Last Updated on August 29, 2023
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cosmetology schools in new york
Whether you’re interested in becoming a cosmetologist in the hustle and bustle of New York City or working as one in one of the many other beautiful towns in the state, now may be the time to begin.
New York is the most beauty-obsessed state in the country, meaning your skills may be in high demand among both residents and visitors alike.
Browse our directory of cosmetology schools in New York, or skip ahead to learn about the state’s cosmetology licensing requirements and job outlook.
How to Become a Cosmetologist in New York
New York Cosmetology Careers At A Glance
- 1,000 education hours are required to become licensed.
- You must renew your license every 4 years.
- 0 continuing education hours are required to renew your license.
- The average salary for cosmetologists in New York is $34,080 ($16.38/hour). This is higher than the national average of $26,090 ($12.54/hour).
- There is a predicted 6% job increase between 2018–2026 for cosmetologists. This is lower than the expected national growth of 9%.
If you’re considering a cosmetology career in New York, there are several requirements you need to meet before you can begin your new career.
Those requirements include:
- Be at least 17 years of age
- Complete the required 1,000 hours of study at a state-approved beauty school
- Take and pass a written and practical exam
- Complete the required one-hour domestic violence course
- Apply for a license and pay the required license fee
- Get a health physical and submit documentation
You don’t need to complete a background check or have a high school diploma to become a cosmetologist in the state of New York. A cosmetologist license doesn’t permit you to run your own business or perform medical procedures. You need additional licenses for these jobs, which may require additional education.
Cosmetologist Salary and Projected Job Growth in New York
$34,080
Average yearly salary for cosmetology in New York
Before going deeper into New York salaries: These numbers were calculated in 2019, but before minimum hourly wages were raised in NYC ($15 for large employers; $13.50 for small employers), Long Island and Westchester ($13), and the rest of the state ($11.80). We use the most recent data available at the time of creating these pieces.
As of 2019, before the minimum wage increases, cosmetologists in the state of New York earned an average salary of $34,080 or an hourly rate of $16.39. Pay ranged from $18,420 to $51,870.
The wide range of salaries is partially due to the large number of cosmetologists’ services and the mix of high- and low-income areas. For example, a stylist providing high-end cuts and dye jobs at a Manhattan salon often earns far more than a stylist in a rural area offering basic services.
The job outlook for cosmetologists in the state of New York looks bright. The number of cosmetologist jobs is projected to increase by 6% between 2018 and 2028
According to O*Net (2021), the highest-paying metro areas for cosmetologists in New York are:
- Ithaca, New York: $30,820
- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA: $30,240
- Kingston, New York: $27,690
- Syracuse, New York: $35,700
- Rochester, New York: $26,920
New York also has well-paying nonmetropolitan areas, including:
- Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area: $27,890
- Central East New York nonmetropolitan area: $26,350
- Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area: $24,600
What to Expect From a Cosmetology Program in New York
1,000 Education Hours
Required to earn a cosmetology license
The first step to earning your cosmetologist license in New York is completing the required 1,000 hours of training through a state-approved beauty school. Your training teaches you a wide range of skills you’re likely to use in your career, including hair cutting, styling, and coloring, manicures, pedicures, and facials. You may also learn business skills to help you build your clientele.
While the program you choose may vary slightly, most New York cosmetology programs include the following courses:
- Anatomy and Physiology: 15 hours
- Chemical Restructuring: 180 hours
- Chemistry as Applied to Cosmetology: 5 hours
- Hair Analysis: 10 hours
- Hair and Scalp Disorders and Diseases: 10 hours
- Hair Coloring and Lightening: 180 hours
- Hair Cutting and Shaping: 175 hours
- Hair Styling: 245 hours
- Health and Safety: 26 hours
- Nail Care and Procedures: 40 hours
- Professional Requirements Training: 24 hours
- Shampoos, Rinses, Conditioners, and Treatments: 30 hours
- Skin Care and Procedures: 60 hours
After completing the program, you should be well-prepared to maintain health and safety requirements, perform skills related to hair and skincare, provide good customer service, and understand the variety of jobs available to you as a licensed cosmetologist.
Can I Apprentice as a Cosmetologist in New York?
New York doesn’t currently offer an apprenticeship path to cosmetology licensure.
The only exception within the New York beauty industry is for nail technicians, who may train under an experienced professional using a nail specialty trainee license.
New York Cosmetology Licensing Requirements
After you complete your 1,000 hours of cosmetology training, you can apply to take the written and practical cosmetology exams. To schedule the exams, you must sign up for an NY.gov ID account.
The written cosmetologist exam is a 2.5-hour, multiple-choice exam. On the day of the exam, you should bring a valid, government-issued ID, a copy of your exam confirmation, including your candidate number, and two sanitized #2 pencils. Food, drinks, large bags, or reference materials aren’t permitted in the exam site.
The test is scored as pass or fail, and results are delivered via the MyNY.gov website. You’ll receive an email when your test results are ready. If you fail the written test, you can reapply via the MYNy.gov website. If you require ADA accommodations, call 518-474-4429.
You may apply to take the practical cosmetologist exam before or after completing the written exam. Registration for the exam’s practical portion is done through the same online portal and requires a $15 fee.
The practical exam requires you to demonstrate the skills you learned in beauty school, including:
- Preparing your work area
- Haircutting
- Blow-drying and styling
- Thermal curling
- Finger waving
- Foiling
- Hair coloring
- Chemical restructuring
- Cleaning up your work station
On the day of the exam, bring a valid government ID and supplies, including a mannequin.
To pass, you must earn a score of at least 70%. Exam results are available online via the MYNY.gov website. If you fail the exam, you may request an analysis of your exam within 60 days.
After passing both the written and practical exam, you can apply for your license via the online portal, where you upload required documentation, including proof of a physical by a doctor, physician’s assistant, or nurse practitioner and verification you’ve completed the domestic violence course. You also need to pay a $20 application fee by check, money order, MasterCard, or Visa.
New York Cosmetology Licensure Reciprocity
New York does allow cosmetologists moving from other states to transfer their license in certain situations, though it doesn’t have specific reciprocity agreements with any states/
If you trained outside of New York, you may apply for a temporary license if you can prove you’ve completed similar education in another state. You must provide a school certificate, transcript listing the subjects and hours studied, and an original license from your current state. Note, this only allows you to skip the required 1,000 hours of education; you must still pay for and pass the written and practical exams.
If you have been a cosmetologist for five or more years outside of the state of New York, you may be eligible to apply for a permanent cosmetologist license. To apply, you need to provide an original certification from an official licensing agency, two statements from co-workers or clients attesting to your experience, and a copy of tax returns listing your occupation as a cosmetologist.
New York has an endorsement policy, which means it accepts licenses from other states with a higher educational standard than New York. Those states include New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming. Cosmetologists licensed in those states must show a current license and aren’t required to have five years of experience.
The process to transfer your cosmetology license can be lengthy, which is why it’s best to train in the state where you plan to practice whenever possible.
Cosmetology Specialties in New York
New York offers a variety of other licenses in the beauty industry, including esthetics, nail technology, natural hair styling, barbering, and waxing.
Another popular beauty field in New York, particularly in NYC, is creating looks for the performing arts. There are dozens of live theatres in the city, including Broadway, off-Broadway, and more. Plus, a ton of movies and TV shows are filmed there.
While you don’t need a cosmetology license for this type of work, training is essential as it’s highly specialized. It’s worth taking classes in theatre makeup, prosthetics, and more. Some of these may be offered as standalone continuing education classes, but many who enter this field opt to earn a theatre or film degree.
Makeup artists for theatre and other performances earned a mean salary of $105,290 per year ($50.62 per hour) in 2019.
This is an exceptionally hard field to enter, despite anticipating 11% growth nationwide between 2019 and 2029. If this type of work is your passion, you need to be prepared for uncertainty and rejection—many people are going for relatively few jobs.
It wouldn’t hurt to consider earning your cosmetology license so you can have relatively reliable paychecks, particularly as a self-employed or freelance cosmetologist. Being self-employed may allow you to control your working hours while building your portfolio and looking for jobs in this field.
New York State Beauty School Association
The NYSBSA is an association of beauty schools that monitors cosmetology education regulations in New York state. It also offers a list of state-approved beauty schools.
Salon & Spa Professionals of NYS
This is a statewide community of licensed beauty professionals, including cosmetologists, barbers, makeup artists, and more. The group provides members with access to benefits, industry events, and business management tools.
NY Hispanic Cosmetology & Beauty Chamber of Commerce
This non-profit organization is dedicated to fostering the growth and development of beauty professionals through education, counseling, networking, and job opportunities.
Finding the Best Cosmetology School for You
Out of the majors we analyze each year, cosmetology was the most popular one in New York. In total, 4,891 people earned a degree or certificate in the field from a school in New York.
With all the trade school programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools that offer fast-track entry to many fields.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Trade College Search has created the Best Cosmetology Trade Schools in New York to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 41 schools in New York to see which programs offered the best educational experiences for trade school students.
New York Institute of Beauty
Islandia, NY
Cosmetology at New York Institute of Beauty
If you are interested in studying cosmetology, you may want to check out the program at New York Institute of Beauty. The following information will help you decide if it is a good fit for you.
New York Institute of Beauty is located in Islandia, New York and has a total student population of 251.
Want to know more about the career opportunities in this field? Check out the Careers in Cosmetology section at the bottom of this page.
New York Institute of Beauty Cosmetology Degrees Available
- Basic Certificate in Cosmetology (Less Than 1 Year)
- Undergrad Certificate in Cosmetology (1 – 4 Years)
New York Institute of Beauty Cosmetology Rankings
Note: While rankings may be a good starting point when you’re researching a school, they don’t necessarily highlight all of a school’s strengths. Don’t forget to check out the other details that are available for a school to see if it has what you’re looking for in a program.
Concentrations within Cosmetology
Cosmetology majors may want to concentrate their studies in one of these areas. The completion numbers here include all graduates who receive any type of degree in this field from New York Institute of Beauty. Some of these focus areas may not be available for your degree level.
New York School of Esthetics & Day Spa
white plains, NY
If you are interested in studying cosmetology, you may want to check out the program at New York School of Esthetics & Day Spa. The following information will help you decide if it is a good fit for you.
New York School of Esthetics & Day Spa is located in white plains, New York and approximately 114 students attend the school each year.
Want to know more about the career opportunities in this field? Check out the Careers in Cosmetology section at the bottom of this page.
New York School of Esthetics & Day Spa Cosmetology Degrees Available
- Basic Certificate in Cosmetology (Less Than 1 Year)
New York School of Esthetics & Day Spa Cosmetology Rankings
Note: While rankings may be a good starting point when you’re researching a school, they don’t necessarily highlight all of a school’s strengths. Don’t forget to check out the other details that are available for a school to see if it has what you’re looking for in a program.
Concentrations within Cosmetology
The following cosmetology concentrations are available at New York School of Esthetics & Day Spa. The completion numbers here include all graduates who receive any type of degree in this field from New York School of Esthetics & Day Spa. Some of these focus areas may not be available for your degree level.
Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics
Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics Trade Programs
Located in New York, New York, Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics is a private for-profit institution. The surrounding area of the school is a good match for students who enjoy city life.
Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics Rankings
Our rankings are based on an outcomes-based approach rather than subjective ones used by other media outlets. As such, we utilize data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and the College Scorecard, among other sources. Visit our rankings and methodology section to learn more.
Program Level Awards
These are highlights of some of the most noteworthy awards granted to specific programs at Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics.
Arrojo Cosmetology School Trade Programs
Arrojo Cosmetology School is a private for-profit institution located in New York, New York. New York is a great location for students who prefer city over country life.
Arrojo Cosmetology School Rankings
These rankings may look different from those published by other outlets, because we use an outcomes-based approach rather than a subjective one. We get our data from a number of places, including the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and the College Scorecard. For more information, check out our rankings and methodology page.
Program Level Awards
These are highlights of some of the most noteworthy awards granted to specific programs at NA Enterprises LLC d.
Aveda Institute – New York Trade Programs
Aveda Institute – New York is a private for-profit institution situated in New York, New York. New York is a great location for students who prefer city over country life.
Aveda Institute – New York Rankings
Our rankings are based on an outcomes-based approach rather than subjective ones used by other media outlets. As such, we utilize data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and the College Scorecard, among other sources. Visit our rankings and methodology section to learn more.
Program Level Awards
These are highlights of some of the most noteworthy awards granted to specific programs at Aveda Institute – New York.
