How to Become a Cosmetologist in Florida

The word ‘cosmetologist’ derives from the Greek word which means beautifying.

He/she is a person who loves performing a variety of beauty treatments, to make people’s appearance more attractive and charming.

The need for a new catchy and stylish look is constant and people put a lot of effort and money to reach the desired physical appearance.

But if you want to become a cosmetologist, you will need much more than your natural talent to reach that title.

Popular Programs

Job Description

The daily duties of a cosmetologist include cutting and coloring hair,  skincare and doing pedicures, manicures, facials, or applying make-up to a client.

Some of them might specialize in removing hair, massaging and application of chemicals on skin and hair.

However, no matter what they specialize, all cosmetologists are responsible to maintain a clean, disinfected and safe working environment.

Their job requires them to be on their feet for most of the shift, and as they work with chemicals, they need to protect their skin from the damage by wearing gloves or aprons.

Many of the cosmetologists work full-time, nights, holidays and weekends, but part-time positions are also common.

Cosmetology Programs in Florida

For future cosmetologists it is a great fact that there are 7,000 salons throughout Florida, meaning that they will find employment easily once they reach required licensure qualifications.

The Florida Board of Cosmetology is determining the regulations for licensing cosmetologists and requires the completion of a program in one of the cosmetology schools throughout the state.

Either you choose a professional diploma or an associate degree in cosmetology, these programs are there to prepare you to perform hairstyling, cutting, coloring, manicuring and pedicuring, and facials.

The completion of an associate degree involves two years of study and more detailed instructions and training while certificate programs are shorter and offer less advanced knowledge.

The schools offering these kinds of programs in Florida are:

• Academy of Cosmetology – Merritt Island.
• Aveda Institute – Miami.
• Beauty Schools of America – Miami.
• Boca Beauty Academy – Boca Raton.
• Cozmo Beauty School – Bonita Springs.

The longest courses are for cosmetologists and barbers which last 1,200 hours, while electrologists should devote 320 hours.

Nail specialist has to pass 240 hours of education and facial specialist 260 hours.

In case you decide to take more of the specialties, the Florida Board of Cosmetology will consider you to be a “full specialist” in cosmetology.

License and Cosmetology Exams in Florida

The completion of education is not enough to get a license in Florida.

You will be asked to provide an Application for Initial License Based on Florida Education to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation and pay $78.

The eligibility for the license requires you to be 16 years old and have a high school diploma.

The application consists of two parts, one should be filled in by the applicant and another by the institution where he/she obtained the cosmetology education.

Pearson VUE is the organization that administers the cosmetology examinations.

Written Examination consists of 65 multiple-choice questions related to general safety and sanitation procedures, client services, facial, makeup, and hair removal and manicuring and pedicuring, as well as laws and rules.

Another written examination is the clinical one, which lasts two-hours with 65 questions based on hair coloring and lightening, permanent waving and chemical relaxing, scalp and hair care, hair cutting and shaping and hairstyling.

The Pearson VUE testing centers in Florida are located in:

• Lakeland
• Orlando
• Melbourne
• Sarasota
• Tampa
• Fort Myers
• Ormond Beach
• Lake Mary
• Petersburg
• Hollywood
• Lauderdale
• Key West
• Jacksonville
• Gainesville

You have to take and pass both examinations, to get a cosmetologist license in Florida.

Keeping Your License Current in Florida

Florida law requires that cosmetologist licenses must be renewed on a biennial basis.

Besides the payment of a fee of $55, you must also complete at least 16 continuing education units that are organized by the approved continuing education providers.

Cosmetologists tend to gain valuable business skills beneficial in case of becoming a salon supervisor, a cosmetology instructor, or even a business owner.

Average Annual Cosmetologist Salary in Florida

Licensed cosmetologists in Florida determine whether they want to work on their own or to join some of the already established beauty premises.

Those who want to start their own business should have in mind the fact that clients are their only way of earning and it is not easy to attract customers as many of them already have the cosmetologist they trust.

You should also have enough money to get the necessary equipment.

On the other hand, cosmetologist interested in finding a job at the trendiest salons in Florida can look for their future job opportunities in:

• Christopher L. Salons: Ft. Lauderdale
• Peter Mark: Delray Beach
• Oribe: Miami Beach
• Roberto Giordano: Miami Beach
• Rossano Ferretti: Miami Beach
• The Factory Salon: Ft. Lauderdale
• Snip: Miami
• Salon Twist: Seagrove Beach

The salary highly depends on whether you are the owner or the employee, as well as on the experience and successful performance of the work.

Cosmetologists, hairdressers, and hairstylists are in constant demand in the state, but their salaries are not among the highest ones in the country.

Job prospects in Florida are expected to increase, thus raising the salaries as well.

The average cosmetologist salary in Florida varies among the major cities, and the cosmetologist in Palm Bay earns only $ 23 616 per year, while his/her colleague in Boca Raton gets $ 25 884.

Regional Salary in Florida

Summary

Being that the appearance is of great importance to us nowadays and that you, as a client, entrust your face or hair to a cosmetologist, he/she must be the person who you trust.

They use their creativity to enhance and improve our appearance.

What they need to do is to listen carefully to our desires, preferences and make sure that they have correctly understood what we want.

If we are not satisfied with their results, we will not come back, and their further job depends on that.

So, they need to give their best to help clients look fantastic and that is not an easy task.

Cosmetology by State