Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners Amendments
Senate Bill 808 revises North Carolina’s Cosmetic Art Act in several ways, primarily by restructuring licensure categories and reducing training requirements for some occupations. It creates a new certification for hair braiders, establishes a separate license for hair designers, lowers the required training hours for cosmetologists and natural hair care specialists, and reduces teacher-training requirements for several instructor categories. The bill also eliminates apprentice licensure for cosmetologists and provides a transition so current apprentice license holders are automatically converted to cosmetologist licenses by December 31, 2026, with pending apprentice applications treated under the new cosmetologist standards.
The bill also expands where and how cosmetic art services may be provided. It authorizes mobile cosmetic art shops, sets licensing, inspection, sanitation, and recordkeeping rules for them, and allows certain services to be performed outside traditional shops in limited settings such as homes, hospitals, nursing homes, festivals, and other approved events. It updates Board authority, inspection powers, fee schedules, renewal rules, continuing education requirements, reciprocity provisions, and disciplinary standards to reflect the new license and certification structure. Related changes in the barbering statute conform cross-references so licensed cosmetic art professionals may work in barbershops under the revised framework.
The bill would substantially amend Chapter 88B of the General Statutes by adding new occupational classifications, changing minimum education hours, eliminating the apprentice cosmetology license, and authorizing mobile cosmetic art shops under state regulation. It also amends Chapter 86B to align barbering exemptions with the new cosmetic art categories. The Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners would gain authority to license and inspect mobile shops, issue certifications for hair braiders, and administer the transition from apprentice to cosmetologist licensure, while schools, shops, mobile shops, teachers, and individual practitioners would be subject to revised licensing, renewal, fee, and continuing education requirements.
The recorded votes suggest the bill had meaningful support but was not unanimous. An amendment passed overwhelmingly, and the bill cleared second reading by a narrower but still favorable margin, indicating broad acceptance of the overall reform package with some reservations. No committee transcript was provided, so the available record shows support for deregulating and modernizing parts of the cosmetic art licensing system, alongside some opposition from a minority of senators.
The main points of contention appear to be the reduction in training hours, the elimination of apprentice licensure, and the creation of a less restrictive certification path for hair braiders. Supporters likely view these changes as lowering barriers to entry, expanding consumer access, and recognizing distinct professions within cosmetic art, while opponents may be concerned about public health, safety, and the adequacy of training and oversight. The move to allow mobile cosmetic art shops and broader off-site practice may also raise regulatory and sanitation concerns, though the bill responds by imposing inspection, equipment, and recordkeeping requirements.