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Hair Schools in Illinois

If you love hair and have always dreamed of becoming a hairstylist, Illinois is the perfect state to pursue your career. In Illinois, hair schools are plentiful and offer a great education in the field of cosmetology. There are many benefits to becoming a hairstylist in Illinois. For one, the cosmetology industry is growing rapidly in the state, so there will be plenty of job opportunities available.

As a hairstylist, you will have the opportunity to meet new people and build relationships with your clients. And of course, you’ll be able to help people look and feel their best! If you’re ready to start your journey to becoming a hairstylist in Illinois, finding an accredited hair school near you is the first step. With dedication and hard work, you can achieve your dreams and enjoy a successful career in this exciting field. Fortunately, we make it easy to find an accredited school in your area, as we’ve assembled a list of programs for you to review if you’d like to become a licensed hair designer in Illinois.

Hair Schools in Illinois ­­

What are the state requirements for hairstylists in Illinois?

To become a licensed hairstylist in Illinois you’l need to complete all the state’s cosmetology requirements, which includes an accredited hair school program with at least 1,500 education hours. The program you choose must be licensed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and you must finish the program between eight months and seven years.

After passing your course you’ll need to submit a paper or online application for the test and pay the current exam fee for the state’s written exam for licensed cosmetologists. Once your application is approved, you can schedule your testing date through PSI’s website or by phone at 800-733-9267. The test in Illinois is administered by Continental Testing Services.

If you pass the exam, and once you’re at least 16 years old with at least an 8th-grade education, you can apply for licensure with a diploma from your program and official exam scores.

How Much Does Hair School Cost in Illinois?

You’ll find a wide range of tuition costs if you shop around for a hair school in Illinois. On the lower end, you can find tuition rates under $12,000 while some of the more expensive options can come in at $22,000. Keep in mind there will often be additional costs for books and supplies, so as you’re evaluating schools make sure to ask about that as it can add up to two or three thousand more dollars to your total expense.

Required Skills and Classes

Every program will be a little different, but you’ll likely experience many of the same concepts and courses regardless of the school you choose to attend. You’ll likely receive baseline cosmetology training, though your ultimate goal may be to work in hair design. Of course, you’ll receive a lot of initial instruction on theory and then move into hands-on instruction to apply what you’ve learned. You’ll learn a lot of general cosmetology concepts like anatomy and physiology, and skin care to go along with more in-depth instruction on hair design.

Once you begin to focus on hair you’ll cover a bevy of topics including styling, cutting, coloring, proper use of chemicals, techniques for shampooing and rinsing, and much more. You’ll also learn important client safety rules, infection control, and cover state laws and ethics.

Finally, you’ll learn business techniques, how to manage a schedule, communicate with customers, train staff, manage bookkeeping, lease space, and many other topics that are helpful for people looking to start their own salon.

State Licensing Exam

To take the Illinois licensing exam, you’ll need to first pass an accredited program and then you’ll need to pay the $185 fee. The exam is two hours long, is computer-based, and all questions are multiple-choice. Unlike many states, Illinois does not have a practical exam.

How Much Do Hairstylists Make in Illinois?

Illinois has the sixth highest pay rate in the country for hairstylists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics numbers from May 2021. The average annual salary was $42,660 or $20.51 per hour.

Does Illinois Have Continuing Education Requirements for Hairstylists?
Hairstylists in Illinois need to renew their licenses by September 30th every even number year, and along with it must meet or exceed the state’s 14 hours of continuing education requirements. This is higher than many states, however, the additional skills you can gain may lead to higher pay.

Contact Information for Licensing Board

As mentioned above, licenses in Illinois for hairstylists are managed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. To reach them, use the contact information below.

Website: https://idfpr.illinois.gov/profs/cosmo.asp
Email: Contact form
Phone: (888) 473-4858