Sponsor Statement for CS SB 335 (L&C)

Licensing of Cosmetologists

Senate Bill 335 changes "cosmetology" and "cosmetologist" to "esthetics" and "esthetician" in the applicable sections of statute to more clearly inform the public of what operations a licensee is trained to perform. In almost all states other than Alaska, those known as "cosmetologists" are licensed to cut, style, and otherwise work on customer’s hair. Currently, Alaska defines cosmetology as skin care for the scalp, face, and neck. The Division of Occupational Licensing has recently added the words "skin care only" to the cosmetology license to make this clear to the public. SB 335 deletes the word "shaving" from the definition of hairdressing in line with actual training and practice.

SB 335 creates a new, temporary license for those who have successfully completed a course of study or apprenticeship in barbering, hairdressing, esthetics or manicure. The temporary license allows licensees to work under the direct supervision of a practitioner licensed in the field they have been studying while awaiting board examination and the subsequent issue of a professional license. Students or apprentices who have completed training for these professions must often wait 90 days or more before they can begin to work as a licensed professional. In the meantime, they can work only under a licensed instructor. Of the approximately 2,600 Alaska professionals licensed in these areas, only 150 are licensed instructors, greatly limiting the opportunities for the student or apprentice to earn income and maintain their skills while awaiting their boards.

SB 335 licenses manicurists under the same educational and testing requirements as currently apply to cosmetologists (estheticians). Manicurists are licensed in 43 states and the District of Columbia. The increased complexity of operations performed by manicurists, the use of chemicals, and the possibility of disease transmittal are reasons to consider professional training and licensing requirements in Alaska.

Finally, SB 335 allows instructors’ licenses to encompass the practitioners’ license in the same field.

Last updated 04-29-98

Sponsor Statement for SB 335

Senate Bill 335 changes "cosmetology" and "cosmetologist" to "esthetics" and "esthetician" in the applicable sections of statute to more clearly inform the public of what operations the licensee is trained to perform. It deletes the word "shaving" from the definition of hairdressing to update the definition in line with actual training and practice. Finally, it creates a new, temporary license for those who have successfully completed a course of study or apprenticeship in barbering, hairdressing or esthetics. The temporary license allows them to work under the direct supervision of a practitioner licensed in the field they have been studying while they await their board examination and the subsequent issue of their professional license. The temporary license is valid for 120 days and is non-renewable.

Barbers, hairdressers, and those practicing skin care, who are currently identified as cosmetologists in Alaska, are all required to pass board examinations before they can begin practice as independent professionals. Under the current schedule of examinations, and with the additional waiting time for the actual issuance of a license, a student or apprentice who has completed training for these professions must often wait 90 days or more before they can begin to work as a licensed professional. In the meantime, they can work only under a licensed instructor. Of the approximately 2,600 Alaska professionals licensed in these areas, only 150 are licensed instructors, greatly limiting the opportunities for the student or apprentice to earn income and maintain their skills while awaiting their boards.

In almost all states other than Alaska, those known as "cosmetologists" are licensed to cut, style, and otherwise work on customer's hair. Currently, Alaska defines cosmetology as skin care for the scalp, face, and neck. The Division of Occupational Licensing has recently added the words "skin care only" to the cosmetology license to make this clear to the public.

Currently, the statutory definition of "hairdressing" includes the shaving of beards, but the hairdresser board examination does not include a test of shaving, and school curricula in the state do not include training in shaving for hairdressing students.