Synopsis
Apprenticeship program
Cosmetica Cosmetology and Barbering Apprenticeship Committee
Intended audience: Potential applicants and active apprentices.
This page is intended as a synopsis of the apprenticeship course lifecycle. We tried to summarize as much as possible every step in the path to be walked by our apprentices, from program start to program finish.
"Always Remember: When you reach the finish line, you are just starting a new life as a professional in your career"
Quick links:
39 Hours Pre-Apprenticeship Course
Related supplemental instruction
Courses Syllabus, Curriculum and Outline
Cosmetica Innovations
In 2020 we had an event no one of us knew or expected.
While many suffered, we as a human race looked for alternatives to keep working, studying, and providing services while being safe.
An unintended consequence was working, studying, and for instance, news anchors even kept broadcasting their part from home.
For our apprentices, we entered the world of remote teaching, which, unexpectedly improved the learning experience for apprentices that had to commute even hundreds of miles to attend a single RSI class, having to relieve stress and exhaustion during their attendance period.
After the pandemic our apprentices have a much better learning experience, as they can take the RSI class, study and take their exams from the comfort and quiet of their own home.
Worldwide, teleconferencing systems that were previously had limited performance or were exclusive for big companies, had a spike on use and, as a direct consequence, their prices dropped, making them affordable to everyone, and even better, they improved their quality, making the online class an experience very similar to being in person.
In addition, our RSI online system provides a guided class for each chapter, with a professional and experienced teacher. Each class itself is carefully prepared for the day, allowing the apprentice to absorb knowledge in an unprecedented way.
Becoming an apprentice
Becoming an Apprentice
The Apprenticeship Program is a training program approved by the Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS) and Board of Barbering and Cosmetology (Board) that allows a trainee, called an apprentice, to earn a wage while studying to become a cosmetologist, barber or electrologist under the guidance and supervision of a Board licensed trainer in an establishment licensed by the Board. A number of agencies participate in the program, as described in this Board of Barbering and Cosmetology document.
Qualifications to Participate in the Apprenticeship Program
• Be at least sixteen (16) years of age and have completed the 10th grade or its equivalency.
• Have a valid social security (SSN) or individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN)
• Have a valid government-issued photo ID.
• Commit to working a minimum of 32 hours and no more than 42 ½ hours per week of On the-Job Training (OJT) hours. Apprentices are required to complete a minimum of 3200 OJT hours over a 2-year period.
• Attend classes and complete the Related Supplemental Instruction (RSI) also referred to as Related Training Hours (RTH), provided by Cosmetica. You will be required to complete a minimum of 220 hours over a 2-year period.
To start the process of becoming an apprentice you will need to join an approved apprenticeship program like Cosmetica Apprenticeship Committee.
39-hour Pre-Apprentice Training Course:
This course, which is a mandatory requirement by the State of California to apply for an Apprentice license, will provide you with the information needed to start your apprenticeship, and will include health and safety, sanitation, regulations and more. You can take the course at Cosmetica Latina, our educational institution, approved for imparting the 39 Hour Pre-Apprentice Course among other specialty and advanced courses in the beauty industry field.
After you complete the 39-hour Pre-Apprentice Training Class, you will fill out the following forms:
1. Application for an Apprentice License. You may be required to find your own trainer and establishment where you will work. Your trainer must have a valid license in the same occupation as the apprentice license you are applying for to supervise your training and the establishment where your training will take place must have a valid establishment license. Your trainer and establishment cannot have outstanding fines, currently be on, or have prior disciplinary actions in the last 2 years.
2. Statement of Trainer Responsibilities. This form must be maintained on the premises of the establishment you are assigned to work in.
3. Additional documents to register you as an apprentice in California with DAS.
Wages and Workman’s Compensation
Your apprentice license will be issued to the establishment you list on your application. Once you receive your license, you can start working in the salon with your trainer*. Your employer (establishment owner) is required to:
1. Pay you at least minimum wage. As an apprentice you cannot work for commission or rent the station in the establishment you are assigned to work in.
2. Obtain Workman’s Compensation for you.
Applying for an Apprentice License.
As described above, as soon as you finish your 39 Hours Pre-Apprenticeship course, you are ready to submit your Apprentice License application to the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. This license will allow you to work in a licensed establishment, like a Barber Shop or Beauty Salon, and be paid a regular salary for your work.
However, in the establishment you will be taught all your skills and knowledge by a BBC licensed trainer. For that reason, the BBC requires that your trainer be present at all times, as a responsible for your training and performance.
*An apprentice cannot work until an apprentice license has been issued and is in the possession of the apprentice.
(Failure to obtain all approvals before working as an apprentice will subject the establishment owner and apprentice applicant to administrative citations and fines of up to $1,000.00)
Related Supplemental Instruction (RSI)
Once you have your apprentice license you can start working as an apprentice and learn with your trainer at your establishment. However, theory is as important as practice. As an important part of your training, at Cosmetica you have to complete 240 Hours of RSI at Cosmetica, which is a guided theory course imparted by an experienced teacher in the field.
You must attend class at least twice a month either in person, or online. Each class counts for five hours towards your total. Depending on which method you choose, you will be given the Class Schedule for the current year either for Online or for In-Person RSI class.
For instructions on how to attend RSI class, go here for online class, and here for in-person class. You will find there the class calendar for the current year and you will be able to download the Daily Hour Record Form and other forms, as well as the list of materials needed.
The RSI class cycle is as follows:
a) You must study in advance the chapter and materials for the upcoming class you will be taken according to the schedule. You have all week to prepare for next week's class, and get the required knowledge from your book chapter and from the BBC Heath and Safety guide, either online or physical.
b) On the day of class, be on time and follow the rules. Your teacher will guide all students (either online or in-person) through the chapters of the day, and will allow for questions, kindly providing expert answers.
c) After class have finished, make yourself summaries of all materials taught on that day, and when you are ready, take both exams, one for your book chapter and one for the BBC guide.
d) Remember that classes are recorded and you will be able to review them and also learn from what other apprentices asked and were answered. You can only Access the recordings with your corresponding PIN, making them personalized.
Both RSI on this section and OJT in the following section are to be accomplished simultaneously from the start of your license issuing date.
But... What is RSI?
It is the Related Supplemental Instruction; It is part of the apprenticeship program, and provides theory in the apprentice profession, guides the apprentice through the theory books and practice materials, reinforcing every topic they have learned in their live practice from their licensed trainer. RSI is guided by an expert teacher, and class must be taken a minimum of twice a month and can be online or on-campus.
RSI is carefully planned, and all apprentices have the full year class schedule available ahead, helping them to prepare and even learn in advance. As a matter of fact, Apprentices study for the upcoming week class, effectively using class day as a consolidation of what they have learned for the scheduled chapters materials.
At the end of each RSI class day, apprentices must take both exams, the first corresponding to the Theory Chapter and the second corresponding to the BBC Health and Safety course.
Materials for the latter come directly from the BBC.
Since the apprentice usually chooses to have their practical training at an establishment near their residence, traveling once a week to our campus for RSI class is not their most preferred option, because they will spend more time traveling than learning. Because of that fact, taking the RSI course online allow more apprentices to have more effective training.
Our planning for this modern method of learning is constantly evolving to accommodate the most recent changes introduced by the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. However, we have been hinted that our Local Education Agency (LEA), Hacienda La Puente Adult Education has the intention to cancel the RSI Online class option. In comparison, our sister school, Cosmetica Beauty and Barbering Academy, has expressed that they have been extended indefinitely their online option by the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, because it is positive for the student body.
Practical Training
You will need to complete 3200 hours of practical training (I.e., On the job, OTJ training) on the licensed establishment. Your trainer must be present at all times, and you must follow their guide. Making a comparison with fairy tales, the trainer is the apprentice’s master, passing all their knowledge from generation to generation.
Best of all, back to real life, you are being paid for learning as they are paying for your work, and as such, the establishment must provide most perks of a regular employee, as Worker’s Compensation insurance.
The BBC requires that you register your advance, though. You must fill daily record form, where you enter the tasks you worked on, some are by the hour and some are counted as practical operations performed on the day. In any case, it is a form that holds a full month worth of activities, that will count towards your required hours.
Please note that you must follow a procedure to take and register your OJT hours, and you must follow the rules of RSI. You must pass the RSI exams with a grade above 75%. If you fail to pass, as any other educational program, you have a limited number of opportunities. The board expects all apprentices to master their chosen career and provide their future clients with quality services and experience. That experience will only be gained by training and learning in your apprenticeship period and beyond.
Examination and Licensure
After completing at least 21 months of the apprenticeship program, the required OJT and the required RTH, you will apply for the licensing exam by submitting the Application for Examination, a Certificate of Completion, and the fee listed on the application.
Once you pass the written examination, you will receive your professional license and will no longer have to work under a trainer as an apprentice.
Cosmetica helping you pass the board's exams to your license.
At our institution, your training is our priority. We also acknowledge that the sheer amount of material to learn can be daunting. We will help you focus on subjects that are covered in the licensure exams, so you can have a starting point and take your exam with confidence.
You have to demonstrate what you have learned when you take your exams, in theory and in practice.
To help you master the Board’s practical examination required to grant you a license, we have implemented training sessions where you will learn what to expect on the Board’s practical examination. They are provided via Zoom and you can also attend the session in person at our campus, according to the schedule. These sessions are intended for apprentices that have applied for a license and have already an exam date with the BBC.
Our practical exam training sessions are free of charge for Cosmetica Apprentices and you must register in order to attend.
Completed your course and ready for your license?
Congratulations! This section is for you.
You will only be a recognized professional and able to work anywhere once you have obtained your license. Cosmetica has prepared a number of guidelines and actions to help you excel when taking the Board's examination.
You can consider you completed the course if you have:
- Completed 3200 Hours of On The Job Training with your selected trainer at an establishment.
- Submitted all your daily record forms to Cosmetica, signed.
- Completed 240 Hours of Related Supplemental Instruction either online, in person or a combination of both.
- Passed successfully all chapter and BBC health and safety exams with a score or 80% or more.
If you meet the above conditions, then you can step forward and make an appointment for a licensure examination with the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. You can visit their site to obtain more details, and learn about the current examination fees.
Once you have your appointment date, you are elegible for taking Cosmetica's State Board Practice Training, as described in the following section. That step is more important than it seems. Mastering State Board's Licensure exam is a must to obtain your license and pass with the highest scores.
After you pass the State Board exam, you will receive your license, which certifies you as a professional, and allows you to work at any location or even start your own business. Again, Congratulations and our best wishes!
Appendix a) More on preparing for your Board's Examination
Here we describe in more detail our state board practical examination training.
On previous years, a practice exam was mandatory for all chapters of each course. Recently, the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology (BBC) reviewed their rules and guidelines, removing the practice test from all chapters.
Sadly, this action automatically prevented apprentices from taking advantage of many hours of practice during their training, and due to the fact that the actual Board's licensure examination does require practical skills, this lead to lower passing rates.
Our school has always been proud of our higher standards and higher passing rates when it comes to obtaining your license.
In order to put all of our apprentices in higher ranks, we decided to reinstate our State Board Practice Preparation training, and it will be available at no cost to all our apprentices that met these requirements:
- Have completed the required number of RSI hours as described in a previous section.
- Have a confirmed State Board license examination appointment.
Our State Board Practice Preparation training will be available at our Campus every other week. Day of week and dates, as well as time for the training for each profession can vary depending on the number of apprentices meeting the requirements that are interested. This training will be recorded on Zoom, and you can also attend the Zoom meeting on training day.
We will publish the zoom video links on the student portal, with the hopes that you will follow the training session once and again, to master the practical examination and excel when having the license examination at the BBC.
While we publish schedules for training hours, feel free to call us to inquire about the schedule and confirm your attendance.
Appendix b) Syllabus, Curriculum and Course Outline
Click on the corresponding link to open the respective Document.
COURSE SYLLABUS
- Cosmetology English Syllabus
COURSE CURRICULUM 2024
- Barbering English Curriculum - Online Learning
- Cosmetology English Curriculum - Online Learning
- Barbering English Curriculum - In-Person Learning
- Cosmetology English Curriculum - In-Person Learning
COURSE OUTLINE
- Barbering and Cosmetology Course Outline
Appendix c) More on RSI: Online, In Person, Hybrid
Please read in order to learn about some terms we use regarding RSI and the methods to deliver instruction.
Important: Regardless of the method you chose to train in the supplemental instruction area, you, as an apprentice become a student and are expected to follow the rules as with any educational institution. Rules include being on time for class, be respectful and avoid distractions. We expect our students to pay full attention to class, and follow every detail. Discipline and dedication are a must in order to become a good professional.
When attending class, you must be present from start to finish; You are not allowed to be at work while in class, driving or having any other activity, and you must pay total attention to class. Students that are distracted risk not being credited attending hours.
Common terminology of methods for Related Supplemental Instruction training delivery:
Online Class:
Also known as Remote instruction, it is the method we use most commonly nowadays, due to the fact that it is the most convenient for apprentices eager to learn that don't want to waste time driving and traveling to our campus. This method requires a computer or tablet. In case you do not have any of these, you can use your phone as an exception. Classes include audio and visual materials, and small screens naturally don't allow presentation of small visual details. The application we use is Zoom, and in your student portal you will find class credentials and schedule for both Cosmetology and Barbering, and your selected language.
Even though the class is online, students are required to behave as if they were present in class, with all the discipline and good behavior rules.
We provide each student with access to their personalized portal, where they can check the schedule, the chapter of the day and BBC Health and safety course content and links. At the personalized portal the student can take their chapter and BBC exams, where they must pass with at least 80% score.
After online class you can take your exams and start reading for the next chapters, in order to be ready for next week.
All procedures HERE relate the online class.
In Person Class:
In this traditional method, a teacher provides class in person. For apprentices interested in taking classes at our campus, we have a schedule of In-Person Training. Due to lower demand, if you are interested, please call us to enroll in this method of training. You will be provided with the current schedule for your profession and language, as well as the current schedule.
Procedures HERE relate to in person classes.
Hybrid Class:
We list the definition here only for archival purposes.
By coarse definition, hybrid is the offspring of two branches of something. Our method of delivery does not fall into any official "hybrid" category definition, because it uses a non classified mix of online class, unattended student portal and have separate in-person method.