(BOP) - Inmates at FCI Waseca are becoming licensed Cosmetologists through a 12-month award winning Cosmetology Training Program. The program is conducted in partnership with a local Community College, and is taught by two full-time college instructors. Cosmetology is the art and science of beauty care, and the program covers all aspects of hair, skin, and nail care in a salon environment. Additionally, the inmates learn about Minnesota statutes, as well as chemistry, anatomy, trichology, dermatology, safety, and sanitation.
In Minnesota, cosmetology is regulated by the Board of Barber and Cosmetology Examiners. In order for the inmates to become Minnesota State licensed Cosmetologists, they must complete 1,550 hours of Cosmetology Training by a licensed school, pass the state board written test, and the Certification of Skills test. Niki Fawcett, an inmate who graduated the FCI Waseca Cosmetology Program in 2015, commented, "I am grateful for the opportunity to learn a skill that will help me become successful and more self-sufficient when I go back home."
Cosmetology programs are offered at more than 12 Bureau facilities.