HB 684: Cosmetologists; teaching of trichology training courses by certain schools; provisions

Georgia law already sets out required courses for schools of cosmetology, hair design, barbering, esthetics, and nail care, along with training requirements for the instructors who teach at those schools. This bill amends that law (O.C.G.A. § 43-10-12) to add trichology, defined as the science of the structure, function, and diseases of human hair, including alopecia, to the required curriculum at schools of cosmetology, hair design, and barbering. Instructors seeking to teach at the master cosmetologist, barbering, or hair designer level would need 50 of their required instructor training hours to be in trichology. That training must come from postsecondary schools approved by the Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission or the state licensing board. People already certified to teach as of June 30, 2026 would not have to complete the training to keep their current certification, but would have to complete it before renewing. Schools must teach at least 30 hours of trichology training to students.

• Adds trichology training as a required course at schools of cosmetology, schools of hair design, and schools of barbering.
• Requires instructors seeking master cosmetologist, barbering, or hair designer teaching credentials to complete 50 hours of trichology training as part of their instructor training hours.
• Defines trichology as the science of the structure, function, and diseases of human hair, including alopecia.
• Requires trichology training to be completed at postsecondary schools approved by the Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission or the licensing board.
• Exempts people already certified to teach as of June 30, 2026 from the new training requirement until they renew their certification.
• Sets a minimum of 30 hours of trichology instruction that schools must provide to students.

Schools of cosmetology, hair design, and barbering in Georgia; current and prospective instructors at those schools who must meet new training hour requirements; and students who will now receive trichology instruction as part of their coursework.

Cosmetology, barbering, and hair design students would receive formal instruction on hair and scalp diseases like alopecia, which could affect how they serve clients with hair loss conditions. Instructors would face new training requirements before becoming certified or renewing certification.

• Section 1 revises O.C.G.A. § 43-10-12 to add trichology training to the required curriculum for schools of cosmetology, hair design, and barbering.
• Subsection (e) requires 50 of the 750 instructor training hours for master cosmetologist, barber, and hair designer instructor candidates to be in trichology.
• New subsection (g) defines trichology and trichology training and requires that training occur at institutions approved by the Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission or the board.
• Subsection (g)(3) grandfathers in current teacher and instructor certificate holders as of June 30, 2026, exempting them from the training until renewal.
• Subsection (g)(4) sets a minimum of 30 hours of trichology instruction that affected schools must provide.
• Section 2 repeals conflicting laws.

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 loss and alopecia
• occupational training
• beauty industry regulation