CosmetologyAS DegreeCertificate of Achievement

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Community of interest
Business, Cosmetology, Arts & Design
Award
AS Degree
Program code
01370.00AS
Department
Cosmetology
CIP code
12.0401: Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General.
TOP code
3007.00 - Cosmetology and Barbering*
The AS degree in Cosmetology is a minimum 1,000-hour course of study designed to meet the State of California Cosmetology Act. Butte College offers two different pathways to the degree: a two-semester traditional day program and an evening-only program (offered in fall, winter, spring, and summer). Students who enroll in the evening program should be committed to the entirety of the program for 12 consecutive months. All programs begin in fall. Both program pathways meet the curricular requirements mandated by the State Board of Barbering & Cosmetology that enable a successful student to also earn a Certificate of Achievement, a Hair Styling Certificate, meet state licensing requirements for curricular training, and prepare for the written state examination for licensure to practice cosmetology in the State of California. In order to obtain a Cosmetologist License and practice Cosmetology in the State of California, students must be at least 17 years of age, have completed the 10th grade in California public schools or equivalent*, successfully complete the State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology approved 1,000+ course hours of study, and pass the state examination. The written state examinations are administered through the Department of Consumer Affairs Bureau of Barbering and Cosmetology. *To receive federal financial aid, students must have graduated from high school or completed a GED. Contact the Cosmetology Department for more information. Job opportunities in the field of cosmetology include working for chain and/or independent salons and spas, department store salons and cosmetic departments, beauty supply stores, retail and wholesale selling, spas and salons on luxury cruise ships, product representatives, research and development, salon managers, owners, educators, freelance stylist, hair and makeup services in television and film industry.
Program detailsAward, code, department, CIP/TOP

Program Snapshot

Community of interest
BCAD Business, Cosmetology, Arts & Design
Award
AS Degree
Program code
01370.00AS
Department
Cosmetology
CIP code
12.0401: Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General.
TOP code
3007.00 - Cosmetology and Barbering*

Next Steps

Map Class Schedule

Pick a term:

Fall 2026Winter 2027Spring 2027Summer 2027

This will open the term course schedule not including GE requirements.

Program Schedule ReportMeet with a counselor
Cosmetology
AS Degree — expand to learn about this award

The Associate of Science is typically awarded for Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) and Career Technical Education (CTE) programs. Like every Butte College associate degree, it has two parts: a general-education curriculum that gives you a broad base of knowledge, and an academic program where you specialize.

About General Education. GE is an integrated program of learning designed to foster intellectual curiosity, cultural understanding, critical thinking, creative reasoning, oral and written communication, and the capacity for ethical reasoning. By graduation, you'll have developed the ability to think critically, communicate clearly, apply quantitative reasoning, understand how the major academic disciplines ask their questions, comprehend diverse cultures and historical periods, and assess ethical problems — alongside the depth you build in your major.

See the 2025-26 Catalog for official program details

Semester-by-Semester Map

Term 1

Class Schedules

Pick a term:

Fall 2026Winter 2027Spring 2027Summer 2027

This will open the term course schedule not including GE requirements.

12 units
COS 10
Health, Safety and Sanitation Theory
3 units
course details

This course will teach standard health, safety, and sanitation practices in Cosmetology, Barbering, Manicuring, and Esthetics. Students will understand agency standards and state board requirements for beauty professionals servicing the general public.

COS 11
Health, Safety and Sanitation Practicum
1 units
course details

This course will teach procedural application of standard health, safety, and sanitation practices in Cosmetology, Barbering, Manicuring, Hairstyling and Esthetics. Emphasis will be placed on the practice of Disinfection and Health standards required by the California State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology for practice and licensing in the beauty industry. Students will practice and demonstrate State Board disinfection and sanitation for beauty professionals while servicing the public. This course is designed toward preparation for the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology exam.

Prerequisite: COS 10 (or concurrent enrollment)

COS 19
Hair Styling Services I
4 units
course details

In this course, students will develop and demonstrate fundamental hairstyling and haircutting skills. Emphasis is placed on State Board standards in client draping, shampooing and conditioning, fundamentals of hair design, and basic haircutting and basic hairstyling techniques. Students will practice and demonstrate State Board disinfection and sanitation techniques for beauty professionals while servicing the public. This course is designed toward preparation for the California State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology exam and is a fundamental course in the Cosmetology, Barbering or Hairstyling program sequences.

COS 23
Skin Care
4 units
course details

This course will develop the knowledge and skills necessary to understand the nature of skin care and show proficiency in skin-related services. Topics include skin disorders and diseases, skin structure, growth and nutrition, advanced skin care, facials and lashes, to include lash lifting, coloring and lash extensions. Students will work towards California State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology minimum requirements and hours in subjects learned. This course is part of the Cosmetology and Barbering sequences, and foundational in the Esthetics course sequence.

Term 2

Class Schedules

Pick a term:

Fall 2026Winter 2027Spring 2027Summer 2027

This will open the term course schedule not including GE requirements.

14 units
COS 12
Manicuring and Pedicuring
3 units
course details

In this course students will develop and demonstrate proficiency in basic nail procedures. Topics are to include analyzation, treatment, creation, maintenance and removal of nail enhancements, including gel polish, wraps, repairs, acrylic and UV light cured gel enhancements. Students will work towards California State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology minimum practical hours and operations in subjects learned. This is a foundational course in the Cosmetology and Manicuring sequences.

Prerequisite: Permission of instructor

COS 20
Chemical Hair Services Theory
3 units
course details

In this course, students learn and develop an understanding and knowledge of the basic theoretical concepts that govern and guide salon-industry related chemistry, chemical texture services, and the fundamentals of haircoloring. Topics such as Chemistry, Safety, Haircolor and Chemical Texture applications will be covered. Students will work towards the California State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology minimum hours and practical operations in subjects learned. Theoretical instruction will be applied towards the curriculum minimum requirements to qualify for a Board examination.

Prerequisite: Permission of instructor

COS 21
Chemical Hair Services Practicum
5 units
course details

In this course students will develop and demonstrate understanding and practice of the basics of chemistry, chemical texture services, and the fundamentals of haircoloring. Students will work towards California State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology minimum practical operations in the subjects learned. This course is an integral class in the Barbering and Cosmetology program sequences.

Prerequisite: COS 20 (or concurrent enrollment)

COS 29
Hair Styling Services II
3 units
course details

In this course, students will expand and cultivate skills in haircutting and hairdressing. Topics will include client consultation, applying required health, safety and disinfection protocols, advanced haircutting techniques and formal hairstyling training. Students will work towards California State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology minimum hours in subjects learned. This course is an advanced course in the Cosmetology and Hairstyling program sequences.

Prerequisite: COS 19

Term 3

Class Schedules

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Fall 2026Winter 2027Spring 2027Summer 2027

This will open the term course schedule not including GE requirements.

17–19 units

General Education: Area 1A

about Area 1A

English Composition

Baccalaureate-level academic writing — expository and argumentative. The foundation for every other course you'll write in.

General Education: Area 1B

about Area 1B

Oral Communication and Critical Thinking

Baccalaureate-level oral communication and/or critical thinking — speaking with structure to a live audience, analyzing arguments, identifying assumptions.

General Education: Area 3

about Area 3

Arts and Humanities

How people and cultures, across time, respond to themselves and the world through artistic and cultural creative production. Visual and performing arts, art history, foreign languages, literature, philosophy, religion.

General Education: Area 4

about Area 4

Social and Behavioral Sciences

The systematic study of people as members of society — cultural anthropology, cultural geography, economics, history, political science, psychology, sociology — and the methods these disciplines use to ask their questions.

General Education: Area 6

about Area 6

Ethnic Studies

The histories, experiences, and contributions of the four autonomous disciplines: Black / African American / Africana studies, Native American studies, Chicano/a/x and Latino/a/x studies, and Asian American studies.

Graduation Requirement Choice (See GE Guide)

Term 4

Class Schedules

Pick a term:

Fall 2026Winter 2027Spring 2027Summer 2027

This will open the term course schedule not including GE requirements.

17–21 units

General Education: Area 2

about Area 2

Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning

College-level mathematics or quantitative reasoning — the toolkit behind science, business, and informed citizenship.

General Education: Area 5

about Area 5

Physical and Biological Sciences

The physical universe, its life forms, and its natural phenomena — astronomy, biology, chemistry, geology, meteorology, oceanography, physics — taught alongside the scientific method that makes them work.

Elective (any course numbered 1-99 or C1000-C1999)

Only necessary if the 60 units needed to graduate have not been completed. Consider taking a Cal-GETC General Education course. Visit www.assist.org to see options.

Career Connections

2-Year Degree Paths

Entry points students may pursue after associate-level study, technical preparation, or licensure pathways.

Example roles: 5

  • Skincare Specialists
  • Shampooers
  • Manicurists and Pedicurists

4-Year Degree Paths

Roles that more often open up after transfer and a bachelor's degree.

No locally mapped occupations in the current dataset are grouped into the 4-year pathway for this program.

Graduate School Paths

Advanced roles commonly associated with graduate, professional, or post-baccalaureate study.

No locally mapped occupations in the current dataset are grouped into the graduate-school pathway for this program.

Local Job Market

Skincare SpecialistsSOC 39-50941 nearby opening

Search keyword used: cosmetologist · Search window: last 30 days, 25-mile radius

Top employers in sample

  • CosmoProf 1

Where the postings are

  • Chico, Butte County 1

Sample current postings

  1. COLOR & CURL CONCIERGE Cosmoprof 8622CosmoProf · Chico, Butte County · 10 days ago

See all openings on Adzuna

ShampooersSOC 39-509323 nearby openings

Search keyword used: esthetician · Search window: last 90 days, 100-mile radius · Avg listed salary: $47,665/yr

Top employers in sample

  • European Wax Center 9
  • FACE FOUNDRIÉ 2
  • The Estate Yountville 2
  • The Lash Lounge Roseville - Nugget Plaza/Sacramento - DOCO 2
  • Appellation Healdsburg 1

Where the postings are

  • Yountville, Napa County 4
  • El Dorado Hills, El Dorado County 2
  • Davis, Yolo County 1
  • Fair Oaks, Sacramento County 1
  • Folsom, Sacramento County 1

Sample current postings

  1. Wax SpecialistEuropean Wax Center · Long Island, Sacramento County · 2 days ago
  2. Wax SpecialistEuropean Wax Center · Hidden Valley, Washoe County · 2 days ago
  3. Wax SpecialistEuropean Wax Center · Fair Oaks, Sacramento County · 2 days ago
  4. Wax SpecialistEuropean Wax Center · Yountville, Napa County · 2 days ago
  5. Wax SpecialistEuropean Wax Center · Somersett, Washoe County · 2 days ago

See all openings on Adzuna

Manicurists and PedicuristsSOC 39-50921 nearby opening

Search keyword used: nail technician · Search window: last 90 days, 100-mile radius

Top employers in sample

  • Martis Camp 1

Where the postings are

  • Truckee, Nevada County 1

Sample current postings

  1. Spa Therapist-Nail TechnicianMartis Camp · Truckee, Nevada County · 3 weeks ago

See all openings on Adzuna

Makeup Artists, Theatrical and PerformanceSOC 39-50914 nearby openings

Search keyword used: makeup artist · Search window: last 90 days, 100-mile radius · Avg listed salary: $41,665/yr

Top employers in sample

  • All Dolled Up 3
  • CADY 1

Where the postings are

  • Auburn Lake Trails, El Dorado County 1
  • Florin, Sacramento County 1
  • West Truckee, Nevada County 1
  • Yountville, Napa County 1

Sample current postings

  1. Special Event Makeup ArtistAll Dolled Up · Yountville, Napa County · 8 days ago
  2. Special Event Makeup ArtistAll Dolled Up · West Truckee, Nevada County · 8 days ago
  3. Special Event Makeup ArtistAll Dolled Up · Auburn Lake Trails, El Dorado County · 4 weeks ago
  4. Seasonal Makeup ArtistCADY · Florin, Sacramento County · 9 weeks ago

See all openings on Adzuna

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsSOC 39-50121 nearby opening

Search keyword used: hair stylist · Search window: last 30 days, 25-mile radius

Top employers in sample

  • Great Clips 1

Where the postings are

  • Oregon, Butte County 1

Sample current postings

  1. Hair Stylist - Navarre CenterGreat Clips · Oregon, Butte County · 2 weeks ago

See all openings on Adzuna

Posting counts come from Adzuna's index of US job boards, covering the last up to 90 days within up to 100 miles of ZIP 95965. Coverage and salary visibility vary by employer. Empty searches expand the radius and posting window before the section gives up.

Source Notes

Course sequencing is generated from the Acadia Program Mapper cache. Career groupings use local CIP-to-SOC mappings and BLS occupation data when available. Confirm education plans with Counseling and Advising.

Live wage data was not available from the BLS helper for the mapped occupations, so some pay fields may be blank.

Last generated 2026-06-12T23:19+00:00