If you live in North Carolina, you’ll take 24 hours of
hairdresser education this year to keep your stylist’s license. You’ll repeat that routine every year until you’ve been licensed for 20 consecutive years, and then you’re off the
continuing education (CE) hook. But if you’re a hairdresser living in Maine, you’ll simply pay your $40 every two years and be good to go.
Nine states require CE credits for cosmetologists, barbers and/or estheticians to keep their licenses: Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio and Texas. If you live in one of them, you’re probably in the habit of scheduling some class or online training during the year.
If you live in one of the other 41 states, you still can voluntarily keep yourself up to date. Clients love to hear about the hair show you just attended, the new color/cutting/styling skills and styles you learned online, the trip you made to a hair academy or the class you took with some industry rockstar. Continuing education sets you apart, because it shows how passionate you are about your craft and indicates that you’re up on the latest products and techniques in your profession.
Furthering your education gives you not only something to talk about with clients, but a reason to raise your prices as well. You also can teach coworkers what you learned. Everyone benefits!
What classes would you recommend to other stylists in your state?