Legislation that would chop off the hours required to obtain a cosmetology license in Louisiana from 1,500 hours to 1,200 hours was advanced by the House Commerce Committee. Slidell Representative Mary Dubbison – the bill’s author- says less time would mean less financial obligation.
“The longer the program, the more debt the student accumulates and must repay.”
The measure would not require all cosmetology schools statewide to reduce course hour requirements over seven months. All students would still be required to pass a national exam to become licensed in Louisiana. A very vocal opponent to the bill – Salon Owner Vivian Green says less time means less qualified cosmetologist and Jeremy Aydell, a Sport Clips franchisee, only wants what works for him.
“You do not know what goes into it so I don’t know how you can vote yes for it because there’s a dude that wants to put a bunch of little girls out of beauty school in tight shirts to do fifteen-minute haircuts. It’s wrong – period.”
The reduction in required hours also raised concerns with schools about financial assistance for grant recipients. Dubbison says New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Florida decreased hours to 1200 and other states like Oregon, Vermont, Texas, California, New York, and Massachusetts require less than 1,200 hours.
“Also reducing the time period from nine months to seven and a half months would allow them to begin gainful employment sooner.”
House Bill 470 would also require the Board of Cosmetology to create a website through which students could apply, pay fees and see their progress toward a license.
Comments