Learning vital career skills doesn’t mean you have to wait for college – at least that’s what two Salem, Oregon high schools are doing. Students of Sabin-Schellenberg Technical Center of the North Clackamas School District and Robert Ferrell High School at Hillcrest Youth Correctional Facility are learning cosmetology skills before they graduate from high school.

These technical schools also offer high school students other career training options in addition to cosmetology. The cosmetology curriculum is the latest installment that offers new career options to students.

These beauty and cosmetology classes cover many of the same topics they will encounter in a full beauty school course. Students are exposed to:

• Sanitation practices
• Hair techniques
• Microbiology
• Anatomy
• Business skills

Upon completion, these high school students should have the knowledge and skill set to take their state cosmetology licensing examinations. There are some technical schools nationwide that are taking the same route as these Oregon high schools. If interested, check with your local cosmetology board to see if any high schools in your area offer cosmetology training programs at the high school level.