Bills would change rules for Ohio cosmetology licensing

An unlikely group of state lawmakers is trying to reform state cosmetology laws they say prevent Ohioans from opening their own businesses.

Companion bills in the House and Senate would make several changes to cosmetology licensing, including eliminating a “manager’s license” that requires more training and allows stylists to work on their own.

Salon owners say the extra license is unnecessary and increases the amount of debt owed by beauty school graduates. Beauty school owners say the training is necessary for the safety of their clients.

Attempts to reform state cosmetology laws over the past six years have divided the industry.

The new salon-driven bills have brought together legislators who typically disagree on many issues: Rep. Kristina Roegner, a Hudson Republican, and Rep. Alicia Reece, a Cincinnati Democrat, jointly sponsored House Bill 227 and Sen. Kris Jordan, an Ostrander Republican, and Sen. Charleta Tavares, a Columbus Democrat, sponsored Senate Bill 213. The bills also have the support of the Buckeye Institute, a conservative think tank.

The legislation would eliminate a requirement that salons have on staff at all times one employee with a manager’s license. The bills also propose eliminating the license and instead require new students to complete a six-month apprenticeship before working without supervision.

Cosmetology students must complete 1,500 education hours at private schools or 1,125 hours at public vocational schools and pass a test to obtain a license. Students obtain a manager’s license after completing 300 additional training hours during which they learn business skills, state rules and regulations, and how to deal with various salon situations.

The bills’ sponsors said that cost and wages lost while in school hurt future stylists and small businesses.

“Ohio is the only state in the nation that has a manager’s license and it’s the only industry I’m aware of that requires a manager’s license,” Roegner said at a news conference Wednesday, noting that emergency medical technicians only have to undergo 150 hours of training. “This creates an undue burden on these individuals trying to make a living.”

Luke Hanks, president of the Salon Schools Group and a state cosmetology board member, said the managing course at his schools and others around the state is not about managing salons but about managing the different situations that occur in a salon.

Hanks said what’s driving the legislation are salon owners wanting to hire less experienced employees who they can pay less. Hanks said most licensed cosmetologists obtain the manager’s license. He said the apprenticeship is an attempt by the salons to herd graduates there when they could be working for themselves after completing the shorter managing course.

Click here to read more of this story.