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Posts Tagged ‘cosmetology license renewal’

Beauty Professionals Should Be Licensed, According to U.S. Voters

Posted on: May 16th, 2013 by Beauty Schools Directory No Comments

Regulation and licensure of beauty professionals is a vital component to keeping the field professional, as well as safe and protected for the consumer. Many states are pushing for deregulation of industries, and the cosmetology professions are no exception. The stated goal of deregulation is to increase employment in the field and competition among providers. However, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a growth rate of at least 14-18% in the cosmetology professions by the year 2020.

In an effort to determine the mood of consumers regarding regulation and licensing of the beauty professions, the Professional Beauty Association (PBA) conducted a national poll in December 2012. The study was completed online immediately following the election of November 2012, and involved 1202 Americans who voted in the 2012 presidential election. The margin of error for the study was +/- 2.83%, which places the confidence level in the results at 95% or more.

The results of the poll were overwhelming: 94% of U.S. voters studied supported requiring beauty professional licensing and regulation. The main reason cited for this support was the need to protect the public from health issues, and to improve the quality and safety of the beauty industries.

The respondents generally did not understand the connection between public health issues and beauty licensing prior to the poll. However, when informed of the issues, 67% agreed the connection was important. 80% of voters studied knew beauty professionals attend a school to receive their license. They were less likely to know this training includes preventing disease and identifying health issues. Eighty-two percent (82%) of the respondents felt deregulation would negatively affect safety and quality in the beauty industry. Education, licensing, regulation and continuing professional education give standards and accountability to practitioners and businesses for cleanliness, sanitation and safety.

The study is highly valuable in that it identifies what messages are important to convey to beauty professionals and consumers. The most compelling message in favor of continued licensure and regulation is that of sanitation and public health. This message showed consensus among voters of all ages and political affiliations.

The PBA has launched a campaign among its members to increase pride in the profession and to reinforce the need for licensing and regulation. Called the “I Am” campaign, it encourages beauty professionals to share their pride in their profession. Beauty professionals should share the message of what licensing means and why it is important. They receive information and resources about the effects deregulation would have on the supply chain within the beauty industry. Manufacturers, distributors, salon business owners and the licensed beauty professionals would all be affected.

However, the consumers would be the ones carrying the most risk if beauty professionals were no longer required to be accountable to a licensing board. The state boards regulating cosmetology and other beauty professions have a consumer complaint resolution process, salon and business inspectors, professional testing requirements and oversight of operators within the professions. These all help protect consumers from negligent and unsanitary practices, untrained operators and shady business practices. Without regulation and licensure, beauty operators would no longer be required to attend a beauty school or pass exams to prove their skills. Obtaining beauty services would be completely at the risk of the consumer.

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Indiana Cosmetology Licensing on the Chopping Block Again

Posted on: February 7th, 2013 by Beauty Schools Directory No Comments

Once again, another state is catching on to the ugly trend of deregulating the cosmetology industry, and the state of Indiana is actually doing it for the second time. As a professional in this industry, you are probably thinking to yourself just how dangerous a proposal like this can be. However, the state of Indiana is proposing a bill known as Indiana Senate Bill 520 that would place licensure and regulations of barbers, estheticians, nail technicians and cosmetologists on the chopping block once again. The bill creates ERASER – this is a bit of a play on words, since they are trying to erase the regulations and licensure needed for the field of cosmetology– however, this committee is actually known as the Eliminate, Reduce, and Streamline Employee Regulation committee. This particular bill is focused on a five-year plan that after implemented would reverse the requirement currently in place for regulations, licensing and certification for professionals in the state of Indiana. For those currently in cosmetology or barbering, it would make their certifications, hard work and educational background useless. That doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface of what this means for consumers.

Ultimately, those who have certifications and who have worked hard to obtain a professional license in Indiana could lose the respect and reputation they worked so hard to earn by being well-trained and offering high-quality, safe beauty services, since just anyone would be allowed to work in the field with or without certification and training. For those of you who currently work in the field, you know just what an insult that this bill is to hard-working beauticians who have invested their time and money into professional training and certification only to be smacked in the face with the fact that their devotion to the industry and excellence in their craft no longer matter. Indiana Senate Bill 520 could also negatively affect the local economy. Beauty schools in Indiana and salons are valuable contributors to the local economy, and by eliminating the need for an education in the field many of these cosmetology programs could ultimately be shut down.

Most importantly, this proposal will make clients susceptible to risks that result from untrained and unlicensed individuals. The lesser of the risks include bad haircuts, potentially orange hair as a result of a poor dye job and the humiliation associated with poor-quality cosmetology work. But there are more serious consequences that stem from individuals practicing who have never been trained in safety and sanitation, or the proper use of chemicals used in hair, nail and skin care services. This could lead to an increase in cases of infection and disease from administering beauty services, which poses a hazard to the health and safety of clients, and would be a stain on the beauty industry as a whole. Plus, instruments like scissors, razors and chemicals in the wrong, untrained hands pose risks to clients that must be taken seriously. For instance chemical burns, permanent scars and total hair loss are just some of the consequences that someone with little to no experience in the field can do to client. It’s not just hair or just skin. These are people we’re talking about.

After being presented with the risks, you may be curious as to why the state of Indiana would consider deregulating the beauty industry. Senator Randy Head of Logansport, the man responsible for introducing this legislation, and other supporters of the bill state that it is the consumer’s responsibility to find a skilled professional. Supporters of the bill say that once a customer experiences bad service, he or she can always find a new stylist “without any risk of serious harm.” The logic behind the measure is to reduce spending on both the state and federal levels.

The fields of esthetics, nail technology, cosmetology and barbering need to have set standards that regulate the industry, along with licensure that indicates that a person demonstrates the necessary skills, training and knowledge to safely administer beauty services at a high level of quality for customers. The proper training from Indiana beauty education programs needs to be required to protect clients and the beauty industry as a whole. To help support the cause, we encourage you to sign to the petition at Change.org because your voice needs to be heard in this matter!

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Beauty Professionals are Responsible for Continuing Education

Posted on: July 18th, 2012 by Heather No Comments

Every beauty professional should make a commitment to continue his or her education every year, regardless of whether your state requires it to renew your license. Continuing one’s education ensures that a beauty professional always stays updated on the latest beauty treatments, techniques and technology, safety and sanitation procedures, and products and regiments to recommend to your clients.

Continuing one’s education as a beauty professional also continues to establish one’s credibility in the beauty field. The beauty field can be very competitive, especially in affluent and beauty-centric cities like Beverly Hills or Manhattan. A hairstylist can make sure that he or she continues to win the respect of clients and colleagues by continuing to take classes. Clients enjoy knowing that their cosmetologist is always being educated in the latest hair, makeup, nail, skin and hair techniques and can apply this knowledge in their own appointments. Customers trust their hairstylists and nail techs to know what’s hot and make recommendations to keep them as fashionable and trendy as possible.

Before you sign up for a cosmetology continuing education course, it is important for you to know whether the course credits can be applied toward your state’s requirements. If your state has license requirements for continuing education, then you need to ensure that you obtain the required number of credits each licensing period at a board-approved continuing education facility. You should also pay attention to the outline of a course in the syllabus. A course syllabus will help you understand what the workload will be like for a class as well as the meeting hours for the class.

Choose a course with a workload and schedule you can handle as you balance it with the demands of a current job. Weighing these two factors will ensure that you excel in the continuing education course. The good news is that most cosmetology continuing education classes range from 2 hours to 16 hours and can be completed quickly and affordably, often in a few evenings or over a weekend and you’re done.

One other factor to consider is the testing requirements for a course. Some courses may require that you pass a written exam. Other courses may only require that you log a certain number of hours in order to pass. Before you pay the money to take a continuing education course, know in advance what testing methods you can anticipate so you can be prepared and study accordingly. You can find out the requirements for your particular state by looking at the board of cosmetology’s license requirements for cosmetology continuing ed in your state. Understanding these requirements will ensure that you sign up for the right course and further your education in a way that supports your career and makes it easy to renew your license.

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How To Reactivate An Expired Cosmetologist’s License

Posted on: May 23rd, 2012 by Heather 2 Comments

Congratulations on thinking about getting back into the business. As you know, your cosmetologist’s license is a vital component of your professional beauty career. If you took off time from being in the beauty field to have a child or to pursue another career option, it is possible that you may forget to renew your license or you even chose not to renew it. No matter why you let your cosmetology licensure expire, there is usually a simple to renew it, even if you have been out of the field for years. The requirements for cosmetology license renewal are dependent upon the state you live in. Some states only require you to pay a higher fee to renew than if you hadn’t let it expire, while others make require you to take continuing education courses to get current. In some instances, you may only need to retake the exams.

The Minnesota Board of Cosmetology, for example, has four criteria to follow when you have an expired or paid inactive license that has been this way for more than three years. You must the Course Completion Certificate for Minnesota Reactivation course, which consists of 155 hours for cosmetology. You will also need to receive your Certification of Skills from a licensed Minnesota cosmetology school. Additionally, you must have passing results on both the state and national exams within the last year. The fee you pay to renew is $30 greater than the fee you pay if you did not let your license expire for more than three years.

If you live in the state of Tennessee and allow your certification to lapse for longer than three years, the Tennessee Board of Cosmetology requires you to take and pass the state board reinstatement exam. The same is true if you have retired your license but would like to re-enter into the field.

In the state of Texas, you have up to 18 months to renew your license with the Texas Board of Cosmetology. Once the 18-month marker hits, you may renew it online or by using a special form. After three years of a license being expired, you are no longer eligible for renewal. Instead, the law requires you to apply for a new certification and follow all the guidelines associated with receiving a new license, despite the fact that you once had yours.

When you reside in Indiana, the laws regarding your license make it necessary that you pay an $80 fee for renewal and the application process. The Indiana Board of Cosmetology decides how much training will be required based on the length of the lapse. You must retake the examination and successfully pass it to renew your certification.

Although it is best not to let your certification expire, it is possible to renew it and get back to working in the cosmetology business. So if you’re sitting on a lapsed or expired cosmetology license, don’t let that be the obstacle that stands in the way of you having a fulfilling career in something you’re passionate about. There are many great jobs to be had in the beauty business, and creative new things for you to do with hair, makeup, skin care and nails on a professional level. Don’t wait another dayto get started in reactivating or renewing your expired cosmetology license. Be sure you look at your particular state’s regulations, since the amount of time your certification has been expired and the renewal process varies greatly from state to state. When in doubt, it is always best to contact your state cosmetology licensing board directly.

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Military Spouses Often Face Licensing Issues When PCSing

Posted on: February 22nd, 2012 by Beauty Schools Directory No Comments

The life of a military spouse is often a challenging and stressful one, but the Obama administration is taking some big steps toward ironing out some legal licensing kinks that will make it easier for military spouses with varying specialty degrees and licenses to find employment upon relocation. The nature of being in the military obviously involves a great degree of uncertainty in terms of living location and duration. Lives are often uprooted and replanted in the span of one short week as a result of the incredible demands that are put upon a full time service member, particularly PCSing (permanent change of station).

Many spouses that stay home and take care of the household and/or children while their loved ones are overseas tending to foreign affairs often become bored with the routine and seek out a meaningful and rewarding career to supplement the household income and give themselves a greater sense of worth. Thousands of military spouses have gone through the process of attaining accreditation to be professional attorneys, real estate agents or cosmetologists, for example, only to have to start over at the beginning of the process when their spouses get orders for a new station.Obviously, this is a horribly unfair reality that can add much stress to what is often already a tense situation, not to mention the negative impact it has on a person’s ability to generate household income. A legal sticking point lies in the fact that each individual state is responsible for determining the guidelines of their licensing rules, meaning that the federal government has little jurisdiction in the matter.An extreme example of the discrepancies would be a cosmetologist that relocates from Manhattan to San Francisco having to put in an additional 600 hours as an apprentice in order to qualify for a cosmetology license in the Golden State.

Despite this, the White House has rallied 11 states to agree to honor the licensing of other states when it comes to military spouses. The deal is structured so that if the state requires that the licensee undergo the process again they will be given a temporary license with which to do businesses until they have satisfied the local requirement. The news is being met with enthusiasm and optimism by the fleet of military wives and husbands whose lives and cosmetology career paths have been directly altered by this unfortunate situation.

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Address-Free Licenses for Florida Barbers and Cosmetologists

Posted on: October 9th, 2009 by Beauty Schools Directory 2 Comments

Florida cosmetology law requires barbers and cosmetologists to post their license and picture where customers can see it. Until Tuesday, October 6, home addresses were also required to be posted. This change gives cosmetologists and barbers comfort knowing that their personal information is no longer easily accessible to the public.

According to this article, Florida’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation says the change wasn’t prompted by any incident or crime – it’s simply a safety precaution. The request for the change was made by representatives of the states nearly 200,000 barbers and cosmetologists.

Many cosmetologists and barbers – especially those with a lot of walk-in business – are relieved with this change. Is your home address listed on your license? If yes, did/does your home address being posted publicly for all to see concern you?