New Hair Design License in Washington State?
There is a new bill that is currently being proposed in Olympia to introduce a new type of Cosmetology License. It is referred to as House Bill 2512. It contains a few different proposals, but one of the most notable proposal is it will introduce a “Hair Design” License. This new license would be a hybrid of the current barbering license and cosmetology license. It will consist of 1400 hours and will cover everything in cosmetology less the skin and nails. Another way you could describe it is a barbering license that includes chemical applications.
The language that is being introduce for this new license is key. In its current definition in the bill, “Hair design” means the practice of arranging, dressing, cutting, trimming, styling, extensions, weaving, shampooing, permanent waving, chemical relaxing, straightening, curling, bleaching, lightening, coloring, mustache and beard design, and massage of the scalp.”
There are both proponents and opponents to the bill. Proponents support it because it will allow people to choose what they want to do; they are not forced to go an extended amount of school to cover areas that they don’t have an interest in. It would shorten it up by 200 hours, roughly a 4-6 weeks of schooling. Opponents share that the Cosmetology license in its current form has truly served the public and the professional. An additional 4-6 weeks of school makes the Cosmetologist more well rounded and also allows more transferability for our stylist when they move to different states.
I haven’t yet made up my mind and would love to hear your thoughts! Write them below!
What is the point of cutting the class by 200 hours, hands on training, chemistry, and other classes with nails and skin can be beneficial in the cosmetology license.
Hello Alisha, that is the other side of the argument. Currently, the majority of states have an all encompassing license because it allows the professional to be more marketable because it expands out their scope of practice. This proposed license with restrict the scope. The proponents of this argue that it empowers the individual to choose, while opponents support you said earlier, plus they couple it with the argument that it would make transferability to other states more difficult.
It seems to me that the more practice the better and the more confident the future professionals are with the current laws. I like the idea of learning more “barbering” in the cosmetology, but on the other hand that is something that someone could take continuing ed hours for or apprentice to learn something more specific. I would like to see Cosmetology actually increase in hours and bring the artificial nails back into it as well. Transfer-ability is another problem as well like you stated Mr. Frank. I will be curious to see what happens 🙂
Heather … it’s so nice to hear from you! I just wanted to give you a quick update that hybrid bill didn’t make it out of the Senate Committee last Friday, so there is not a strong chance that we’ll be seeing it next year. We’ll have to make another run at it the year after.
You mentioned that you would like to see an increase in Cosmetology hours. Being a licensed educator and having taught Phase 1, how many hours would you like to see? I was at the state board meeting yesterday and it was a topic of discussion on the expansion of the Cosmetology license. In all honesty, licensing requirements in the states really vary from cosmetology programs of 1000 hours to 2300 hours. Washington is right in median with other states at 1600.
Hi Mr. Frank!! Like I was saying I would like to see artificial nails brought into the Cosmetology program, I think the hands on knowledge of acrylics would be nice as we briefly discuss it during the nail chapter, it would make more sense if the future cosmo could do it practically to help w/ understanding the questions asked during the written test. Also, because of transfer-ability, for instance last time I checked California required that as part of a license, if a newer cosmetologist. The laws are ever changing there as well so I may be off on that as I have not checked recently. I think WA is as you said a good median, that is just a personal preference for me 🙂 I do miss you all and plan on coming by to say hi soon!! Hope all is well w/ your family.
I can definitely appreciate your perspective. I think this will be a good point of debate again next year. Unfortunately the bill didn’t make it out of committee this last legislative session. Let me know when you will be stopping by? We’d love to see you … Hope that all is well with you and your family!
There honestly isn’t that much more to learn about the skin, and nails since it is just the basics. I don’t really see the point in shaving those too topics off. Also knowing the skin is helpful for scalp issues.
Thank you John. I think you make some great points … that is definitely an argument from many stylist that have been seasoned in the industry. Having the basics gives you a foundational understanding. Many students that are just starting carry the position that they should be allowed to reduce their scope if they wanted. I see that somethings need to be ale cart, but also see that sometimes we need to learn things that we don’t necessarily have an immediate interest, because it’ll pay off down the road. It leads me to think of other areas that are not favorites such as ‘finger waves, roller sets and ahem … perms’ 🙂