🚨 Warning: Not All Esthetician Schools in Colorado Follow the Law
Why Prospective Students Must Be Careful When Choosing a Program
Becoming a licensed esthetician in Colorado is an exciting journey that opens the door to careers in skincare, spa services, and medical aesthetics. But before you can begin your career, you must complete a state-approved esthetician program. Unfortunately, not all schools follow the law when it comes to training requirements.
If you are researching Denver esthetician training or Colorado esthetician training, it’s critical to understand what the state requires—and the risks of attending a school that does not comply.
📚 Colorado’s Legal Requirements for Esthetician Training
The Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology has clear rules about how esthetician training must be structured. A 600-hour program is required to qualify for licensure. Within those 600 hours:
At least 450 hours must be completed in person at a licensed facility.
No more than 150 hours can be completed online (distance education).
This law ensures that students get enough hands-on training with live models, proper equipment, and professional supervision. After all, esthetics is a hands-on career—you can’t learn facials, waxing, extractions, or advanced treatments fully from a computer screen.
🚨 What Happens if a School Breaks the Rules?
Sadly, some schools ignore these requirements and advertise that students can complete most—or even all—of their esthetician training online. While this might sound convenient, it is illegal in Colorado.
If you attend a non-compliant school, you may face serious consequences:
Licensure Denial: The state board may refuse to accept your hours if they were not earned under the legal requirements.
Wasted Time & Money: Tuition paid to a non-compliant program may not count toward your license.
Repeat Training: You could be forced to start over at a compliant school, delaying your career.
Lack of Experience: Without in-person hours, you may graduate unprepared for real clients and fail practical exams.
The bottom line? Choosing the wrong school could cost you thousands of dollars and months of your time—and jeopardize your future as an esthetician.
🔑 How to Protect Yourself When Choosing a School
If you’re considering enrolling in esthetician training in Denver or anywhere in Colorado, protect yourself by asking these three key questions:
How many hours are completed in person, and how many are online?
The answer must be at least 450 in-person and no more than 150 online.Are my in-person hours completed in a licensed facility with live models?
Hands-on practice with real clients is not optional—it’s required.Will these hours make me eligible for state board licensure?
A legitimate school will proudly say yes, with full transparency.
If the answers are vague or the school pushes mostly online training, that’s a major red flag.
🧾 What to Do if You Suspect a School Is Breaking the Law
Colorado takes esthetics education seriously. If you believe a school is not requiring the proper number of in-person hours, you have the right to report them.
Complaints can be filed with the Division of Private Occupational Schools (DPOS), the agency responsible for regulating beauty and esthetics schools in Colorado. Reporting protects not only you, but also future students who might otherwise be misled.
👉 Click here to contact DPOS and learn more about filing a report.