This study attempted to analyze private certificate acquisition patterns among cosmetologists and investigate their awareness and utilization of cosmetology-related private certificates. It is meaningful in that it suggests basic data needed to develo...
This study attempted to analyze private certificate acquisition patterns among cosmetologists and investigate their awareness and utilization of cosmetology-related private certificates. It is meaningful in that it suggests basic data needed to develop such cosmetology certificates. In terms of research methods, for the theoretical research, a literary review was performed, focusing on previous studies on general and cosmetology-related qualification systems. Empirically, a survey was conducted among adult beauty salon employees in Seoul and Gyeonggi from April 9 to 16, 2019. A total of 350 questionnaires were distributed through convenience sampling, and 300 copies were used for final analysis (edited). The results found the following: First, regarding cosmetology -related private certificate acquisition patterns, more than 95% of respondents had acquired a cosmetology-related national technical qualification certificate. Hairdressing licenses are the most earned by the respondents. When asked how many licenses they have obtained, ‘2-3’ had the greatest response. In terms of a channel to recognize cosmetology-related private certificates, ‘the Internet’ was the highest, followed by ‘private institute’. In terms of the length of time they have had to obtain such a certificate, ‘6 months–less than 1 year’ was most responded. When asked why they have obtained such license(s), ‘interest, aptitude’ was the highest. When this question was analyzed by age, ‘bright outlook’ was the response in the groups ‘age 40-59’ and ‘age 50-59’. When asked by academic major and occupation, ‘bright prospect’ was observed in aesthetician and those who majored in skincare in college. Regarding certificates with high practicality, the ‘hairdressing license’ was the highest, but there were differences by academic major and occupation. It has found that those who majored in hairdressing in college and hairstylists used hairdressing-related private certificates the most. For those who majored in skincare and aesthetician, skin-related private certificates were most common. For those who majored in nail care and nail art, nail-related private certificates were the most used. For those who majored in makeup and makeup artists, lastly, makeup-related private certificates were most commonly used. The acquired cosmetology-related private certificates have been directly used in practice. Second, in terms of the perception of cosmetology-related private certificates, ‘I think the acquisition of cosmetology-related private certificates is helpful to my career development (M=3.81)’ was the highest. However, ‘I believe that there should be changes in cosmetology-related private license tests (M=3.64)’ was more responded than ‘I think the cosmetology-related private certificate acquisition process is well-organized (M=3.35)’, which means that the respondents were aware that there should be changes in cosmetology-related private certificates. In terms of changes in perception of cosmetology -related licenses by acquisition patterns, there was a statistically significant difference by the length of time taken for getting the certificates. When they were acquired at a private institute, vocational school, cosmetology high school, junior college or university, the perception of such cosmetology-related private certificates was relatively high, compared to the cases in which they were obtained at a welfare or cultural center. In addition, the perception of such cosmetology-related private certificates was higher when it took more than three months to get them than when less than three months were taken. Third, according to the utilization of cosmetology-related private certificate, ‘cosmetology-related private licenses were helpful in getting a job and starting a business (M=3.79)’ was the highest. Such licenses revealed great usages such as job selection, usage at work and improvement of job competency. In terms of changes in the use of cosmetology-related private certificates by acquisition patterns, there was a statistically significant difference by the acquisition of such licenses (Y/N) and length of time taken to get them. In addition, such licenses were more useful when they were obtained. When they were acquired at a private institute, vocational school, cosmetology high school, junior college or university, such cosmetology-related private certificates were more useful, compared to the cases in which they were obtained at a welfare or cultural center. In addition, such cosmetology -related private certificates were more useful when it took more than three months to get them than when less than three months were taken. The above results confirm that most beauty salon employees have a positive view of the perception and use of cosmetology-related private certificates but that they believe that there should be changes in cosmetology-related private license tests. Therefore, it is time to give systematic administrative guidance and establish a well-designed program according to rapidly changing cosmetology industry trends to handle problems in the current test system, which has been actively managed by a private association.