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Getting Started Guide

Thank you for your interest in the Cosmetology program at Cape Fear Community College. This in-demand program is located at CFCC’s North Campus, where students get hands-on experience working in a real salon. Our faculty are industry professionals with the skills and credentials to help you reach your academic and career goals. Upon completing the program, graduates will be prepared to take the North Carolina Cosmetology State Board Licensing Exam. This guide is designed to help you prepare for starting the program.

The Cosmetology program is top-rated, and classes fill each semester quickly. To enroll, students must complete the steps below. Registration is on a first-come basis. Students can register online via myCFCC (CFCC’s student portal) or with the assistance of an academic advisor. A waitlist is available for prospective students once the course is full.

Please follow these steps to prepare for registration:

  1. Admissions Application & Residency Determination
    • Apply online for free at apply.cfcc.edu (be sure to select Cosmetology as your major) or in-person at one of CFCC’s Enrollment Centers located at the North Campus McKeithan Center (4500 Blue Clay Rd) or the Downtown Campus Union Station Building (502 North Front Street).

      Note: Once your application is submitted, it’s valid for up to 3 semesters.

    • You must have a residency determination on file that will not expire before the start date of classes. Your residency classification determines if you will pay in-state or out-of-state tuition. If your residency is expired or expiring, you must complete a residency reconsideration with the North Carolina Residency Determination Service (ncresidency.org). You must notify CFCC once your residency determination is updated by emailing residency@cfcc.edu and include your CFCC ID number in this communication. It is essential to plan and verify this information and, if needed, update and notify CFCC well in advance.

  2. Submit Transcripts
    • Once your official/final high school or equivalent transcript is received, you will be accepted to Cape Fear Community College. Please note: Acceptance to CFCC does not guarantee a seat in cosmetology classes.
    • If you are a high school senior, you may submit a mid-year high school transcript for provisional admission. Financial aid may not be awarded until the official/final transcript has been received.
    • If you have completed coursework at other colleges or universities, we highly recommend you submit official transcripts so that we can evaluate coursework for possible transfer credit. If you have earned an associate degree or higher, your official college transcript can be submitted in place of a high school transcript.
    • Please allow 5-7 business days for transcripts to be processed.
    • All transcripts must be submitted to CFCC directly from the school you attended. If you order a transcript and hand-deliver it to CFCC, it must remain in the original sealed envelope to be considered official. Many schools and colleges have an online transcript ordering system that will send your transcript to CFCC directly. If you have any questions about how to request your transcript, please contact CFCC Admissions.

  3. Program ID Documents (must be on file before you can register for classes)
    • Social security card with signature for any individual who has a social security number OR a tax ID card OR student visa. **(If a student has one of the previous listed items, it must be provided. For students who have a do not have these required documents, student must provide a written letter explaining that they do not have a social security card, tax ID card, or student visa. This letter will become part of the student’s file per state board guidelines).
    • Government-issued photo ID with proof of date of birth
      • Required ID documents should be attached and uploaded directly into your student file here (you will not have access to upload these documents until you have been formally admitted to the college and have set up your MyCFCC student portal account): Upload your ID documents

      • The required ID documents can also be brought in person to the CFCC North Campus Student Services Office at the McKeithan Center (4500 Blue Clay Road) or the Admissions Office on the downtown campus inside the Union Station building (502 North Front Street).

      • Please note: For the ID documents to meet standards established by the NC State Board of Cosmetic Arts, the names on the documents must match exactly (including hyphenated names and middle names) and must not be expired or expiring before or during the program duration, and must be completely legible – including all letters, numbers, and photos. Please do not submit documents that do not meet these requirements, as no exceptions can be made.

    • Create Your Student Portal Account
      • Your student portal is called myCFCC. It’s the gateway to your student email, registration, and other important tools.
      • Visit the student portal at my.cfcc.edu.
      • Select first-time user.
      • Locate your student information (CFCC student ID, etc. in your admissions email or letter).
      • Create and verify your account.
      • Need assistance? Contact the IT Helpdesk at 910-362-4357 .

  4. Register for Classes
    • Register online in the student portal in the self-service section. You can follow step-by-step directions and tutorials online at cfcc.edu/howtoregister .
    • Need help with registration? Visit CFCC’s North Campus Student Services Office at the McKeithan Center or the Academic Advising Center in the Union Station building on the Downtown Campus.
    • If a cosmetology course you are trying to register for is full, you can add your name to a course waitlist. If a seat opens and you are the next student on the waitlist, you will be notified via your CFCC student email account. You will have 24 hours to register for the class before the next student is offered your seat. Once you can no longer register for a term, the waitlist is deactivated, and you will need to attempt registration for a future course. Please check your CFCC student email frequently.
    • We highly encourage you to review the Cosmetology program courses before registering. You can review them in CFCC’s Catalog (cfcc.edu/catalog).

  5. Financial Aid & Payment Options
    • We have various options to help you pay for your classes. Remember that you must pay by the payment deadline to reserve your spot. Visit cfcc.edu/pay for information on payment options and payment plans.
    • If you have questions about payments or costs, please contact the CFCC Business Office at 910-362-7633 or businessoffice@cfcc.edu .
    • If you haven’t filled out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid , don’t forget!
    • CFCC awards hundreds of scholarships each year. Find the scholarships at cfcc.edu/scholarships .

  6. Program Specific Costs, Books, and Supplies
    • Purchase books and supplies from the Sea Devil Stores in person or online. Have your class schedule handy when shopping for your books to save time.
    • The Cosmetology program has additional costs we want to make sure you’re prepared for, including a Cosmetology Kit (estimated at $1,500), Access Card (estimated at $250.00), program attire (navy blue v-neck scrub top, navy blue scrub pants, lanyard, & black shoes – can be leather, tennis shoes, or Crocs — can not be open-toed — (attire estimated between $100-$200). You can purchase all of these items, except shoes, at the CFCC Bookstore in the McKeithan Center at North Campus.

    Note: If you enrolled at CFCC in a different program and wish to change your major to Cosmetology, please meet with an academic advisor in the North Campus Student Services Office at the McKeithan Center or Academic Advising Center at the North or Downtown campus. Before your major can be changed, you must submit the ID documents outlined in step 3 above.

    We encourage students to visit campus and tour our Cosmetology facility. To schedule a general campus tour, go to visit.cfcc.edu. Make sure you book your tour at the North Campus.

    If you have questions regarding enrollment, please contact admissions@cfcc.edu or visit the North Campus Student Services Office in the McKeithan Center.

    Program Information

    First-semester courses are typically offered in the fall and spring semesters and have a day and evening option.

    *For the most up-to-date schedule information, review the course schedule for the term in which you wish to register*

Course Sequence Information

• Cosmetology Certificate (C55140)
• Cosmetology Certificate CTE Pathway, C55140CP
• Cosmetology Diploma (D55140)
• Cosmetology, A.A.S. (A55140)
• Cosmetology, Cosmetology Instructor Certificate (C55160)

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