COSMETOLOGY program
Prepare to become a PA Licensed cosmetologist to work in salons, spas, medi spas, television, film, or even starting your own business.
What you will do:
Students are prepared in everything needed to become a Licensed Cosmetologist by training in Hair Design, Nails and Skin, Color, Professional Practices and Salon Management, as well as Clinic experience. The goal of our program is to assist students in passing their state board exams and preparing them for the professional workplace.
What the numbers say:
Where you’ll practice
Our Monessen Student Clinic is a working salon serving areas including but not limited to Westmoreland, Washington, Fayette, and Allegheny Counties. All work done by students supervised by licensed instructors, with reduced costs, based on the reasonable cost of materials only. Walk-ins welcome.
Book online
or call (724) 653-2188.
Skills you’ll walk out with:
Cut, color, and style to PA State Board standards.
Hair design, chemistry, and advanced color theory taught hands-on.
Prepare to pass the Pennsylvania State Board.
Be prepared from day one at a paying salon.
Apply the Redken color line with confidence.
Redken Haircolor and Redken Product training included.
DEC certificate of training provided.
Add multiple hair extensions to your service menu.
Multiple hair extension installation training techniques.
DEC certificate of training provided.
Manage a station like a working stylist.
Take a service from consult to checkout solo.
Professional practices that strengthen client trust woven directly into clinic hours.
Walk into a salon interview with a portfolio.
Want the full skill list?
1350 hours, broken down.
3 Semesters. Hands-on from day one. The breakdown lines up with the PA State Board exam categories.
HAIR COLOR & CHEMISTRY
Single Process · Highlights · Balayage · Corrective · The Redken Line
A.I. can’t do hair.
But YOU can have a career. 450 hours of clinic time before you graduate booked online via Fresha, walk-ins welcome, reduced rates with licensed instructor supervision at every chair.
Get the full guide.
Tuition. Financial aid. Sample schedule. What to expect on day one. PDF, no spam, straight to your inbox.
Real numbers, real schedule, no sales pitch. Know exactly what you’re signing up for before you commit.
Where the career goes.
Cosmetology is one of the more hiring-active trades in southwestern Pennsylvania. Here’s the path.
HIGH
From Pittsburgh to the Monongahela Valley — serving students from multiple counties including but not limited to Westmoreland, Fayette, Greene, Washington, and Allegheny Counties.
Employed By:
Salons and spas across southwestern Pennsylvania have employed DEC cosmetology graduates, including:
Plus dozens more, and the studios our graduates have opened themselves.
Alumni spotlight.
Real graduates, real employers, real names.
Graduate (Cosmetology)
Haley Rubosky
“The best part of the cosmetology program was how friendly and knowledgeable our teachers were and how they made you feel more like family as opposed to just a student.What sets Douglas apart from a regular beauty academy is that there are other programs and they let you work all together.”
NOW AT OWN STUDIO · WASHINGTON PA
ASHLEY R.
“I opened my own studio fourteen months after graduation. Salon Management taught me the books, Redken training got me the brand.”
Cosmetology · Diploma
“Two years in, I'm the senior color stylist at my chair. DEC's clinic hours got me booked solid before I'd even taken state board.”
MAYA S.
STATE-ISSUED
PA STATE BOARD LICENSE EXAM
TRAINING IN
Multiple Hair Extension
Techniques
Redken Haircolor
Redken Products
REDKEN PRODUCTS
MULTIPLE EXTENSIONS
Who’s at the chair.
Licensed Cosmetology Teachers are ready to help you meet your educational and professional goals within cosmetology.
KAREN NELSON
- Cosmetology Supervisor
Diploma General Cosmetology · Pittsburgh Beauty Academy · Licensed Cosmetology Teacher
Since 2003, Karen has helped shape the next generation of beauty professionals through her leadership of DEC’s Cosmetology Academy, mentoring students and sharing her passion for cosmetology and nail technology.
KISSIE COBB
- Instructor
Diploma · Cosmetology Teacher · Douglas Education Center · Licensed Cosmetology Teacher
Drawing on more than two decades of experience as a stylist and salon manager, including leadership roles at several Pittsburgh-area JCPenney salons, Kissie shares real-world expertise and a commitment for empowering students to succeed in the beauty industry.
RACHEL SPYRA
- Instructor
Diploma · Cosmetology · Penn Commercial · Licensed Cosmetology Teacher
With more than a decade of experience as a cosmetologist, as well as experience as a brand educator and salon leader, Rachel brings creativity, industry expertise, and an enthusiasm for building confidence to her students, just as she does for the clients she serves at her own salon.
You asked.We answered.
What are the admission requirements for this program?
A prospective student seeking admission to the Cosmetology Program must:
- Be a high school graduate or possess a General Education Development (GED) Diploma or recognized equivalency certificate.
- Complete an application form and pay a one-time application fee ($50.00) and one-time registration fee ($100.00).
- Request an official high school transcript be sent directly to the Admissions Department.
- Successfully complete the Wonderlic Scholastic Level Examination with a minimum score of 17.
- Sign an Enrollment Agreement.
How long is the program and what is the schedule?
- Length: 12 months/3 semesters
- Classes typically held Monday-Friday; 3-5 classes each semester (on-ground)
- All Cosmetology programs’ (Cosmetology, Esthetics, and Esthetician and Nail Technologist) courses are scheduled Monday through Friday. In general, students attend four days per week; 7.5 hours per day for a total of 30 hours per week. Students do not attend class more than 8 hours per day or more than 40 hours per week.
Is financial aid available?
Yes, financial aid is available to those who qualify. Funding options may include federal Title IV aid (such as Pell Grants and Direct Student Loans), Veterans’ Education Benefits, agency-sponsored funding (e.g., Office of Vocational Rehabilitation), institutional and external scholarships, and private financing options.
What will I be able to do after I graduate?
After graduation, you will be eligible to sit for the state licensing examination and begin your career as a professional Cosmetologist. Career opportunities include:
- Licensed Cosmetologist
- Hairstylist
- Hair Color Specialist
- Texture and Curl Specialist
- Salon Stylist
- Makeup Artist
- Nail Technician
- Esthetic Services Specialist
- Salon Manager
- Beauty Consultant
- Bridal and Special Event Stylist
- Platform Artist
- Resort or Spa Cosmetologist
- Independent Salon Owner or Beauty Professional
What does a typical class day look like?
Class days vary by course and topic. Some days focus on theory-based classroom learning, while others emphasize hands-on practice and clinic experiences to build real-world skills.
What certifications or licenses does this program prepare me for?
- Preparation to sit for the Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology Licensing Examination
- Certificate of product training using REDKEN Haircolor
- Certificate of Milady’s Standard Cosmetology Course Theory and Practical Application
- Certificate of training in the application of Hair Extensions
Will I work with real clients during the program?
Yes. Once you master your foundational skills in the classroom, you will transition to working with real clients in our on-campus student clinic. This hands-on environment operates just like a real salon, giving you the face-to-face experience you need to feel confident after graduation.
Here is how the student clinic prepares you for the real world:
- Real Salon Experience: Under the direct supervision of our licensed instructors, you will perform hair cutting, coloring, styling, chemical texture services, and nail treatments on actual clients.
- Mastering Techniques: You won’t just practice basic cuts. The clinic gives you hands-on experience performing salon treatments, working with color applications, and practicing the styles that clients ask for every day.
- Building Business Skills: Beyond the hair and beauty treatments, you will learn how to greet guests, consult with clients about their hair goals, and recommend professional retail products. These are the exact customer service skills that salon owners love to see.
What is the student salon and is it open to the public?
The student clinic is a real-world training facility open to the public. It serves as a working environment where cosmetology students transition from classroom theory to performing hair, nail, and skin treatments on actual clients under the direct supervision of licensed instructors.
The clinic functions just like an upscale salon and features a full menu of services.
Because the facility operates as a learning laboratory, all services are offered to the community at significantly reduced prices based on the cost of the products used.
To prepare for the industry, students use the Fresha booking platform to run their daily appointment schedules. This app lets students showcase their skills by uploading photos of their actual hair, nail, and/or skin work into personal online portfolios. Clients can easily browse these photos, check real-time availability, and book an appointment online. Students can also directly schedule their own clients right through the app.
Does this program prepare me to take the Pennsylvania cosmetology licensing exam?
Yes, our Cosmetology Program is explicitly designed to meet and exceed the licensing requirements set by the Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology. Our program provides you with 1350 hours of comprehensive training and instruction to ensure that you are fully prepared for the exam and your future career.
Our curriculum prepares you for success through the following components:
- Dedicated Board Prep: This curriculum includes a dedicated State Board Preparation course to practice the exact safety, sanitation, and theory material covered on the written exam.
- DEC Practical Exam: Additionally, while the state board focuses on a written test, DEC requires a hands-on practical exam to ensure you are fully confident.
- On-Campus Student Clinic: You will build your hands-on skills by working on actual clients in our supervised, on-campus student clinic.
While you’re here:
Other Beauty & Wellness paths that share faculty and complement the cosmetology profession:
ESTHETICS PROGRAM.
Spa skincare, facials, and waxing: licensed in four months and into a treatment room.
ESTHETICIAN
+ NAIL TECH.
Train in skincare and nail services, then graduate prepared for two Pennsylvania licenses.
ADV. COSMETIC
TECHNIQUES.
Cosmetology Program
* Requires an Esthetics or Cosmetology license.
Looking for more?
Milady. Redken.
Both brand certifications are embedded in the curriculum. Milady techniques and Redken haircut + product certifications transfer directly to salon hire on graduation day.
- EXTENSIONS
Milady
Extension techniques, service add-on that scales ticket sizes.
- HAIRCUTS
Redken
Redken haircuts, the industry-standard technique salons hire for.
- EXTENSIONS
Redken Products
Brand-recognized product certification: color, care, styling lines.
