Apprenticeship FAQS

To apply to Black Girl Beauty Apprenticeship Programs School, students must complete a 15-minute consultation, attend a master class, submit an application form and supporting documents (birth certificate, social security card, state ID, transcripts from their previous or current school, enrollment fee, completed enrollment package and become qualified.

 *All incoming students/apprentices must attend an orientation which will be held on the 1st day of class/work. During orientation the student will learn about responsibilities and standards, the format of the program, the progression of the program, and how performance will be measured. 

Traditional School is like attending college. Some/or all of your book work is online, but all of your practical/hands on work is done on campus. You serve clients in person at the student salon. 

Apprenticeship is an alternative to path from traditional school. It is a job. All of your book work is online, but all of your practical/hands on work is done on-the-job with a mentor guiding you along the way.  Apprentices are paid employees. You serve clients in person, on-the-job where you are employed and you earn while you learn.  Apprentices work directly with licensed professionals in a salon/spa/shop/studio/job site and receive one-on-one training. Apprentices usually start by observing their mentor journeyman trainers and gradually work into practical application on real clients with the ultimate goal of becoming a full-time service provider. 

No matter which option you choose, the end results will be the same. All theory work is provided by Black Girl Beauty School of Careers and Black Girl Beauty School of Careers Manges the entire program, ensuring your success. 

Black Girl Beauty School of Careers are approved in the following states for cosmetology apprenticeship training. Each program length will vary depending on your states required hours for licensure. Subjects include haircutting, hair coloring, facials, makeup, manicuring, salon management and much more. Upon completion of the program, the student/apprentice is qualified to take the state licensing exam.  Please review the state you’re interested in attending and click on your desired program for more details. 

GEORGIA - 3000 hours (18 months)

PENNSYLVANIA - 2000 hours (12 months)

TENNESSEE - 2000 hours (12 months)

SOUTH CAROLINA - 2000 (12 months) Hair Braiding

 Tuition rates vary by program and state requirements. Students/Apprentices will be given tuition rates when inquiring about admission to the school/program of their choice.  Financial assistance is available for those who qualify. Apprentices are low/to no cost. Most apprentices are just responsible for training fee and buying your individual tools.

Depending on your funding circumstances, you may pay your tuition in full; you may put down a deposit and set up a payment arrangement or you may apply for a loan with one of our affiliate loan agencies.  Any remaining balance may be paid upon a monthly basis that is customizable.  We try to make our education as affordable as possible to help students/apprentices gain employment with little or no debt. This information is provided during admissions. 

We do offer scholarships. They are limited. When available, they are offered on our website under RESOURCES. 

Our Apprenticeship school only accepts transfer hours from students from another state certified apprenticeship school. Our traditional school may accept your hours. Please send us your transcript through email at: admissions@bgbschoolofcareers.com for additional information. After sending it, please request an official copy be sent from the school where you obtained the hours.  Our comprehensive courses ensure that you get more than enough hours to be successful in your chosen career.  All circumstances differ depending on each individual. 

 We will soon have in person/traditional tours as well as virtual tours available. Please look for the posted video.  

Black Girl Beauty School of Careers care about its students.  Our alums will have access to our job board, continuing education, will receive a lifetime membership to our association and a lifetime mentorship opportunity, as well as other resources. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, that is what the school is here for!  We NEVER leave you!

If you are a traditional student, you must be licensed before you can start working on clients as a professional, but you can work other duties until you become licensed.  However, if you are on an apprenticeship program you would already be employed and receiving on-the-job-training while getting paid at the same time. You do have the option to continue to work at that salon until you pass the exam. After your enrollment agreement and you passed the exam any employment communication is discussed between you and the employer. 

All states have their own board regulations that must be adhered to. Most states reciprocate but not all, so you may need to go to school in order to obtain those additional hours. Whatever hours is needed we can help you. Just call or come in with your license to see what you need in order to become licensed. You would have to contact the state board of to apply for reciprocity to obtain your license in that state.  The state will also let you know what is needed to obtain reciprocity. The process is fairly easy.   However, if you have completed the apprenticeship program, you will also receive an additional certification which is a National Certification. 

The traditional campus will offer guest services. No services are offered to the public through our Apprenticeship School. Apprentices offers services on-the-jo where they are employed. We will update the website when our traditional school clinic floor opens.    

Georgia – Our Georgia Campus offers all the theory online. Practical is on campus or on-the-job-training.
Tennessee, Pennsylvania, South Carolina – offers all theory through distance learning (virtually/online). Practical is on-the-job training.
We do offer Hair Braiding Certifications, CE and Exam Preparation 100% online. 

The school does not offer individual programs for these programs at this time. Please check in the future.

 Black Girl Beauty School of Careers does not offer housing at this time, but our Admissions Representatives can help guide you to contacts that can help you. 

 We do not require vaccinations for admission into our programs. Anyone interested in getting more information about vaccinations should contact their local public health department or consult with their health care provider. 

Do you know what kind of learning style works best for you?  Perhaps you learn best reading from a textbook and filling out a companion workbook? Or maybe working and studying in a group is your preferred way to learn.  Information might make more sense to you by doing things more hands-on or working one-on-one with an educator.  Many of our apprentice candidates tend to be strong individuals with a uniqueness in cognitive learning functions.  In our experience, this is something that they have in common with the vast majority of people in the beauty industry.

There are usually only two paths to learning the trade: the traditional classroom or a trade-based apprenticeship.  Both lead to state license to practice.  Both have pros and cons; however, having the choice means that you can decide which path will work best for you.

Black Girl Beauty School of Careers Apprentice Program is designed to help the apprentice candidate in connecting with an Employer Training Agent. The easiest way is to apply directly to the program HERE. 

After completing all of the appropriate background information and approved through the Apprentice Vetting Commitee, the apprentice candidate is placed in a catalogue of eligible candidates that our multiple Training Agent partners often review. 

The second is to search our list of Training Agent Partners and apply directly with them.  If a Training Agent Partner hires you, then they will follow through with placing you in our program.

Black Girl Beauty School of Careers Apprentice Program is designed to help the apprentice candidate in connecting with an Employer Training Agent. The easiest way is to apply directly to the program HERE. 

After completing all of the appropriate background information and approved through the Apprentice Vetting Commitee, the apprentice candidate is placed in a catalogue of eligible candidates that our multiple Training Agent partners often review. 

The second is to work with our Apprenticeship Specialist who will help you find a Training Agent Partner who will hire you, we will then follow through with placing you in our program.

One-on-one mentorship by a practicing professional!

Earnings potential (from day one!)!

Tuition savings!

Experience in a real work environment!

Valuable professional connection potential!

Flexible hours!

Getting the ‘in’ and ‘outs’ of the business from those who are most active in the industry!

The ability to plan your studies around your “other life”!

Below are the states that Black Girl Beauty School of Careers currently offer Beauty Trades Apprenticeships as a path into the industry.  If your state is not listed, please email admissions@bgbschoolofcareers.com for additional information. Also, check back frequently as we are updating our list of states all the time. 

• Tennessee
• Georgia
• Pennsylvania
• South Carolina

Your time as an apprentice is generally divided in three ways in order to prepare you to learn the appropriate skills, but to also prepare you to take and pass your state’s Practical and Written Exams:

Hours of curriculum study (varies by discipline)

Professional training hours (learning the practical skills)

Hours spent servicing clients (hands-on experience)

This method of learning isn’t always a perfect fit for everyone, so it’s important for you to consider if it’s the right environment for you. In order to help you ‘decide before you buy’, you might ask a participating salon/ spa/shop if you could shadow a service provider for a day or maybe have a sit-down talk about how your apprentice learning might be structured.

In a sentence, theory education tells you why something works the way it does.  For instance, how Hair Coloring works in and on the hair shaft and the science behind the chemicals used in your business. Theory is important because it teaches you the ‘why’ and not just the ‘how’, which will lead to a better understanding and more professional use of the various chemical products used in the Beauty Trade industry.

Black Girl Beauty School of Careers Apprentice Program has a unique curriculum that caters to all socioeconomic standing, but we specialize in Black hair, Black art and building businesses in Black communities. But we specialize in Black hair care. You will also be partnered with a Black Girl Beauty Coach, a licensed instructor in your chosen industry, who will help you to navigate your chosen learning path. This allows the onsite Journeyman trainer the flexibility to hone in on your hands on skills more effectively and efficiently. The Black Girl Beauty program curriculum is comprehensive and is constantly growing to stay abreast of up-to-date teaching methodologies.

With Black Girl Beauty School of Careers Apprentice Program, the classroom is on-demand, online, at your fingertips through our Learning Platform Management System. The classroom is wherever you are.

An apprenticeship will encounter a less rigid curriculum simply because you are learning one-on-one, hands on instead of a group. Because you are learning and working on the job, you’ll be exposed to more real-life scenarios and learning opportunities than you might get in a classroom setting.

The trades are in demand. People with college degrees now are seeking to learn a trade. Those numbers are growing daily! Jobs are always available in the trades and the arts.

Apprentices who earn their education through an apprenticeship and pass the same state exams or certifications as those who graduate from a brick-and-mortar trade school, are equally employable.  Even though the requirements for licensure are the same for everyone in the industries that we offer, the apprenticeship does give the newly licensed professional a solid hand up! Unlike the trade school student who is ‘working a job’ while also attending school, the apprentice is actively earning while learning. And, as a bonus, the Apprentice is building a clientele at the same time! 

According to federal law, an Apprentice must be paid according to the individual States’ minimum wage regulations. The wage progressions are based upon skill development as well as time in the program. Your wages are directly proportional to your skill, and the ability to confidently market yourself. And, of course, larger cities have an overall higher earnings potential,

and don't forget to include tips and gratuities.  And, these are the median percentages, meaning middle.  We encourage you to have a chat with your favorite service provider in the industry.  

Each State decides the hours an apprentice may work. Employers have work hour requirement. 

Future professionals can benefit greatly from a properly structured apprenticeship program provided by a qualified, passionate employer.

In trade schools, students are at the mercy of the curriculum and the student/teacher ratio. Apprentices will find that they get more focused attention and have more control over the education they receive.

Although they are typically required to complete more hours than traditionally educated beauty professionals, apprentices are compensated while learning. Apprentices complete their education debt-free and unlike trade school educated licensees, have not lost 18 months to 2 years of compensable time.

Apprentices are also less likely to have gaps in their education when compared to a traditionally educated student. At Black Girl Beauty School of Careers, we are constantly evolving.  Thanks to the flexibility afforded to many sponsors, apprentices are more likely to gain experience and training in the areas our schools have neglected to adequately address.

Apprentices receive invaluable real-world experience interacting with customers on a daily basis. While traditionally educated industry professionals can gain this experience working on the job, there’s an important distinction between the expectations of a clinic client and a salon customer. Apprentices will typically be held to a higher standard when interacting and serving customers than a student will, and the stakes for the former are much higher than those for the latter. A negative interaction may result in disciplinary action for a student, but an apprentice could lose their job and their sponsor.

Apprentices receive invaluable real-world experience interacting with customers on a daily basis. While traditionally educated beauty professionals can gain this experience working on the clinic floor, there’s an important distinction between the expectations of a clinic client and a salon customer. Apprentices will typically be held to a higher standard when interacting and serving customers than a student will, and the stakes for the former are much higher than those for the latter. A negative interaction may result in disciplinary action for a student, but an apprentice could lose their job and their sponsor.

The first numbers are the portion of the apprenticeship that covers the hands-on-training or learning called On-The-Job-Training (OJT) or On-The-Job-Learning (OJL) depending upon the State. These are essentially practical hours that the apprentice clocks in for and is physically working as a service provider, assisting the journeyman trainer, as well as salon sanitation and front desk duties.  All of these count as OJT/OJL hours.

The second set of hours is called Related Supplemental Instruction (RSI) or Related Technical Instruction (RTI) depending upon the State. These are essentially the hours where they are studying and practicing their skills. Black Girl Beauty School of Careers Apprentice Program manages these hours through evidencing assignments such as Written Exams and Performance Exams.   The RTI/RSL hours are input monthly based on the weekly completion rate of the individual’s learning path.