Esthetics

The Esthetics certificate program is approved by the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, and it is subject to the rules and regulations regarding the education and training of estheticians in the state of California.  The program is designed to prepare students for the Barbering and Cosmetology state board licensing examination.  Students will take units covering both theoretical and practical concepts associated with all aspects of the skin care industry.  Students will also complete a minimum of 600 hours of clinical laboratory hours and practical operations as required by the California state board of Barbering and Cosmetology.

Program Learning Outcomes:

- Differentiate and employ the skills and techniques required to take the California State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology Esthetics licensing examination.

- Apply skin care concepts and theories to a variety of professional settings

- Demonstrate completion of mandatory clinic laboratory hours and practical operations according to the California State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology.

Students are required to complete all technical, practical, and program requirements at Solano Community College. Upon completion of this program and passing the California state board examination students may find career placement as a skin care specialist.  The certificate of achievement can be obtained by completing the 26-unit major. All courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C, or a P if the course is taken on a Pass/No Pass basis. 

Eligibility for sitting the California state board examination requires the following:

- Completing 10th grade or its equivalent

- Being at least 17 years of age

- Having a valid government issued photographic identification.

At this time we estimate enrolling cohorts of 20 students based on program resources, available space, and health and safety considerations.  This 2-semester certificate program can be completed in a single academic year, which is an attractive option for students.  We anticipate an average of 18 student completers for each admitted cohort of 20 students.  This is based on completion rates for our existing Cosmetology program over the past several years. 

The program goals and objectives for this program are clearly occupational.  With increased interest in our Cosmetology programs, including growing waitlists of students each year, guidance from our CTE advisory committee about the need for an esthetics program, and labor market indicators, we believe this is timely program that will draw students from a variety of backgrounds and prepare them to take the state licensing exam within two semesters of study.  This enables students to jump-start their careers in less time than the existing Cosmetology program, and gain the specific skills and knowledge to enter the workplace.

The certificate program consists of two courses: COSM 121: Skin Care I and COSM 122: Skin Care II.  Each course is 13 units in length and will be delivered each year (Skin Care I in Fall semester; Skin Care II in Spring semester).  Students must complete a minimum of 600 clinical laboratory and practical operation hours to be eligible for the State Board Barbering and Cosmetology licensing exam.  We plan to start a cohort each Fall semester, but will look to see how we might expand the program to additional cohorts based on space availability at the college.

Course	Title	Units	Year/Semester (Y1 or S1)
COSM 121	Skin Care I	13	Fall Semester
COSM 122	Skin Care II	13	Spring Semester

We recently surveyed our current student cohort and Advisory Committee members about new programs in esthetics and nail technology. The student survey (Fall 2021) revealed that 75% of student respondents who were enrolled in the program would like to see an esthetics program added to the Cosmetology department’s offerings. Similarly, there was 95% support from advisory committee members for an esthetics certificate program.

In the past two years we have seen at least 3 private Cosmetology schools in the Bay region close, thus reducing the number of available programs and graduates in our region. LMI data supports an undersupply of estheticians in the region.