May 2008
Texas Barber & Cosmetology News
(512) 463-6599 or 1-800-803-9202
www.license.state.tx.us
COSMETOLOGY PROGRAM
P.O. Box 12088 Austin, Texas 78711
cs.cosmetologists@license.state.tx.us
The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) is busy developing its Strategic Plan. The plan sets the direction our agency is going and outlines actions we will take to drive the agency to its goal. To assist in the process the department asked you to “brain storm” and submit ideas we can explore and consider when setting our strategic plan course.
Five questions were asked and approximately 200 comments from the barber and cosmetology industries were received. The questions were:
1. What are we (TDLR) doing well?
2. What can we do better?
3. What one service would you change?
4. What law or rule would you eliminate?
5. Prediction of major changes in the next 5 years.
Here is a quick look at some of the comments we received. For your convenience TDLR will post all comments on the TDLR website: www.license.state.tx.us.
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| William Kuntz, TDLR’s executive director, leading discussion during cosmetology external focus group session. |
What are we doing well?
Participants of both industries applauded TDLR’s open communication process, stating the agency provides opportunities for industry
input and concerns. Both barbering and cosmetology participants commended the department’s efforts to implement changes based on their expressed concerns.
The cosmetology group went on to recognize the value of the testing and continuing education program. Participants voiced their satisfaction with a professional testing organization (PSI) administering the exams and stated they are pleased with the convenience of multiple satellite test sites for students and applicants. Also acknowledged as jobs well done was the adjustment of continuing education hours, improvements to the TDLR contact center, and web site initiatives such as renewals and registrations.
Barber participants recognized the TDLR staff’s high level of competency in barber industry matters and the opportunity given their profession to listen to advisory board meetings at a time they choose using audio tapes on the LRNet.
What can we do better?
Student testing by barber schools proved to be the major area of concern for barbers and discussion on the subject told us they feel school testing standards should be stricter and that school testing should occur more frequently. More frequent tests would ensure students achieve a certain level of competency before moving to the next level of course study. Participants pointed out the need to eliminate as many barriers to testing as possible and to give greater authority to school owners to establish testing eligibility.
Three areas were prevalent in the “what can we do better” question for the cosmetology industry:
Participants want a provisional instructor license and enhanced instructor training.
They want a change in education requirements from a clocking of hours environment to a number of courses completed environment.
Lastly, they want TDLR to provide a list of department approved sanitizers and to teach the sanitation statutes and rules continuing education course to ensure accurate information and interpretations are provided to licensees.
What one service would you change?
Barbers discussed a need to increase barbershop inspections to every six months or at least once a year. The majority of comments supported inspections occurring every six months. Participants also requested TDLR to place more emphasis on unlicensed activity during inspections than is presently being performed.
When asked what one service the cosmetology industry would like to see changed they cited incorporating an externship/internship/apprenticeship program into the education requirements. Also under an education heading was a request for the cosmetology curriculum to be updated.
What law or rule would you eliminate?
Barber responses didn’t highlight a law or rule they would eliminate. Their concern regarding the law or rules is more closely aligned with the services they would change if given the opportunity, i.e. inspections taking place every six months.
Cosmetologists overwhelmingly want Texas Occupations Code 1602.051 to be amended to add a post-secondary member to the advisory board. The group also found the possibility of amending the statutes and rules to enhance the provisions related to hair braiding and to prohibit booth rentals worthy of consideration.
Prediction of major changes in the next 5 years.
Cosmetologists predict a trend toward specialties within salons and the introduction of a hairdresser specialty license. There was reluctance in the group to see the industry become “sliced and diced” but discussion regarding the creation of a full cosmetology program and letting students choose their specialized services was offered. Also predicted is the eventual merging of barber and cosmetology with a combined license as was done in New Mexico.
Barbers also expressed a general concern that without change their profession will merge with cosmetologists in the future. On a positive note, a prediction of a revival in the barber industry because of customer education and sophistication was proposed.
TDLR is in the process of sorting through thousands of ideas received from external focus groups, internal focus groups, and by email. Each comment and idea is valued by the agency and we will study and consider each one. Together we will build a consensus of the department’s goals and ensure we are all “on the same page.” The strategic planning process is important to us and you are an important part of that process.
Licensees in the cosmetology industry who want to take time off and put their license on hold without completing the required continuing education have an option. They can put their license on inactive status. Inactive status enables licensees to renew their licenses without continuing education courses,
but they are not able to work in the cosmetology industry while holding an inactive license.
It is easy to place your license on inactive status. You need only fill out and submit the “Request for a Change in License Status” form that is available on the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) website at: http://www.license.state.tx.us/cosmet/forms/changestatus.pdf. Check the box to indicate you want to change your status to “inactive” and return the form to TDLR. No fee is required to place your license on inactive status.
You can remain on inactive status as long as you wish but you must pay the regular renewal fees.
When you are ready to return to work simply fill out the same form,
this time checking the box indicating a return to active status. The form
must be submitted to TDLR along with a processing fee of $25. To reactivate your license you must show you have completed the continuing education
that is required for the renewal of an active license during the preceding license period.
An inactive license offers an opportunity for cosmetologists to take leave for a period of time to stay home and raise children, pursue a new profession or simply take time away from the profession. An inactive license, renewed as required, ensures a return to the trade without the necessity of testing again.
| Cosmetology Vital Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Wig instructors | 4 |
| Students | 19,964 |
| Hair braiding/weaving salons | 96 |
| Schools | 379 |
| Salons | 20,847 |
| Manicure salons | 1,497 |
| Facial salons | 484 |
| Facial/manicure salons | 3,526 |
| Wig salons | 31 |
| Independent contractors | 32,649 |
The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) is helping new Class A barbers enter the profession quickly. We know barber school students work hard to complete required hours. We understand they study diligently to pass the written examination. We also appreciate the fact that students are anxious to start working after they pass the practical exam. In an effort to speed up the process and get new barbers on the floor and working, TDLR accepts initial barber license applications prior to applicants taking and passing the practical exam.
PSI, the company contracted by TDLR to administer tests, notifies the department when a student passes the written examination. Students then receive an Application for Initial Barber License from the department in the mail. This letter congratulates the student on passing one or both parts of the Barber examination and explains the student’s next step, pay the license application fee. Paying in advance of taking and passing the practical exam shortens the time it takes TDLR to issue the license.
Don Dudley, manager of TDLR’s Education and Examination Department, states “In 2007 approximately seventy percent of the people passing the Barber examination received their license within ten days. PSI notifies TDLR nightly of examination results and the information triggers the printing of the license literally overnight.”
Whether you are applying for an initial license or renewing your license it is important TDLR’s contact information is correct. TDLR receives hundreds of returned licenses because of incorrect addresses. Please send change of address information to: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, P.O. Box 12157, Austin, Texas 78711. E-mail address corrections to: CS.Barbers@license.state.tx.us.
| Barber Vital Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Barbers | 12,775 |
| Barber manicurists | 395 |
| Barber technicians | 20 |
| Barber instructors | 141 |
| Students | 1670 |
| Schools | 39 |
| Barber shops | 5,523 |
| Barber manicure shops | 135 |
| Booth rentals | 2,964 |
Texas Barber & Cosmetology News
(512) 463-6599 or 1-800-803-9202
www.license.state.tx.us
COSMETOLOGY PROGRAM
P.O. Box 12088 Austin, Texas 78711
cs.cosmetologists@license.state.tx.us
Cosmetology Advisory Board:
Clive Lamb, Presiding Officer
Kerin Haney, Vice Presiding Officer
Diane Salazar
Glenda Jemison
Allison Leigh Kincy
Zelda Moore
BARBER PROGRAM
P.O. Box 13489 Austin, Texas 78711
cs.barbers@license.state.tx.us
Barber Advisory Board:
Linda G. Connor, Presiding Officer
Dean Hudson, Jr, Vice Presiding Officer
Ronald Brown,
Joseph B. Grondin,
Vacancy
Commissioners:
Frank Denton, Chair
LuAnn Roberts Morgan, Vice Chair
Mike Arismendez,
Lewis Benavides,
Lilian Norman-Keeney,
Fred N. Moses,
Deborah Yurco,
William Kuntz, Exec. Director
