May 2010

TDLR Conducts Online Survey & Hosts Brainstorming Sessions

Every two years the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) prepares an agency strategic plan for the Texas Legislature. This strategic plan outlines the direction and goals of the Department.

TDLR staff is currently preparing the Strategic Plan for fiscal years 2011-2015. To get licensee input over 140,000 licensees signed up for the barbering and cosmetology Listserv received an invitation to a meeting held March 22, 2010. Licensees unable to attend the sessions in Austin had the opportunity to participate online.

Meeting participants were asked five questions and their answers were recorded.

The questions were:

1. What is TDLR doing well?

2. What can TDLR do better?

3. If you could change one service TDLR provides or one process we use, what would it be and how would you change it?

4. If you could eliminate any provision of TDLR’s statutes or rules, which one would it be and why?

5. What major changes will occur over the next five years that will impact the way we do business and the services we provide?

TDLR licensees’ opinions and suggestions assist the agency in planning for the future and every comment is considered during strategic plan development. To view the brainstorming sessions recommendations visit www.license.state.tx.us.

If you have something you want to tell us and you feel it can’t wait two years there are other opportunities. You can email or mail your comment to TDLR. You can also attend your industry’s advisory board meeting and sign up for the public comment section of the meeting. We always want to know what’s on your mind!

PSI Test Regulations: It’s an Important Part of the Testing Experience

PSI has overseen hundreds of thousands of tests across the nation and has caught test takers attempting to cheat in every conceivable way. A proctor, someone trained to administer the TDLR tests and to watch for signs of cheating, makes sure test results are a true indication of the student’s knowledge and skill…without assistance from outside help or cheat notes.

One test taker thought the PSI proctor could be fooled and tried to cheat and get a license. When asked to leave the center for cheating on the exam the test taker refused to leave and began yelling at the proctor. PSI staff had no choice but to call the police and have officers escort the person from the building. You would think this is the end of the story but it’s not! Once outside the center the police ran a warrant search and arrested the person for alleged unpaid traffic tickets.

Respect is mutual and both test takers and test proctors are entitled to it during the test experience. PSI Testing Center Regulations are outlined on the PSI website at candidate.psiexams.com. Most of the testing regulations are common sense: no talking among test takers; no cell phones, cameras or pagers; test takers and PSI staff must conduct themselves in a professional and courteous manner at all times. Lastly, NO CHEATING.

For a complete list of regulations visit the PSI website.

Renewing your license online is fast, easy and safe at
http://www.license.state.tx.us/cosmet/cosmetforms.htm#online

Cosmetology Shear Numbers

Operators........................108,245
Manicurists....................... 33,626
Facial Specialists............. 14,178
Hair Weavers........................ 172
Hair Braiders......................... 781
Shampoo specialists............. 150
Wig specialists........................ 20
Shampoo apprentices...... 11,912
Operator instructors........... 4,165
Manicure instructors............... 44
Facial instructors...................100
Wig instructors......................... 3
Students.......................... 24,142
Schools................................ 390
Salons............................. 20,748
Manicure salons................ 1,168
Facial salons........................ 598
Facial/manicure salons..... 3,983
Hair braiding/weaving salons 138
Wig salons............................. 39
Dual shop/salon.................. 913*
Cos. Operator booth rentals.29,481
Cos. manicure booth rentals.13,635
Cos. facialist booth rentals.... 1,085
Cos. hair braiding booth rentals. 70
Cos. hair weaving booth rentals. 32

* Dual number also listed in barber statistics

Barber Shear Numbers

Barbers.....................................13,124
Barber manicurists........................ 377
Barber technicians.......................... 16
Barber hair braiding specialist....... 106
Barber hair weaving specialist.......... 1
Barber shops............................. 4,919
Mobile barber shop........................... 3
Barber manicure shops................. 108
Barber hair braiding shops............... 5
Barber hair weaving shops............... 5
Dual shop/salon.......................... 913*
Barber instructors......................... 150
Students.................................... 2,324
Schools........................................... 40
Class A Barber booth rentals..... 4,061
Barber manicure booth rentals....... 73
Barber technician booth rental.......... 1
Barber hair braiding booth rentals.... 8
Barber hair weaving booth rentals.... 1
* Dual shop/salon also listed in cosmetology

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
Diane Salazar, Glenda Jemison, Allison Leigh West
Rojean Solis Brewer, Carolee Nguyen, Ron Robinson

BARBER PROGRAM
P.O. Box 13489 Austin, Texas 78711
cs.barbers@license.state.tx.us

Barber Advisory Board:
Linda G. Connor, Presiding Officer
Ronald Brown, Jimmy Johnson, Melina Marie Messick, Jennifer Grisham

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