Full-Time vs Part-Time Hairdressing Courses: Which Is Right for You?

By Denise Cilliers

One of the first questions every prospective student asks is whether to study full-time or part-time. Both routes lead to the same national hairdressing qualification, but they suit very different lives, budgets and schedules. Here is what actually separates them, so you can choose the route that fits you, not just the one that sounds fastest.

What’s the Difference Between Full-Time and Part-Time Hairdressing Courses?

Both routes work toward the same National Certificate in Hairdressing, covering the same knowledge modules, practical skill modules and work experience requirements. The difference is pace and structure. Full-time study compresses that same content into daily classes, while part-time study spreads it out around a working week, usually alongside paid salon work.

Full-Time Hairdressing Study: What to Expect

Full-time students attend class every day of the week, Monday to Friday, working through knowledge modules (theory) and practical modules together. Workplace modules typically begin once the fulltime portion of training is complete, followed by the final summative assessment or trade test.

This route suits people who can commit to studying as their main focus, without needing to earn an income at the same time. It generally gets you to a qualification faster, simply because you are in class every day instead of once a week.

Full-time study is worth considering if:

• You can dedicate your weekdays to training without needing a salary in the meantime
• You want to qualify as quickly as possible
• You prefer structured, daily routine over self-paced study

Part-Time Hairdressing Study: What to Expect

Part-time students register at an academy and an accredited salon at the same time. Classes run one day a week, either a Monday or a Tuesday, covering knowledge and practical modules. The rest of the week is spent working in the salon, completing work experience modules while earning an income.

Because you are combining paid salon work with study, part-time hairdressing courses generally take two to three years to complete. Along the way, you also complete a logbook and evidence log, then apply for your final summative assessment and trade test once everything is finished.

Part-time study is worth considering if:

• You need to earn an income while you train
• You want hands-on salon experience from day one, not just after graduating
• You are comfortable with a longer timeline in exchange for more flexibility

What About Evening Classes?

Evening classes are a third option, usually running on Wednesday evenings and following either the part-time syllabus or dedicated skills training. This route suits people who already work full-time during the day in an unrelated job but still want to move toward a hairdressing qualification without giving up their current income.

Compare all three learning routes in one place

How to Decide Which Route Is Right for You

There is no universally correct answer here, only the answer that fits your circumstances. Ask yourself these questions before deciding:

• Do I need to earn money while I study, or can I focus fully on training?
• Would I rather qualify faster, or gain more real salon experience along the way?
• Can I commit to daily classes, or does my life only allow for one day a week?
• Am I already working in an unrelated job during the day, making evening study the only realistic option?

Whichever you choose, the qualification at the end is the same National Certificate in Hairdressing, and both routes also allow you to add the optional international City and Guilds qualification alongside your studies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is part-time hairdressing training a lower qualification than full-time?

No. Both routes lead to the same National Certificate in Hairdressing. The only difference is the pace and structure of how you get there.

How much faster is full-time study compared to part-time?

Full-time students attend class daily and typically progress faster, since they are in training every weekday. Part-time study generally takes two to three years, since it is spread around one class day per week plus salon work.

Can I switch from part-time to full-time later?

This depends on your academy’s specific policies and your current progress. It is best to discuss this directly with your academy before enrolling if you think your circumstances might change.

Do I need a salon job lined up before starting part-time study?

Part-time study requires registering at an accredited salon alongside your academy, since your work experience modules are completed there. It is worth confirming this arrangement before you enrol.

Is evening study the same as part-time study?

Evening classes follow either the part-time syllabus or dedicated skills training, running on Wednesday evenings. It is a separate option aimed at people who work full-time in an unrelated job during the day.