam, and a practical exam. Students are first required to successfully complete the theoretical examination with a passing score of 70 before they are eligible to sit the practical examination.
Theoretical Examination
The theoretical exam for both cosmetology and esthetician is conducted by PSI Services LLC on behalf of the NIC. The exam consists of questions relating to the fields of hygiene, human anatomy, skin analysis, chemistry and more. The exam questions will cover a range of areas that are specific to the course content relevant to your field of study. It typically takes around 90 minutes to complete the written exam.
Example Test Questions for the Cosmetologist Exam
Read on to see some sample theoretical questions for the cosmetologist exam.
Which of the following refers to the deepest layer of the epidermis?
- Stratum spinosum
- Stratum granulosum
- Stratum germinativum
- Stratum lucidum
As hair cells grow, what is the process that they go through to reach full development?
- Eumelanin
- COHNS
- Keratin
- Keratinization
How may cranial bones do humans have?
- 10
- 8
- 9
- 7
Which of the following will not affect the rate of growth of a nail?
- Prenatal vitamins
- Exercise
- Diet
- General health
Example Test Question for the Esthetician Exam
Read on to see some sample theoretical questions for the esthetician exam.
What is one of the principal functions of the skeletal system?
- It protects dendrites
- It aids in the metabolic process
- It produces red and white blood cells
- It produces calcium
Which of the following substances do the sebaceous glands utilize to lubricate the skin?
- Lymph
- Ascorbic acid
- Uric acid
- Lipids
Quats, or quaternary ammonium compounds are used by estheticians because…
- They are odorless
- They don’t soften plastic bottles
- They kill bacterial spores
- They disinfect tools quickly
What are actinic keratoses?
- Rough skin patches
- Hives
- Shingles
- Atopic dermatitis
You can only apply to complete the cosmetology practical exam following the successful completion of the theoretical examination above. The practical exam is run by the Professional Credential Services (PCS) and costs $120 to undertake. The exam may take up to 4 hours to complete, with breaks in between.
The practical exam will typically look at a range of areas of the profession including (but not limited to):
- Maintaining a safe work environment
- Hair set up
- Hair removal
- Hair cutting
- Hair coloring
You can only apply to complete the esthetician practical exam following the successful completion of the theoretical examination above. The practical exam is run by the Professional Credential Services (PCS) and costs $130 to undertake. The practical exam will run for up to 4 hours, with breaks in between. You must bring your own equipment and model to undertake the exam.
The practical exam will typically look at a range of areas of the profession including (but not limited to):
- Hygienic set up
- Facial cleansing
- Hair removal
- Makeup application
- Facial mask
Continuing Education for Cosmetologists
Following the successful completion of your state license to become either a cosmetology or an esthetician, it is important to remember that you must renew this license every two years. This process is simple and can be done online through the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering. There is a fee of $80 for this two year renewal.
In the state of Alabama, there are no ongoing educational requirements for cosmetology or esthetician licenses, however, many professionals continue to grow their expertise. This allows them to stay up to date with the latest techniques and trends in the field of beauty.