Madison College partners with local salons, spas for beauty school program externships 

According to the Wisconsin State Journal, Madison Area Technical College is changing its beauty school program to help students obtain on-the-job experience at area spas and salons and address workforce challenges plaguing the local beauty industry.

Madison College’s Trustyle Salon, located at 1701 Wright St. and currently open three days a week to the public, develops the skills of aspiring makeup artists, nail technicians, and hairstylists. Starting in spring of 2024, however, Trustyle will reduce its hours to around one day per week to launch its pilot beauty school externship program. The program will pair students with area salons and spaces so they can fulfill some of the training hours required by state law for licensure. Externs typically job-shadow and observe a professional mentor to gain on-the-job experience.

Externships are expected to last three semesters. The program will require fewer college credits — 40 rather than 46 — and therefore save students roughly $1,500 in tuition costs. The total program cost at present is $6,634.

The program’s goal is to establish partnerships with over 50 Dane County salons and spas. The program currently has a 250 prospective student waitlist. Planned partners so far include Temptd Salon and Spa at 6316 Monona Drive and Lotus Salon, located in Sun Prairie and Stoughton.