25 LC 55 0533
House Bill 684
By: Representatives Taylor of the 92
nd
, Hugley of the 141
st
, Alexander of the 66
th
, Williams
of the 168
th
, and Holly of the 116
th
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 10 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
1
barbers and cosmetologists, so as to provide for the teaching of trichology training courses2
by schools of barbering, schools of cosmetology, and schools of hair design; to require that3
certain teachers and instructors complete 50 hours of trichology training; to provide4
exceptions; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting5
laws; and for other purposes.6
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:7
SECTION 1.8
Chapter 10 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to barbers and9
cosmetologists, is amended by revising Code Section 43-10-12, relating to regulation and10
licenses for schools, teachers and instructors, registration of apprentices, and certification as11
teacher by Department of Education, as follows:12
"43-10-12.13
(a)(1) All schools of barbering, schools of cosmetology, schools of esthetics, schools of14
hair design, and schools of nail care shall:15
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(A) Cause to be registered in writing with the board, at the time of opening, 15 bona
16
fide students; provided, however, that any such school may petition to the board to add17
additional courses of study with a minimum of five students per course if such school18
has an active license in good standing;19
(B) Have not less than one instructor for every 20 students or a fraction thereof;20
(C) Keep permanently displayed a sign reading 'School of Cosmetology,' 'School of21
Hair Design,' 'School of Esthetics,' 'School of Nail Care,' or 'School of Barbering' as22
applicable; and all such signs shall also display the words 'Service by Students Only.' 23
Where service is rendered by a student, no commissions or premiums shall be paid to24
such student for work done in the schools; nor shall any individual be employed by the25
schools to render professional service to the public; and26
(D) Provide transcripts to students upon graduation or withdrawal from the school,27
provided that all tuition and fees due to the school have been satisfied. Student records28
shall be maintained by the schools for a minimum of five years. If a school closes its29
business, the owner is required to provide copies of all student records, including, but30
not limited to, transcripts, to the board within 30 days of the school closure.31
(2) All schools of cosmetology, schools of hair design, schools of esthetics, schools of32
nail care, and schools of barbering shall keep in a conspicuous place as determined by the33
board through rules and regulations in such schools a copy of the rules and regulations34
adopted by the board.35
(3) All master cosmetologists, hair designers, estheticians, nail care technicians, master36
barbers, and barbers II who take an apprentice pursuant to Code Section 43-10-14 shall37
file immediately with the board through the division director the name and age of such38
apprentice; and the board shall cause such information to be entered on a register kept by39
the division director for that purpose.40
(b) Any person desiring to operate or conduct a school of cosmetology, school of hair41
design, school of esthetics, school of nail care, or school of barbering prior to opening shall42
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first secure from the board a license to do so and shall keep the license prominently
43
displayed in the school in a location determined by the board through rules and regulations.44
(c) The board shall have the authority to pass upon the qualifications, appointments,45
courses of study, and hours of study in the school of cosmetology, school of hair design,46
school of esthetics, school of nail care, or school of barbering, provided that:47
(1) All schools of cosmetology shall be required to teach the following courses: theory,48
permanent and cold hair waving, hair coloring, hair bleaching, hair relaxing, hair49
straightening, trichology training,
hair and scalp treatments, massaging the face, neck,50
and scalp, hair and scalp conditioning, hair cutting and shaping, hairdressing,51
shampooing, styling, comb out, waxing, threading, tweezing, reception, desk work,52
facials, makeup and arching, skin care, nail care, state law, board rules and regulations,53
and any other subjects related to cosmetology and sanitation;54
(1.1) All schools of hair design shall be required to teach the following courses: theory,55
permanent and cold hair waving, hair coloring, hair bleaching, hair relaxing, hair56
straightening, trichology training, hair and scalp treatments, massaging the scalp, hair and57
scalp conditioning, hair cutting and shaping, hairdressing, shampooing, styling, comb out,58
reception, desk work, state law, board rules and regulations, and any other subjects59
related to hair design and sanitation;60
(2) All schools of esthetics shall be required to teach the following courses: theory, skin61
care, facials, makeup and arching, eyelash extensions, reception, desk work, massaging62
the face, neck, décolletage, or arms, trimming, tweezing, or threading eyebrows and other63
facial hair, dyeing, waxing, stimulating, cleansing, or beautifying, state law, board rules64
and regulations, and any other subjects related to esthetics and sanitation;65
(3) All schools of nail care shall be required to teach the following courses: theory,66
trimming, filing, shaping, decorating, sculpturing and artificial nails, nail care,67
pedicuring, reception, desk work, state law, board rules and regulations, and any other68
subjects related to nail care and sanitation; and69
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(4) All schools of barbering shall be required to teach the following courses: theory,
70
trichology training,
hair and scalp treatments, massaging the face, neck, and scalp,71
shampooing and conditioning, shaving, coloring of hair, hair cutting and styling, facial72
hair design, facial hair waxing, permanent and cold hair waving, hair relaxing, hair73
straightening, chemical application, reception, desk work, state law, board rules and74
regulations, and any other subjects related to barbering and sanitation.75
(d)(1) The board shall have the right to suspend or revoke the certificate, permit, or76
license of or to reprimand any such school of cosmetology, school of esthetics, school of77
hair design, school of nail care, school of barbering or instructor or teacher therein, for78
the violation of this chapter.79
(2) The board shall have the same power and authority as to sanitary conditions over80
schools as it has over beauty shops, beauty salons, and barber shops.81
(e)(1) All teachers or instructors shall devote their entire time to instruction of students. 82
Any individual desiring to teach or instruct in any school of cosmetology, school of83
esthetics, school of hair design, school of nail care, or school of barbering shall first file84
his or her application with the division director for a license, shall pay a fee in such85
amount as shall be set by the board by rules and regulations, and shall successfully pass86
both a written and a practical examination to become an instructor.87
(2)(A) An individual desiring to teach at the master level shall satisfy the board that he88
or she:89
(i) Holds a current master cosmetologist certificate of registration and is a high90
school graduate, has a state approved high school equivalency (HSE) diploma, or has91
a postsecondary education or college degree;92
(ii) Has 750 hours of instructor training in cosmetology at a board approved school,93
50 hours of which shall consist of trichology training; and94
(iii) Has one year of work experience as a master cosmetologist.95
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(B) An individual holding a current master cosmetologist certificate of registration at
96
the master level who is a high school graduate, has a state approved high school97
equivalency (HSE) diploma, or has a postsecondary education or college degree; who98
has completed the required board approved hours of continuing education; and has99
board approved work experience as an instructor or in education may, at the board's100
discretion, be permitted to take the written and the practical examination to become an101
instructor at the master level.102
(3)(A) An individual desiring to teach at the esthetician level shall satisfy the board103
that he or she:104
(i) Holds a current certificate of registration as an esthetician or master cosmetologist105
and is a high school graduate, has a state approved high school equivalency (HSE)106
diploma, or has a postsecondary education or college degree;107
(ii) Has 500 hours of board approved instructor training in esthetics of at least nine108
months;109
(iii) Has one year of work experience as an esthetician or master cosmetologist; and110
(iv) Has passed both a written and a practical examination to become an instructor111
in esthetics.112
(B) An individual holding a current cosmetology certificate of registration as an113
esthetician or master cosmetologist who is a high school graduate, has a state approved114
high school equivalency (HSE) diploma, or has a postsecondary education or college115
degree; who has completed the required board approved hours of continuing education;116
and has board approved work experience as an instructor or in education may, at the117
board's discretion, be permitted to take the written and the practical examination to118
become an instructor at the esthetician level.119
(4)(A) An individual desiring to teach at the nail technician level shall satisfy the board120
that he or she:121
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(i) Holds a current certificate of registration as a nail technician or master
122
cosmetologist and is a high school graduate, has a state approved high school123
equivalency (HSE) diploma, or has a postsecondary education or college degree;124
(ii) Has 250 hours of board approved instructor training in nail care of at least four125
months;126
(iii) Has one year of work experience as a nail technician or master cosmetologist;127
and128
(iv) Has passed both a written and a practical examination to become an instructor129
in nail care.130
(B) An individual holding a current certificate of registration as a nail technician or131
master cosmetologist who is a high school graduate, has a state approved high school132
equivalency (HSE) diploma, or has a postsecondary education or college degree; who133
has completed the required board approved hours of continuing education; and has134
board approved work experience as an instructor or in education may, at the board's135
discretion, be permitted to take the written and the practical examination to become an136
instructor at the nail technician level.137
(5)(A) An individual desiring to teach barbering shall satisfy the board that he or she:138
(i) Holds a current certificate of registration as a master barber and is a high school139
graduate, has a state approved high school equivalency (HSE) diploma, or has a140
postsecondary education or college degree;141
(ii) Has 750 hours of board approved instructor training in barbering, 50 hours of
142
which shall consist of trichology training; and143
(iii) Has passed both a written and a practical examination to become an instructor144
in barbering.145
(B) An individual holding a current certificate of registration as a master barber who146
is a high school graduate, has a state approved high school equivalency (HSE) diploma,147
or has a postsecondary education or college degree; who has completed the required148
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board approved hours of continuing education; and has board approved work
149
experience as an instructor or in education may, at the board's discretion, be permitted150
to take the written and the practical examinations to become an instructor for barbering.151
(6)(A) An individual desiring to teach at the hair designer level shall satisfy the board152
that he or she:153
(i) Holds a current certificate of registration as a hair designer or master154
cosmetologist and is a high school graduate, has a state approved high school155
equivalency (HSE) diploma, or has a postsecondary education or college degree;156
(ii) Has 750 hours of board approved instructor training in hair design of at least four157
months, 50 hours of which shall consist of trichology training
;158
(iii) Has one year of work experience as a hair designer or master cosmetologist; and159
(iv) Has passed both a written and a practical examination to become an instructor160
in hair design.161
(B) An individual holding a current certificate of registration as a hair designer or162
master cosmetologist who is a high school graduate, has a state approved high school163
equivalency (HSE) diploma, or has a postsecondary education or college degree; who164
has completed the required board approved hours of continuing education; and has165
board approved work experience as an instructor or in education may, at the board's166
discretion, be permitted to take the written and the practical examinations to become167
an instructor at the hair designer level.168
(7) Any teacher or instructor shall renew his or her certificate of registration to teach in169
accordance with the rules and regulations of the division director governing expiration170
dates of certificates of registration by remitting with his or her application a renewal fee171
in such amount as shall be set by the board by regulation; provided, however, that any172
teacher or instructor who fails to renew his or her certificate of registration to practice as173
a cosmetologist, esthetician, or nail technician on or before the date established by the174
board by regulation shall automatically have his or her certificate of registration to teach175
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or instruct suspended. A person failing to renew his or her certificate of registration of
176
a teacher or instructor at the end of the late renewal period following the expiration date177
shall be required to pay a reinstatement fee.178
(8) Nothing in this Code section shall be construed as preventing an individual from179
obtaining a certificate of registration as teacher or instructor who is certified by the180
Department of Education to teach cosmetology in the state public schools. The181
certification shall be limited to those individuals who hold a current certificate of182
registration as a master cosmetologist and also hold a diploma or certificate of 1,500183
credit hours from a board approved school and have completed the three-year teachers184
training program required by the Department of Education. Such persons shall also pass185
both a written and a practical examination satisfactory to the board and, upon passage186
thereof, shall receive a certificate of registration to teach cosmetology.187
(f) All teachers or instructors of cosmetology at all levels seeking renewal of certificates188
of registration are required to submit to the board proof of completion of 15 hours of189
continuing education in the cosmetology profession approved by the board at least half of190
which consists of instruction in teaching methods.191
(g)(1) As used in this Code section, the term:
192
(A) 'Trichology' means the science of the structure, function, and diseases of human193
hair, including, without limitation, alopecia.194
(B) 'Trichology training' means instruction regarding trichology and the provision of195
hair care services to individuals who suffer from one or more diseases of human hair,196
including, without limitation, alopecia.197
(2) All trichology training requirements applicable to teachers or instructors under this198
Code section shall be completed at postsecondary educational institutions that provide199
courses in trichology and trichology training that are approved by the Nonpublic200
Postsecondary Education Commission or the board.201
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(3) Any person who holds a current certification of registration to teach or instruct as of202
June 30, 2025, shall not be required to complete any trichology training required under203
this Code section to maintain such certification or registration; provided, however, that204
such person shall complete such trichology training before such certification or205
registration may be renewed under this Code section.206
(4) All courses in trichology training that are required to be taught by schools of207
cosmetology, schools of hair design, and schools of barbering under this Code section208
shall consist of no less than 30 hours of instruction."209
SECTION 2.210
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.211
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