Parent’s Guide to Beauty School

We applaud you for taking an interest in your child’s education and future career. A strong support system is key for your child to be successful on this journey. We know they will appreciate your guidance in choosing a career and supporting them while they are in school. In our Academy we like to connect with the parents and family of our students at an early stage and going forward.

Can you imagine how proud it will make your child to provide beauty services to you and other family members? You will be surprised. It will be an amazing experience to watch these students and see the progress they make during the program firsthand.

The Beauty Industry – An Outlook

The beauty industry is a big business and employs approximately two million people nationwide.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 3.5% job growth categories (cosmetologists and barbers, manicurists and pedicurists, skincare experts) of the beauty industry from 2019-2029. Overall job opportunities are expected to be good. There is a trend to specialization. Consumers will continue to choose specialists for some specific services.

However, new professionals should expect strong competition for jobs and clients at higher paying salons. A great education is a good and solid foundation to build on. Continuing education and improved business and soft skills are the differentiators going forward. Although most Cosmetologists, Barbers and Estheticians work in salons, shops or spas, there are other career options available. Licensed professionals can work their way into management positions, make-up artists, nail technicians, sales representatives, editorial specialists and ultimately salon owners in their chosen field.

These professional careers allow for flexibility to allow graduates to work either part time or full time so they can work around their family and other commitments. It is also a very entrepreneurial industry. Most salons are owned by Cosmetologists, Estheticians and Barbers who work in their own salon.

Pivot Point Academy

Pivot Point Academy is accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts & Sciences (NACCAS), and as a result, our students have access to financial aid (Title IV Funding – Pell Grants and Federal Direct Student Loans) through the US Department of Education (if they qualify). We are working with you to come up with a personal financial plan and search for scholarship opportunities beyond our institutional scholarship we offer to those who qualify.

Graduates receive a diploma and are well prepared to take their state licensing exam with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

In Illinois, all courses have hour requirements of instruction for each program. Program hours required for Cosmetology 1500, Barber 1500, Esthetics 750, Teacher Training (Licensed less than 2 years) 1000, and
Teacher Training (Licensed for 2 years or longer) 500.

All courses at Pivot Point Academy consist of required theory and practical instruction. All curriculums are approved by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

In addition, our students practice their skills and techniques they learn on guests who visit our student salon, barber clinic, and spa.

Meet the Requirements

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation requires a
teacher to student ratio of 25 to 1. Pivot Point Academy prides itself on our well below industry standard of currently approximately 16 to 1. We know the more focused attention pays off for our students in a hands-on learning environment.

Although it does take time to build a career as a successful professional in the beauty industry, graduates are not likely to have issues finding their first job.
Our experienced and dedicated Student Services Team works diligently to ensure that our graduates are successful. We assist them with job placement services as well as aiding in writing their professional resume.

Pivot Point Academy meets the accrediting body’s outcome rates in graduation, placement, and licensure rates.

Per our annual reporting requirements with the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts & Sciences, our 2019 Annual Report Rates are as follows:

Program                  Graduation Rate     Placement Rate   Licensure Rate
Cosmetology             83.93%                     80.85%                    97.62%
Esthetics                    95.24%                     65.00%                    85.00%
Barber                      100.00%                     92.31%                  100.00%
Teacher Training      100.00%                     50.00%                  100.00%
All Programs              89.13%                     78.05%                    93.33%

Love What You Do and Do What You Love

If your child is creative, artistic, good with their hands, social and enjoys helping people – this just might be career for them. Possibilities are endless with the desire for success.

We encourage you to visit our academy with your son or daughter. Do not miss the opportunity to experience our students and our educators in action. You will feel it. If they decide to enroll in one of our programs, we look forward to getting to know you when you visit them for salon services at the school.

Please contact us anytime with your questions and concerns. We are eager to help in any way.