HB684: HB684 Cosmetologists; teaching of trichology training courses by certain schools; provisions

Georgia law already sets out the courses that beauty and barbering schools must teach and the training hours instructors need before they can be certified to teach. This bill amends that law, O.C.G.A. § 43-10-12, to add trichology, the study of hair and scalp structure, function, and diseases such as alopecia, to the required curriculum for schools of cosmetology, schools of hair design, and schools of barbering. Instructors seeking to teach at the master cosmetologist, barber, or hair designer level would need 50 of their required instructor training hours to be in trichology. Schools would have to offer at least 30 hours of trichology training as part of their courses. People already certified to teach as of June 30, 2026 would not have to complete the trichology training to keep their current certification, but would have to complete it before renewing.

• Adds trichology training, defined as instruction on hair and scalp diseases including alopecia, to the required curriculum for schools of cosmetology, hair design, and barbering.
• Requires that 50 of the instructor training hours for master cosmetologists, master barbers, and hair designers consist specifically of trichology training.
• Sets a floor of at least 30 hours of trichology instruction that schools must provide in their courses.
• Defines 'trichology' and 'trichology training' in the Code section for the first time.
• Exempts people already holding a teaching certificate as of June 30, 2026 from needing the new training to keep that certificate, but requires it before renewal.

Schools of cosmetology, hair design, and barbering in Georgia, along with current and prospective instructors seeking master cosmetologist, master barber, or hair designer teaching certificates, and the students who attend those schools' training programs.

Instructors training future cosmetologists, barbers, and hair designers would need specific education in hair and scalp diseases like alopecia, potentially improving how licensed professionals recognize and address those conditions with clients, while adding new training hours instructors must complete before certification.

• Amends O.C.G.A. § 43-10-12 to add 'trichology training' to the list of required courses for schools of cosmetology, hair design, and barbering.
• Requires 50 of the 750 instructor training hours for master cosmetologist, master barber, and hair designer certification to be trichology training.
• Defines 'trichology' as the science of the structure, function, and diseases of human hair, including alopecia, and 'trichology training' as instruction on those subjects and related hair care services.
• Requires trichology training to be completed at postsecondary institutions approved by the Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission or the board.
• Grandfathers in anyone already certified to teach as of June 30, 2026, exempting them from the new training until they renew their certification.
• Sets a minimum of 30 hours of trichology training that schools of cosmetology, hair design, and barbering must include in their courses.

1. 2026-02-18House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
2. 2025-03-04House Second Readers (House)
3. 2025-03-03House First Readers (House)
4. 2025-02-28House Hopper (House)

• Rhonda Taylor (D, HD-092)Primary sponsor
• Carolyn Hugley (D, HD-141)
• Kimberly Alexander (D, HD-066)
• Al Williams (D, HD-168)
• El-Mahdi Holly (D, HD-116)

• cosmetology licensing
• barber schools
• hair and scalp health
• occupational training requirements