State governments govern cosmetology licensing, which means that the requirements to become a hairdresser, barber, nail technician, esthetician, or any other job within the cosmetology field differs depending on your state. In one state, you may be able to complete your education and get your license with just 1500 hours of class work while in others you may have to take as much as 2100 hours. These different regulations create some potential problems for cosmetologists who move across state lines.
Moving states can cause a cosmetologist to struggle to find work
Obtaining a Cosmetology License
Before anyone can start a cosmetology career, he or she needs to first get the training required by the state for a cosmetology license. This ends with a lengthy exam that typically is done in two parts, a written and practical. The average training requirement is 1500 hours, which adds up to around nine months of full time study, according to Beauty Schools Directory. However, this number can greatly vary, with the lowest number at 1000 hours in a few states and the highest requirements more than double that at 2100.
Needing a New License
When a beautician crosses state lines to practice, he or she needs a new license. Some states have a reciprocal license application, which means that if you have a license in one state you can apply to get your license in that state. However, the requirements usually mean that the state from which you originate must have similar training requirements and tests to the new state. Even when this is the case, it takes time and money to get the new license before you can start practicing.
More Training Required
Even if you have extensive experience, you may have to undergo more training
In some states, you may have to undergo additional training to get your new cosmetology license. If you underwent your original training in a state with lower training, such as Florida’s 1200 hours, and then move to one with significantly higher requirements, such as Idaho’s 2000 hours, you have to make up the different. This means going back to school for additional training, which takes time and money. You also have to re-sit for a licensing exam, even if you have been practicing for several years.
Limiting Worker’s Options
By not having cohesive licensing requirements, workers have limited options. It makes it difficult to move across state lines to look for more work. It also hurts two-income families who have to move for one spouse’s work. The second income is put on hold until the cosmetologist can get the new license, which could lead to financial hardship to the family.
Many cosmetologists find their options severely limited by state bureaucracy
This not only hurts the person looking to move, but it also has created an economic drag on the country. It is not just cosmetologists that have difficulty with the different licensing requirements. Many jobs that require licenses, including teaching and nursing, have different requirements in different states. With almost a third of American workers requiring a license, the limitations caused by interstate red tape makes it very difficult for a mobile workforce. This means that people cannot always move to where the jobs are and instead remain stuck in an economically limited area, hurting the overall economy of the nation.
Many of these people struggling against interstate red tape are those who already have experience in the industry and whose only impediment to finding work are the different state requirements. By standardizing the requirements for a cosmetology license, many cosmetologists could have more job opportunities and the ability to move when needed because there would be no worry about whether they will have a license in the new state.
If you already have your cosmetology license, then check out Beauty Academy’s cost effective, low hassle online continuing education courses to help you with your license renewal.