Cosmetology

Admission into the Cosmetology Operator AAS requires a meeting with your advisor, completion of the program online application in your Canvas, orientation, and completion with a “C” or better (cumulative GPA of at least a 2.0) on these four prerequisite courses: ENGL 1301 – Composition I, one course from the Additional Communication Core, one course from the Mathematics Core, and one course from the Social and Behavioral Sciences Core.  After admission the student will complete Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations (TDLR) forms Student Permit Application and a Notice of Ineligibility for License Form.

Cosmetology Operator Certificate Program – requires a meeting with your advisor, completion of the program online application in your Canvas, orientation, and successful completion of the TSI exam (Texas Success Initiative). Texas law requires students to complete assessments in reading, writing, and mathematics before enrolling in college.  Any students with prior college credits must have a GPA of 2.0 or higher to be eligible for the program.

Esthetician AAS – requires a meeting with your advisor, completion of the program online application in your Canvas, orientation, and successful completion of the TSI exam (Texas Success Initiative). Texas law requires students to complete assessments in reading, writing, and mathematics before enrolling in college.  Any students with prior college credits must have a GPA of 2.0 or higher to be eligible for the program.

Esthetician Certificate Program – requires a meeting with your advisor, completion of the program online application in your Canvas, orientation, and successful completion of the TSI exam (Texas Success Initiative). Texas law requires students to complete assessments in reading, writing, and mathematics before enrolling in college. Any students with prior college credits must have a GPA of 2.0 or higher to be eligible for the program.\

Nail Technician Program – requires a meeting with your advisor, completion of the program online application in your Canvas, orientation and successful completion of the TSI exam (Texas Success Initiative). Any students with prior college credits must have a GPA of 2.0 or higher to be eligible for the program.

Barber Operator Certificate Program – requires a meeting with your advisor, completion of the program online application in your Canvas, and orientation. Student must have an active Cosmetology Operator License, or at least 700 hours completed toward a Cosmetology Operator or Barber Operator License

Cosmetology Program Student Handbook

Prospective students must complete a cosmetology, barber, esthetics, or nail technician application for admission into a cosmetology program. The application is electronic, and access to the application will be granted to your Canvas after attending a tour. After applications are received and the program is full, accepted students will be invited and required to attend an orientation that will provide all program requirements. Once accepted, the student will complete the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations (TDLR) forms, Student Permit Application, and a Notice of Ineligibility for License Form before enrolling in the program.

Students with college credits prior to enrolling in a program must have a GPA of 2.0 or higher to be eligible for any program.

The Fall 2026 semester is full, and applications are closed

Tour Dates for Spring 2027 Semester

Tour 1 – October 9, 2026 – Friday 2:15 p.m. – SJ 221
Tour 2 – October 16, 2026 – Friday 2:15 p.m. – SJ 221
Tour 3 – October 23, 2026 – Friday 2:15 p.m. – SJ 221

Applications will be open on the Wednesday after the tour. Example: After the October 9th tour, the application will be opened on Wednesday, October 14th at 3:00 pm

The applications close when the classes fill. Any tours after the applications close will be for informational purposes only.

The classes often fill after the first tour, so it is highly recommended that you attend the first tour on October 9th to ensure you can get the application opened to you on October 14th. The first students to properly complete the application will be the students to get into the Spring 2027 semester.

In the application, there is a set of questions you must answer on video. While making your video, you are expected to look professional, be in a quiet place so we can hear you, and answer the questions honestly.

Both the Cosmetology Operator Certificate and Esthetician Certificate programs are 4 semesters. New students are accepted for the Fall and Spring semesters. Summer semesters are part of the programs and cannot be skipped (no Summer semester off). 
Example: If a student begins in Fall 2025, the student will be in the program for Fall 2025, Spring, Summer, and Fall 2026. If a student begins in Spring 2026, the student will be in the program for Spring, Summer, and Fall 2026, and Spring 2027.

The Nail Technician Certificate program is 2 semesters. New students are only accepted for Fall semesters. The 2 semesters are Fall and Spring.

The Barber Operator Certificate program is one semester; you can choose a Fall or Spring semester.

• Applicants are accepted on a ‘first-come-first-served’ basis, meaning the first students to complete the application and any additional requirements are those who get into the programs until the programs are full.
• Acceptance Student Notification Emails will be sent to the Students’ ACES email address only. Emails will be sent after department review (dates listed below for Fall and Spring semesters).
• Upon receiving the Acceptance Student Notification, students must RSVP to the email to let the department know that you have received and understand the information given in the email.
• New students can only begin the Nail Technician Certificate program in the Fall semester.

Application (Fall Semester)

Application Acceptance Window:
First Friday in April or until filled, but no later than the first week of June.

Deadline:
Applications close on the first Friday in June at 5 p.m., or when classes are full.

Department Review:
June

Applicant Notification:
The third week in June (ACES email only)

• Applicants are accepted on a ‘first-come-first-served’ basis, meaning the first students to complete the applications are the students to get into the programs, until the courses are full.
• Department review is scheduled for the second week of June or sooner if the courses fill with completed applications.
• Acceptance Student Notification Emails will be sent in the third week of June or sooner.
• Student RSVPs to the Notification Emails must be received by late June (the exact date varies from year to year).

Application (Spring Semester)

Application Acceptance Window:
First Friday in October until filled, but no later than the second week in November.

Deadline:
Applications close on the first Friday in November at 5 p.m., or when classes are full.

Department Review:
November

Applicant Notification:
The second week in November (ACES email only)

Please note: There is a list of Alternates for the Fall and Spring semesters. This list is of students who have completed the applications but not in time to get into the course of their choice. If a student or students who were accepted cannot attend the program(s), then the next student on the alternate list will be given the opportunity to take their place.

In addition to tuition, there are some additional expenses.

Student Kits—Cosmetology Operator, Barber Operator, Esthetician, and Nail Technician all have a student kit that must be purchased before the first class.  Cosmetology Operator has additions to the student kit each semester.  Information on costs will be provided at Orientation.

Case for your Student Kit—Students often purchase a case to keep their tools and products in for class. The case is at the student's preference.

Uniforms—Students are required to purchase and wear the designated uniform for their class.

Student Permit—Students will fill out the TDLR (Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation) application and pay $25 to obtain a student permit from the state. Students cannot be in class without their student permit.

Upon successfully completing the Cosmetology Operator, Barber Operator, Esthetician, or Nail Technician program, the student can then schedule to take the State Board exam to get their license to legally work in their field.  The TDLR State Board exam is not given by or affiliated with Palo Alto College.

How much do the programs cost?
If you live within Bexar county = $109 per credit hour.  If you live in Texas but outside Bexar county = $225 per credit hour.  If you live outside of the state of Texas = $476 per credit hour, (special tuition fees not included).  The Cosmetology Operator and Esthetician programs are each 60 credit hours.  The Nail Technician program is 18 credit hours. The Barber OSA program is 12 credit hours.

Do the programs accept FAFSA (financial aid)?
Because Palo Alto Community College is a not-for-profit public college, FAFSA is accepted.

How can I get into one of the Cosmetology Programs?
Prospective students must complete a cosmetology, barber, esthetics, or nail technician application for admission into a cosmetology program.  The electronic application access will be granted to your Canvas account after you attend a tour.

Can I get an application from any of the advisors?
No.  After you attend a tour, the online application will be made available to you through your Canvas account.

Do you accept payments on the Student Kits?
No. Student Kits must be paid in full at the time of purchase and the purchase is non-refundable.

If I change my education major before the semester begins but I have already purchased the Student Kit, how to I get my money back for what I paid for the Student Kit?
You cannot. Student Kit purchases are final and non-refundable.

Does FAFSA pay for Student Kits?
No.  Many of our students receive FAFSA.  After FAFSA pays the tuition (a week before classes begin) it disburses whatever money is left over from your FAFSA account into your specified bank account.  It is with this disbursement that many of our students are able to pay for the Student Kit.  There is no guarantee that every student using FAFSA will have money left in your account to pay for the Student Kit.

Do I have to attend Summer semester?
Summer semester attendance is mandatory for the Cosmetology Operator and Esthetician classes.  There is no Summer class for Nail Technicians (Fall and Spring only). There is no Summer class for the Barber OSA; it is only one semester (Fall or Spring).

Do I receive my State License upon graduation?
Texas State Licenses to legally practice Cosmetology, Barber, Esthetics, or Nail Tech are only obtained through the TDLR (Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation).  Upon successful completion of the Cosmetology, Esthetics, or Nail Tech courses you become eligible to schedule and take the Texas State Board Exam to obtain a license.

Does Palo Alto College provide job placement after graduation and getting a license?
The college does not provide job placement, but the cosmetology department does assist with finding available jobs for students through outreach to local professional beauty businesses.  Although the cosmetology department assists with finding available job openings, it is the responsibility of the graduated student to apply and interview for jobs.

How long are the programs?
The Nail Technician program is two semesters, always Fall and Spring semesters.
The Cosmetology Operator and Esthetician programs are both four semesters.  Example: if you begin Fall 2025, you will attend Fall 2025, Spring, Summer, and Fall 2026. 
The Barber OSA is only one semester, either Fall or Spring semester.”

I have hours from a private beauty college or high school. Do you accept those hours?
No. The Cosmetology Operator, Esthetician, and Nail Technician programs all begin at zero.  We do not accept any hours from another college or High School.  This is because of the structure of our programs is set up as cohorts (semesters) instead of clocked hours (like at a private beauty college).  With our programs, you begin with a class and stay with that same class to graduation (as long as you successfully pass all semesters). 

What are the requirements to enroll in the Cosmetology program?
Students enrolled in any of these programs must be able to:

• Ability to stand for long periods without a break.
• Proficiency in manual dexterity skills using hands.
• Capability to study in a noisy environment.
• Willingness to work with students and clients from diverse demographics and backgrounds.
• Submission of a criminal history record to the TDLR prior to enrollment.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), cosmetology programs are committed to providing equal access to educational opportunities for all students. Students with documented medical conditions, including but not limited to severe nut allergies, skin conditions, sensitivities, or other health-related needs, may be eligible for reasonable accommodations.

Reasonable accommodations may include modified product use, alternative materials, protective equipment, or other measures that allow students to safely participate in classroom and laboratory activities without compromising educational standards or safety requirements.

Students requesting accommodations must submit appropriate medical documentation and work collaboratively with the campus ADA/Student Accessibility Services office and cosmetology program leadership. All accommodation requests should be made in a timely manner to allow for proper review and implementation. While every effort will be made to support individual needs, accommodations must not fundamentally alter program requirements or pose a health or safety risk to others. For more information or to request accommodations, students should contact the campus ADA/Disability Student Accessibility Services office at 210-486-3027.