Cosmetology Students’ Careers On Hold While State Scrambles to Catch Up on Test Delays

NBC 7 San Diego

Jackie Crea

March 5, 2021

At Bellus Academy in El Cajon, cosmetology school graduates wait for their chance behind a chair

The pandemic has paused so much in our lives. In the cosmetology industry, thousands of graduated students have been waiting to start their careers for months.

That’s because COVID-19 restrictions shut down the state’s in-person exam cosmetologist hopefuls have to pass to get their license.

At Bellus Academy in El Cajon, cosmetology school graduates wait for their chance behind a chair. Raeley Velasco finished school six months ago and was supposed to take her license test to get her career going, but the pandemic interrupted her plans.

“I guess I can’t make a living because I cannot work on people without a license. So my mom is a horse trainer so I help her to keep the money flowing in. But I would love to be doing hair,” said Velasco.

So she’s been practicing and waiting for a rescheduled exam date.

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