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North Carolina Senate Bill S656

North Carolina 2025-2026 Regular Session

North Carolina Senate Bill S656 Compare Versions

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11 GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
22 SESSION 2025
3-S 1
4-SENATE BILL 656
3+S D
4+SENATE BILL DRS15246-NN-54B
5+
56
67
78 Short Title: Cosmetic Art Deregulation. (Public)
89 Sponsors: Senators Moffitt, Grafstein, and Bradley (Primary Sponsors).
9-Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
10-March 26, 2025
11-*S656 -v-1*
10+Referred to:
11+
12+*DRS15246 -NN-54B*
1213 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
1314 AN ACT TO EXEMPT NATURAL HAIR CARE SERVICES, BLOW -DRY STYLING, AND 2
1415 MAKEUP ARTISTRY FROM LICENSING REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE NORTH 3
1516 CAROLINA BOARD OF COSMETIC ART EXAMINERS; TO CONVERT THE 4
1617 MANDATORY NATURAL HAIR CARE SPECIALIST LICENSE TO A VOLUNTARY 5
1718 CERTIFICATE; AND TO EXPAND AUTHORIZED SETTINGS FOR CERTAIN 6
1819 COSMETIC ART SERVICES. 7
1920 The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 8
2021 9
2122 PART I. EXEMPTIONS FROM COSMETIC ART LICENSING REQUIREMENTS AND 10
2223 CONVERSION TO VOLUNTARY CERTIFICATION FOR NATURAL HAIR CARE 11
2324 SPECIALISTS 12
2425 SECTION 1.(a) G.S. 88B-2 reads as rewritten: 13
2526 "§ 88B-2. Definitions. 14
2627 The following definitions apply in this Chapter: 15
2728 (1) Apprentice. – A person who is not a manager or operator and who is engaged 16
2829 in learning the practice of cosmetic art under the direction and supervision of 17
2930 a cosmetologist. 18
3031 (1a) Blow-dry styling. – The act of shampooing, conditioning, drying, arranging, 19
3132 curling, straightening, or styling hair using only mechanical devices, hair 20
3233 sprays, and topical agents, such as balms, oils, serums, and providing no other 21
3334 services requiring a license under this Chapter. This term includes the use and 22
3435 styling of wigs, hair pieces, and extensions. This term does not include the use 23
3536 of chemicals to alter the structure of the hair and haircutting. 24
3637 (2) Board. – The North Carolina Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners. 25
3738 (3) Booth. – A workstation located within a licensed cosmetic art shop that is 26
3839 operated primarily by one individual in performing cosmetic art services for 27
3940 consumers. 28
4041 (4) Booth renter. – A person who rents a booth in a cosmetic art shop. 29
4142 (4a) Certified natural hair care specialist. – An individual certified by the Board to 30
4243 practice only the part of cosmetic art that constitutes natural hair care, as 31
4344 defined in this section. Certification shall not be required by the Board to 32
4445 practice natural hair care, but an individual who meets the credentials for the 33
4546 certificate may apply to the Board for certification. 34
4647 (5) Cosmetic art. – All or any part or combination of cosmetology, esthetics, 35
47-natural hair care, or manicuring, including the systematic manipulation with 36 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
48-Page 2 Senate Bill 656-First Edition
48+natural hair care, or manicuring, including the systematic manipulation with 36
49+FILED SENATE
50+Mar 25, 2025
51+S.B. 656
52+PRINCIPAL CLERK General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
53+Page 2 DRS15246-NN-54B
4954 the hands or mechanical apparatus of the scalp, face, neck, shoulders, hands, 1
5055 and feet. Practices included within this subdivision shall not include the 2
5156 practice of massage or bodywork therapy as set forth in Article 36 of Chapter 3
5257 90 of the General Statutes. 4
5358 (6) Cosmetic art school. – Any building or part thereof where cosmetic art is 5
5459 taught. 6
5560 (7) Cosmetic art shop. – Any building or part thereof where cosmetic art is 7
5661 practiced for pay or reward, whether direct or indirect. 8
5762 (8) Cosmetologist. – Any individual who is licensed to practice all parts of 9
5863 cosmetic art. 10
5964 (8a) Cosmetology. – The act of arranging, dressing, curling, waving, cleansing, 11
6065 cutting, singeing, bleaching, coloring, or similar work upon the hair of a 12
6166 person by any means, including the use of hands, mechanical or electrical 13
6267 apparatus, or appliances or by use of cosmetic or chemical preparations or 14
6368 antiseptics. 15
6469 (9) Cosmetology teacher. – An individual licensed by the Board to teach all parts 16
6570 of cosmetic art. 17
6671 (10) Esthetician. – An individual licensed by the Board to practice only that part of 18
6772 cosmetic art that constitutes skin care. 19
6873 (11) Esthetician teacher. – An individual licensed by the Board to teach only that 20
6974 part of cosmetic art that constitutes skin care. 21
7075 (11a) Esthetics. – Refers to any of the following practices: giving facials; applying 22
7176 makeup; performing skin care; removing superfluous hair from the body of a 23
7277 person by use of creams, tweezers, or waxing; applying eyelashes to a person, 24
7378 including the application of eyelash extensions, brow or lash color; 25
7479 beautifying the face, neck, arms, or upper part of the human body by use of 26
7580 cosmetic preparations, antiseptics, tonics, lotions, or creams; surface 27
7681 manipulation in relation to skin care; or cleaning or stimulating the face, neck, 28
7782 ears, arms, hands, bust, torso, legs, or feet of a person by means of hands, 29
7883 devices, apparatus, or appliances along with the use of cosmetic preparations, 30
7984 antiseptics, tonics, lotions, or creams. 31
8085 (12) Manicuring. – The care and treatment of the fingernails, toenails, cuticles on 32
8186 fingernails and toenails, and the hands and feet, including the decoration of 33
8287 the fingernails and the application of nail extensions and artificial nails. The 34
8388 term "manicuring" shall not include the treatment of pathologic conditions. 35
8489 (13) Manicurist. – An individual licensed by the Board to practice only that part of 36
8590 cosmetic art that constitutes manicuring. 37
8691 (14) Manicurist teacher. – An individual licensed by the Board to teach 38
8792 manicuring. 39
8893 (14a) Natural hair care. – A service that results in tension on hair strands or roots by 40
8994 twisting, wrapping, extending, or locking hair by hand or mechanical device. 41
9095 For purposes of this definition, the phrase "natural hair care" shall include the 42
9196 use of artificial or natural hair. 43
9297 (14b) Natural hair care specialist. – An individual licensed by the Board to practice 44
9398 only that part of cosmetic art that constitutes natural hair care. 45
9499 (14c) Natural hair care teacher. – An individual licensed by the Board to teach 46
95100 natural hair care. 47
96101 (14d) Makeup artistry – The application of a cosmetic to enhance the appearance of 48
97102 the face or skin using powder, foundation, rouge, eyeshadow, eyeliner, 49
98103 mascara, or lipstick when providing no other services requiring a license under 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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100105 this Chapter. This term includes the use of an airbrush to apply makeup and 1
101106 excludes the application of permanent makeup or tattooing. 2
102107 (15) Shampooing. – The application and removal of commonly used, room 3
103108 temperature, liquid hair cleaning and hair conditioning products. Shampooing 4
104109 does not include the arranging, dressing, waving, coloring, or other treatment 5
105110 of the hair." 6
106111 SECTION 1.(b) G.S. 88B-10.1 reads as rewritten: 7
107112 "§ 88B-10.1. Qualifications for licensing certifying natural hair care specialists. 8
108113 The Board shall issue a license certificate to practice as a certified natural hair care specialist 9
109114 to any individual who meets all of the following requirements: 10
110115 (1) Successful completion of at least 300 hours of a natural hair care curriculum 11
111116 in an approved cosmetic art school. 12
112117 (2) Passage of an examination conducted by the Board. 13
113118 (3) Payment of the fees required by G.S. 88B-20. 14
114119 A certificate shall not be required to practice as a natural hair care specialist but shall be 15
115120 required for an individual to hold himself or herself out as or advertise as a certified natural hair 16
116121 care specialist." 17
117122 SECTION 1.(c) G.S. 88B-11 reads as rewritten: 18
118123 "§ 88B-11. Qualifications for licensing teachers. 19
119124 … 20
120125 (e) The Board shall issue a license to practice as a natural hair care teacher to any 21
121126 individual who meets the requirements of subsection (a) of this section and who meets all of the 22
122127 following: 23
123128 (1) Holds in good standing a certified natural hair care license certificate issued 24
124129 by the Board. 25
125130 (2) Submits proof of either practice as a certified natural hair care specialist in a 26
126131 cosmetic art shop or any Board-approved employment capacity in the 27
127132 cosmetic art industry for a period equivalent to one year of full-time work 28
128133 immediately prior to application or successful completion of at least 320 hours 29
129134 of a teacher curriculum in an approved cosmetic art school. 30
130135 (3) Passes an examination for teachers conducted by the Board." 31
131136 SECTION 1.(d) G.S. 88B-12 reads as rewritten: 32
132137 "§ 88B-12. Temporary employment permit; extensions; limits on practice. 33
133138 (a) The Board shall issue a temporary employment permit to an applicant for licensure 34
134139 as an apprentice, cosmetologist, esthetician, natural hair care specialist, or manicurist who meets 35
135140 all of the following: 36
136141 (1) Has completed the required hours of a cosmetic art school curriculum in the 37
137142 area in which the applicant wishes to be licensed. 38
138143 (2) Has applied to take the examination within three months of completing the 39
139144 required hours. 40
140145 (3) Is qualified to take the examination. 41
141146 (b) A temporary employment permit shall expire six months from the date of graduation 42
142147 from a cosmetic art school and shall not be renewed. 43
143148 (c) The holder of a temporary employment permit may practice cosmetic art only under 44
144149 the supervision of a licensed cosmetologist, manicurist, natural hair care specialist, or esthetician, 45
145150 as appropriate, and may not operate a cosmetic art shop." 46
146151 SECTION 1.(e) G.S. 88B-13 reads as rewritten: 47
147152 "§ 88B-13. Applicants licensed in other states. 48
148153 (a) The Board shall issue a license to an applicant licensed as an apprentice, 49
149154 cosmetologist, esthetician, natural hair care specialist, or manicurist in another state or a 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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151156 certificate to an applicant licensed or certified as a natural hair care specialist in another state, if 1
152157 the applicant shows: 2
153158 (1) The applicant is an active practitioner in good standing. 3
154159 (2) The applicant has practiced at least one of the three years immediately 4
155160 preceding the application for a license.license or certificate. 5
156161 (3) There is no disciplinary proceeding or unresolved complaint pending against 6
157162 the applicant at the time a license or certificate is to be issued by this State. 7
158163 (4) The licensure or certification requirements in the state in which the applicant 8
159164 is licensed or certified are substantially equivalent to those required by this 9
160165 State. 10
161166 (b) Instead of meeting the requirements in subsection (a) of this section, any applicant 11
162167 who is licensed as a cosmetologist, esthetician, natural hair care specialist, or manicurist in 12
163168 another state shall be admitted to practice in this State under the same reciprocity or comity 13
164169 provisions that the state in which the applicant is licensed grants to persons licensed in this State. 14
165170 Instead of meeting the requirements of subsection (a) of this section, any applicant who is 15
166171 licensed or certified as a natural hair care specialist in another state may be designated a certified 16
167172 natural care specialist by the Board under the same reciprocity or comity provisions that the state 17
168173 in which the applicant is licensed or certified grants to persons certified in this State. 18
169174 (c) The Board may establish standards for issuing a license to an applicant who is licensed 19
170175 as a teacher in another state. These standards shall include a requirement that the licensure 20
171176 requirements in the state in which the teacher is licensed shall be substantially equivalent to those 21
172177 required in this State and that the applicant shall be licensed by the Board to practice in the area 22
173178 in which the applicant is licensed to teach." 23
174179 SECTION 1.(f) G.S. 88B-14 reads as rewritten: 24
175180 "§ 88B-14. Licensing of cosmetic art shops. 25
176181 (a) The Board shall issue a license to operate a cosmetic art shop to any applicant who 26
177182 submits a properly completed application, on a form approved by the Board, pays the required 27
178183 fee, and is determined, after inspection, to be in compliance with the provisions of this Chapter 28
179184 and the Board's rules. 29
180185 (b) The applicant shall list all licensees and all certified natural hair care specialists who 30
181186 practice cosmetic art in the shop and shall identify each as an employee or a booth renter. 31
182187 (c) A cosmetic art shop shall be allowed to operate for a period of 30 days while the 32
183188 Board inspects and determines the shop's compliance with this Chapter and the Board's rules. If 33
184189 the Board is unable to complete the inspection within 30 days, the shop will be authorized to 34
185190 operate until such an inspection can be completed. 35
186191 (d) A license to operate a cosmetic art shop shall not be transferable from one location to 36
187192 another or from one owner to another. 37
188193 (e) A license to operate a cosmetic art shop shall not be required if the cosmetic art 38
189194 services provided in the shop are exclusively natural hair care, blow-dry styling, or makeup 39
190195 artistry, and the persons providing these services are exempt from licensure pursuant to 40
191196 G.S. 88B-25(6). However, if a shop provides natural hair care performed by a certified natural 41
192197 hair care specialist, the Board may inspect those areas of the shop or booths where certified 42
193198 natural hair care specialists practice, limited solely to ensuring compliance with any sanitary 43
194199 management and physical requirements that may be adopted by the Board pursuant to 44
195200 G.S. 88B-4." 45
196201 SECTION 1.(g) G.S. 88B-18 reads as rewritten: 46
197202 "§ 88B-18. Examinations. 47
198203 (a) Repealed by Session Laws 2006-212, s. 2, effective August 8, 2006. 48
199204 (b) Each examination shall have both a practical and a written portion. 49
200205 (c) Examinations for applicants for apprentice, cosmetologist, teacher, esthetician, 50
201206 natural hair care specialist, and manicurist licenses and certified natural hair care specialist 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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203208 certificates shall be given in at least three locations in the State that are geographically scattered. 1
204209 The examinations shall be administered in Board-approved facilities. 2
205210 (d) An applicant for a cosmetologist, esthetician, manicurist, natural hair care specialist, 3
206211 or teacher's license or certified natural hair care specialist certificate who fails to pass the 4
207212 examination three times may not reapply to take the examination again until after the applicant 5
208213 has successfully completed any additional requirements prescribed by the Board." 6
209214 SECTION 1.(h) G.S. 88B-20 reads as rewritten: 7
210215 "§ 88B-20. Fees required. 8
211216 (a) The Board may charge the applicant the actual cost of preparation, administration, 9
212217 and grading of examinations for cosmetologists, apprentices, manicurists, estheticians, certified 10
213218 natural hair care specialist, specialists, or teachers, in addition to its other fees. 11
214219 … 12
215220 (c) The Board may charge license fees as follows: 13
216221 (1) Cosmetologist .................................................................. $ 39.00 every 3 years 14
217222 (2) Apprentice ............................................................................... $ 10.00 per year 15
218223 (3) Esthetician ............................................................................... $ 10.00 per year 16
219224 (4) Manicurist ............................................................................... $ 10.00 per year 17
220225 (4a) Natural hair care specialist ………………………………….. $ 10.00 per year 18
221226 (5) Teacher ............................................................................ $ 10.00 every 2 years 19
222227 (6) Cosmetic art shop per active booth ........................................... $ 3.00 per year 20
223228 (7) Cosmetic art school ................................................................. $ 50.00 per year 21
224229 (8) Duplicate license ................................................................................... $ 1.00. 22
225230 (c1) The Board may charge certification fees as follows: 23
226231 (1) Certified natural hair care specialist…………………………$ 10.00 per year. 24
227232 (2) Duplicate certificate……………………………………………………$ 1.00. 25
228233 (d) The Board may require payment of late fees and reinstatement fees as follows: 26
229234 (1) Apprentice, certified natural hair care specialist, cosmetologist, esthetician, 27
230235 manicurist, natural hair care specialist, and teacher late renewal…… $ 10.00 28
231236 (2) Cosmetic art schools and shops late renewal ……………………….. $ 10.00 29
232237 (3) Reinstatement – cosmetic art schools and shops …………………….. $ 25.00. 30
233238 (e) The Board may prorate fees as appropriate." 31
234239 SECTION 1.(i) G.S. 88B-21 reads as rewritten: 32
235240 "§ 88B-21. Renewals; expired licenses; inactive status. 33
236241 (a) Each license to operate a cosmetic art shop shall be renewed on or before the first day 34
237242 of February of each year. As provided in G.S. 88B-20, a late fee shall be charged for licenses 35
238243 renewed after February 1. Any license not renewed by March 1 of each year shall expire. A 36
239244 cosmetic art shop whose license has been expired for one year or less shall have the license 37
240245 reinstated immediately upon payment of the reinstatement fee, the late fee, and all unpaid license 38
241246 fees. The licensee shall submit to the Board, as a part of the renewal process, a list of all licensed 39
242247 cosmetologists who practice cosmetic art in the shop and shall identify each as an employee or a 40
243248 booth renter. 41
244249 (b) Cosmetologist licenses shall be renewed on or before October 1 every three years 42
245250 beginning October 1, 1998. A late fee shall be charged for renewals after that date. Any license 43
246251 not renewed shall expire on October 1 of the year that renewal is required. The Board may 44
247252 develop and implement a plan for staggered license renewal and may prorate license fees to 45
248253 implement such a plan. 46
249254 (c) Apprentice, esthetician, natural hair care specialist, and manicurist licenses licenses, 47
250255 and certified natural hair care specialist certificates shall be renewed annually on or before 48
251256 October 1 of each year. A late fee shall be charged for the renewal of licenses after that date. Any 49
252257 license not renewed shall expire on October 1 of that year. 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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254259 (d) Teacher licenses shall be renewed every two years on or before October 1. A late fee 1
255260 shall be charged for the renewal of licenses after that date. Any license not renewed shall expire 2
256261 on October 1 of that year. 3
257262 (e) Prior to renewal of a license, license or certificate, a teacher, cosmetologist, 4
258263 esthetician, certified natural hair care specialist, or manicurist shall annually complete eight hours 5
259264 of Board-approved continuing education for each year of the licensing cycle. A cosmetologist 6
260265 may complete up to 24 hours of required continuing education at any time within the 7
261266 cosmetologist's three-year licensing cycle. Licensees shall submit written documentation to the 8
262267 Board showing that they have satisfied the requirements of this subsection. A licensee or 9
263268 certificate holder, if applicable, who is in active practice as a cosmetologist, esthetician, certified 10
264269 natural hair care specialist, or manicurist, has practiced for at least 10 consecutive years in that 11
265270 profession, and is 60 years of age or older does not have to meet the continuing education 12
266271 requirements of this subsection. A licensee who is in active practice as a cosmetologist and has 13
267272 at least 20 consecutive years of experience as a cosmetologist, does not have to meet the 14
268273 continuing education requirements of this subsection, but shall report any continuing education 15
269274 classes completed to the Board, whether the continuing education classes are Board-approved or 16
270275 not. Promotion of products and systems shall be allowed at continuing education given in-house 17
271276 or at trade shows. Continuing education classes may also be offered in secondary languages as 18
272277 needed. No member of the Board may offer continuing education courses as required by this 19
273278 section. 20
274279 (f) If an apprentice, cosmetologist, esthetician, manicurist, certified natural hair care 21
275280 specialist, or teacher fails to renew his or her license or certificate, as applicable, within five years 22
276281 following the expiration date, the licensee or certificate holder shall be required to pass an 23
277282 examination as prescribed by the Board before the license or certificate will be reinstated. 24
278283 (g) Cosmetic art school licenses shall be renewed on or before October 1 of each year. A 25
279284 late fee shall be charged for licenses renewed after that date. Any license not renewed by 26
280285 November 1 of that year shall expire. A cosmetic art school whose license has been expired for 27
281286 one year or less shall have its license reinstated upon payment of the reinstatement fee, the late 28
282287 fee, and all unpaid license fees. 29
283288 (h) Upon request by a licensee or certificate holder for inactive status, the Board may 30
284289 place the licensee's or certificate holder's name on the inactive list so long as the licensee or 31
285290 certificate holder is in good standing with the Board. An inactive licensee or certificate holder is 32
286291 not required to complete continuing education requirements. An inactive licensee shall not 33
287292 practice cosmetic art for consideration. An inactive certificate holder shall not hold themselves 34
288293 out or advertise as a certified natural hair care specialist while on inactive status but may continue 35
289294 to practice natural hair care. However, the inactive licensee or certificate holder may continue to 36
290295 purchase supplies as accorded an active licensee. licensee or certificate holder. When the inactive 37
291296 licensee or certificate holder desires to be removed from the inactive list and return to active 38
292297 practice, the inactive licensee or certificate holder shall notify the Board of his or her desire to 39
293298 return to active status and pay the required fee as determined by the Board. As a condition of 40
294299 returning to active status, the Board may require the licensee or certificate holder to complete 41
295300 eight to 24 hours of continuing education pursuant to subsection (e) of this section." 42
296301 SECTION 1.(j) G.S. 88B-22 reads as rewritten: 43
297302 "§ 88B-22. Licenses required; criminal penalty. 44
298303 (a) Except as provided in this Chapter, no person may practice or attempt to practice 45
299304 cosmetic art for pay or reward in any form, either directly or indirectly, without being licensed 46
300305 as an apprentice, cosmetologist, esthetician, natural hair care specialist, or manicurist by the 47
301306 Board. 48
302307 (b) Except as provided in this Chapter, no person may practice cosmetic art or any part 49
303308 of cosmetic art, for pay or reward in any form, either directly or indirectly, outside of a licensed 50
304309 cosmetic art shop. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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306311 (c) No Except as provided in this Chapter, no person may open or operate a cosmetic art 1
307312 shop in this State unless a license has been issued by the Board for that shop. 2
308313 (d) An individual licensed as an esthetician, natural hair care specialist, or manicurist 3
309314 may practice only that part of cosmetic art for which the individual is licensed. An individual 4
310315 certified as a certified natural hair care specialist may practice only natural hair care or services 5
311316 exempt under this Chapter. 6
312317 (d1) No person may teach cosmetic art in a Board-approved cosmetic art school unless the 7
313318 person is a teacher licensed under this Chapter. A guest lecturer may be exempt from the 8
314319 requirements of this subsection upon approval by the Board. 9
315320 (d2) Except as provided in this Chapter, no individual may use the title "certified natural 10
316321 hair care specialist" unless the individual holds a certified natural hair care specialist certificate. 11
317322 (e) An apprentice licensed under the provisions of this Chapter shall apprentice under the 12
318323 direct supervision of a cosmetologist. An apprentice shall not operate a cosmetic art shop. 13
319324 (f) A violation of this Chapter is a Class 3 misdemeanor." 14
320325 SECTION 1.(k) G.S. 88B-23 reads as rewritten: 15
321326 "§ 88B-23. Licenses to be posted. 16
322327 (a) Every apprentice, cosmetologist, esthetician, manicurist, natural hair care specialist, 17
323328 and teacher licensed under this Chapter and every certified natural hair care specialist shall 18
324329 display the certificate of license or certified natural hair care specialist certificate issued by the 19
325330 Board within the shop in which the person works. 20
326331 (b) Every certificate of license to operate a cosmetic art shop or school shall be 21
327332 conspicuously posted in the shop or school for which it is issued." 22
328333 SECTION 1.(l) G.S. 88B-24 reads as rewritten: 23
329334 "§ 88B-24. Revocation of licenses and other disciplinary measures. 24
330335 The Board may restrict, suspend, revoke, or refuse to issue, renew, or reinstate any license or 25
331336 certificate for any of the following: 26
332337 (1) Conviction of a felony shown by certified copy of the record of the court of 27
333338 conviction. 28
334339 (2) Gross malpractice or gross incompetency as determined by the Board. 29
335340 (3) Advertising by means of knowingly false or deceptive statements. 30
336341 (4) Permitting any individual to practice cosmetic art without a license or 31
337342 temporary employment permit, with an expired license or temporary 32
338343 employment permit, or with an invalid license or temporary employment 33
339344 permit.permit, if licensure is required under this Chapter. 34
340345 (5) Obtaining or attempting to obtain a license for money or other thing of value 35
341346 other than the required fee or by fraudulent misrepresentation. 36
342347 (6) Practicing or attempting to practice by fraudulent misrepresentation. 37
343348 (7) Willful failure to display a certificate of license or certificate as required by 38
344349 G.S. 88B-23. 39
345350 (8) Willful violation of the rules adopted by the Board. 40
346351 (9) Violation of G.S. 86A-15 G.S. 86B-31 or G.S. 86B-32 by a cosmetologist, 41
347352 esthetician, natural hair care specialist, or manicurist any person licensed or 42
348353 certified by the Board and Board, or any person practicing cosmetic art under 43
349354 an exemption pursuant to G.S. 88B-25(6), while providing cosmetic art 44
350355 services in a barber shop." 45
351356 SECTION 1.(m) G.S. 88B-25 reads as rewritten: 46
352357 "§ 88B-25. Exemptions. 47
353358 The following persons are exempt from the provisions of this Chapter while engaged in the 48
354359 proper discharge of their professional duties: 49
355360 (1) Undertakers and funeral establishments licensed under G.S. 90-210.25. 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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357362 (2) Persons authorized to practice medicine or surgery under Chapter 90 of the 1
358363 General Statutes. 2
359364 (3) Nurses licensed under Chapter 90 of the General Statutes. 3
360365 (4) Commissioned medical or surgical officers of the United States Army, Air 4
361366 Force, Navy, Marine, or Coast Guard. 5
362367 (5) A person employed in a cosmetic art shop whose duties are expressly confined 6
363368 to the shampooing or blow drying of hair, provided that the person shall 7
364369 comply with rules adopted by the Board relating to sanitary management of 8
365370 cosmetic art shops. 9
366371 (6) A person providing only natural hair care, makeup artistry, or blow-dry 10
367372 styling, provided the person completes a one-time four-hour course on 11
368373 sanitation and safety that is offered or approved by the Board prior to 12
369374 providing services under this exemption. Such person shall maintain a record 13
370375 of completion of the course in a manner prescribed by the Board. The Board 14
371376 shall make available at least one qualifying course on its website, free of 15
372377 charge." 16
373378 17
374379 PART II. AUTHORIZED PRACTICE SETTINGS 18
375380 SECTION 2.(a) G.S. 88B-15 reads as rewritten: 19
376381 "§ 88B-15. Practice outside cosmetic art shops. 20
377382 (a) Any individual licensed or certified under this Chapter Chapter, or any individual 21
378383 exempt from licensure when providing natural hair care, blow-dry styling, or makeup artistry 22
379384 pursuant to G.S. 88B-25(6), may visit the residences of individuals who are sick or disabled and 23
380385 confined to their places of residence in order to attend to their cosmetic needs. A licensed 24
381386 individual Such individuals may also visit hospitals, nursing homes, rest homes, retirement 25
382387 homes, mental institutions, correctional facilities, funeral homes, and similar institutions 26
383388 institutions, and other venues such as event locations to attend to the cosmetic needs of those in 27
384389 these institutions.receiving services. Nothing in this section shall be interpreted to limit the 28
385390 locations at which an individual exempt from licensure may provide natural hair care, blow-dry 29
386391 styling, or makeup artistry. 30
387392 (b) An Any individual licensed or certified under this Chapter Chapter, or any individual 31
388393 exempt from licensure pursuant to G.S. 88B-25(6), may practice in a licensed barbershop as 32
389394 permitted by G.S. 86A-14.G.S. 86B-32." 33
390395 SECTION 2.(b) G.S. 86B-32 reads as rewritten: 34
391396 "§ 86B-32. Persons exempt from the provisions of this Article. 35
392397 The following persons are exempt from the provisions of this Article while engaged in the 36
393398 proper discharge of their duties: 37
394399 (1) Persons authorized under the laws of the State to practice medicine and 38
395400 surgery, and those working under their supervision. 39
396401 (2) Commissioned medical or surgical officers of the United States Army or other 40
397402 components of the Armed Forces of the United States, and those working 41
398403 under their supervision. 42
399404 (3) Registered nurses and licensed practical nurses and those working under their 43
400405 supervision. 44
401406 (4) Licensed embalmers and funeral directors and those working under their 45
402407 supervision. 46
403408 (5) Persons who are working in licensed cosmetic shops or beauty schools and 47
404409 are licensed by the State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners pursuant to 48
405410 Chapter 88B of the General Statutes. 49
406411 (6) Persons who are working in barbershops and are licensed or otherwise 50
407412 authorized (certified or exempt from licensure) by the State Board of Cosmetic 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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409414 Art Examiners pursuant to Chapter 88B of the General Statutes, provided that 1
410415 those persons shall comply with G.S. 86B-31. 2
411416 (7) Inmates under the jurisdiction of the North Carolina Department of Adult 3
412417 Correction. 4
413418 (8) Persons who are employed by barbershops and whose duties are expressly 5
414419 confined to the shampooing or blow drying of hair, provided that the person 6
415420 shall comply with G.S. 86B-31." 7
416421 SECTION 2.(c) Rulemaking. – The North Carolina Board of Cosmetic Art 8
417422 Examiners may adopt rules to implement subsection (a) of this section. The North Carolina Board 9
418423 of Barber and Electrolysis Examiners may adopt rules to implement subsection (b) of this section. 10
419424 11
420425 PART III. TRANSITION, IMPLEMENTATION, AND EFFECTIVE DATE 12
421426 SECTION 3.(a) Transition from Licenses to Certificates. – The following provisions 13
422427 shall govern the transition from natural hair care specialist licenses previously required for 14
423428 practice under Chapter 88B of the General Statutes to certified natural hair care specialist 15
424429 certificates, which are voluntary and not required for practice, under this act: 16
425430 (1) Automatic conversion. – All individuals holding valid natural hair care 17
426431 specialist licenses issued by the North Carolina Board of Cosmetic Art 18
427432 Examiners as of the effective date of this act shall automatically be deemed to 19
428433 hold the equivalent certified natural hair care specialist certificates under 20
429434 Chapter 88B of the General Statutes, as amended by this act, without further 21
430435 examination, application, fees, or additional qualification requirements. These 22
431436 certificates confer the title of "certified natural hair care specialist" but are not 23
432437 required to engage in natural hair care services. Holders of these new 24
433438 certificates may continue to provide natural hair care services to the same 25
434439 extent as they did under the previously held licenses, but possession of the 26
435440 certificate is no longer a condition to practice. 27
436441 (2) Pending applications. – Any application for a natural hair care specialist 28
437442 license submitted to the Board prior to the effective date of this act and still 29
438443 pending on that date shall be processed and granted as an application for a 30
439444 certified natural hair care specialist certificate, unless the application does not 31
440445 meet the requirements for certification under Chapter 88B of the General 32
441446 Statutes, as amended by this act. No resubmission or additional qualifications 33
442447 shall be required solely because of the change in designation from license to 34
443448 certificate under this section. Any certificate issued under this subdivision 35
444449 shall be approved under the same conditions and standards that applied to 36
445450 licensure immediately prior to the effective date of this act. 37
446451 (3) Renewal of certificates. – Upon expiration of a natural hair care specialist 38
447452 license converted into a certificate under subdivision (1) of this section, the 39
448453 Board shall permit individuals to renew their credential under the standards 40
449454 applicable to certified natural hair care specialist certificates in accordance 41
450455 with the renewal provisions of G.S. 88B-21, as amended by this act. Nothing 42
451456 in this subdivision shall be construed to require an individual to renew the 43
452457 certificate in order to continue practicing natural hair care services. Renewal 44
453458 merely maintains the use of the "certified natural hair care specialist" 45
454459 designation. 46
455460 SECTION 3.(b) Rulemaking. – The North Carolina Board of Cosmetic Art 47
456461 Examiners may adopt rules to implement the provisions of this act. The Board shall prominently 48
457462 post on its publicly available website information about the exemption created by Section 1(m) 49
458463 of this act, the requirements for completion of the sanitation course necessary for exempt 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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460465 practitioners under G.S. 88B-25(6), and clear instructions for accessing at least one free 1
461466 Board-approved sanitation course that satisfies these requirements. 2
462467 SECTION 3.(c) Effective Date. – This act becomes effective October 1, 2025. 3