Salon Management Schools in Washington, DC

Browse our directory of salon management schools in Washington, DC, or skip ahead to learn about the state's salon management licensing requirements and job outlook.

How to Become a Salon Manager in Washington, DC

Have you thought you might like to get into the area of spa or salon management? Are you interested in the business end of the beauty business? Are you looking for a pathway that will move your career upwards and onwards in responsibility and income?

If you can answer "yes" to these questions, and you know yourself to be a hard worker with a great work ethic, a career in spa or salon management may be a great career path for you! There is always high demand for capable, competent managers within the beauty industry.

State License Requirements

Before you can become licensed as a salon manager in Washington DC, you must complete 1,500 hours of training and become a licensed cosmetologist. Once you’ve earned your beauty license, you can complete an additional 500 hours of education to become a manager. You must pay a total of $230 in application, examination, and licensing fees.

Education Details

Fortunately, most schools of hairdressing and cosmetology offer certificate programs in spa and salon management, and these schools are located all over the country. Most people who study this specialty are already credentialed in the beauty industry, either as a cosmetologist or cosmetology instructor, so the main focus of their coursework will be the business skills you need to acquire. Things like handling salon and spa finances, interviewing, hiring, and managing salon staff, leadership, safety and compliance laws, marketing and advertising, and more are among the subjects taught. A program will typically last between six and twelve months, and earn you 15 to 30 credits.

License Renewal

The nice thing about not having to earn a salon manager's license in DC is that you can choose a cosmetology program that fits the kind of salon you want to manage. If you want to open a full service salon, and qualify to work in as many places as possible, we recommend earning your cosmetology license. In DC, the Board of Barber and Cosmetology requires completion of a 1,500-hour program, and an examination. After you are licensed, you will need to renew every two years for a $105 fee, and a requirement for 6 continuing education courses.

District of Columbia Salon Management Careers

The median salary for spa and salon managers in 2013, the most recent year for which this data is available, was $45,900 according to O*Net, making it one of the highest median salaries in the beauty industry. And the expectation is that the need for spa and salon managers will grow at a good clip: 22% between 2012 and 2022, meaning the jobs are likely to be there when you complete your schooling.

So what does a spa or salon manager do in a day? He or she actually wears many hats. They must respond to questions and complaints by clients, and schedule client appointments. They need to monitor the performance and functioning of the staff to make sure they are working efficiently and effectively, and that clients are satisfied with the services they are receiving. They need to ensure that safety and hygiene standards are being met. They need to sell products, services, or memberships. They have a whole additional set of tasks they are responsible out of the view of clients, in the office. There, they must maintain client databases, interview and hire staff, handle the financial end of the business, coordinate schedules, plan marketing and advertising campaigns. These many tasks keep a spa or salon manager quite busy, and his or her job would require working long hours. You might be the first one into the salon in the morning, and the last one to leave at night.

Contact the District of Columbia State Board of Cosmetology

The District of Columbia is home to a bustling beauty industry. This is reinforced by a multitude of salons and small shops keeping locals looking their best. Shop owners know it pays to understand salon management, and they go to these groups for insight.

Professional Beauty Association
Internatonal SalonSpa Business Network