Students in Salon
Area of Study

Cosmetology

A one-year certificate program offering hands-on training in hair, skin, and nails, giving you the skills to launch your career.
Hands-on Experience Starts Here

Launch your career in the beauty industry with Northeastern’s Cosmetology Certification program.
Our program blends hands-on technical training with essential professional skills to prepare you for success in today’s beauty field. Students complete 1,500 clock hours / 53 credits, meeting the requirements of the Colorado Cosmetology/Barber Board for state licensing eligibility. Upon successful completion, graduates earn a certificate and are eligible to register for the state licensing exam. More than 90% of Northeastern Cosmetology graduates who take the exam successfully earn their license.

Barber Crossover Application

Cosmetology Application

Transfer Degrees
Workforce Ready

Barber Crossover Certificate

Certificate
13 Credits

Cosmetology

Certificate
54 Credits
hands-on skills
What You'll Learn
  • Creative techniques in hair cutting, coloring, and design
  • Current industry trends and emerging techniques
  • Skin care, health, and beauty practices
  • Communication and client relation skills
  • Business knowledge to maximize your earning potential
  • Natural nail cultivation and care
  • Nail enhancements, extensions, and spa services
  • Professional development, including interview and résumé preparation
  • Hands-on training with industry and manufacturer educators
Person getting her hair blow-dried
tools of the trade
Professional Tools and Products
Exclusive Professional Student Kits

Each student receives a professional kit that includes high-quality tools of the trade—such as shears, texture shears, clippers, blow dryers, irons, brushes, and state-of-the-art mannequins—designed to prepare you for real-world success.

Professional Products

Students train with the same professional products used in today’s salons and gain hands-on experience in both the classroom and the Student Salon. You’ll also have the opportunity to build valuable connections with industry sales representatives.

Cutting hair
expert guidance every step of the way
Learn from Experienced Professionals

Your success is our priority! Our instructors are licensed cosmetologists who actively work in salons and bring real-world experience to the classroom. They stay connected with industry trends through a professional network and Advisory Board, ensuring you learn the latest techniques, teaching methods, and innovations in cosmetology.

Cosmetology teacher
More about the Program

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, overall employment of barbers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists is projected to grow 8 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.

About 89,400 openings for barbers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment

The need for barbers and hairdressers will stem primarily from demand for basic hair care services. In addition, an increased demand for hair coloring, hair straightening, and other advanced hair treatments is expected to continue over the projections decade.

Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists will continue to compete with providers of specialized services, such as nail and skin care. Consumers often choose manicurists and pedicurists and skincare specialists for these services, rather than to visit hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists for them. Still, employment is expected to grow to meet increased demand for personal appearance services.

The median hourly wage for barbers was $16.82 in May 2022. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $11.00, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $29.29.

The median hourly wage for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists was $16.01 in May 2022. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $10.48, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $28.88.

In May 2022, the median hourly wages for barbers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

Personal care services$16.77

In May 2022, the median hourly wages for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

Personal care services$16.28
Retail trade$12.80

Barbers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists may receive tips from customers. These tips are included in the wage data shown.

Most barbers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists work full time, although part-time work is common. Work schedules may vary and often include evenings and weekends—times when beauty salons and barbershops may be busiest. Those who are self-employed and operate their own barbershop or salon may have long workdays, but they usually determine their own schedules,

  1. List procedures demonstrating proper disinfection and sanitation requirements and properly store supplies and equipment for services as defined under Department of Regulatory Affairs (DORA) Division of Cosmetology Licensure Laws, Rules and Regulations. (consultation area, hand washing, table set up).
  2. Complete a client consultation, analysis, and proper set up.
  3. Demonstrate the proper use of implements, cosmetics, and materials used.
  4. Identify the structure, diseases, disorders and proper analysis of the hair, skin and nails.
Explore our Facilities

Faculty

Tamara Crouch
Cosmetology Faculty
970-521-6869
Cosmetology
Sterling
Tamara Crouch
Tyanne Kembel
Cosmetology
970-521-6734
Cosmetology
Sterling
Tyanne Kembel

Staff

David Farrow
Dean of Career and Technical Education
970-521-6798
ATC Campus
Sterling
Gerry Whipple II
Career and Technical Education Career Navigator
970-521-6691
Applied Technology Campus
Gerry Whipple II