The House Committee on Regulated Industries offers the following substitute to HB 684:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 10 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
barbers and cosmetologists, so as to provide for the teaching of trichology training courses
by schools of barbering, schools of cosmetology, and schools of hair design; to require that
certain teachers and instructors complete 50 hours of trichology training; to provide
exceptions; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting
laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Chapter 10 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to barbers and
cosmetologists, is amended by revising Code Section 43-10-12, relating to regulation and
licenses for schools, teachers and instructors, registration of apprentices, and certification as
teacher by Department of Education, as follows:
"43-10-12.
(a)(1) All schools of barbering, schools of cosmetology, schools of esthetics, schools of
hair design, and schools of nail care shall:
(A) Cause to be registered in writing with the board, at the time of opening, 15 bona
fide students; provided, however, that any such school may petition to the board to add
additional courses of study with a minimum of five students per course if such school
has an active license in good standing;
(B) Have not less than one instructor for every 20 students or a fraction thereof;
(C) Keep permanently displayed a sign reading 'School of Cosmetology,' 'School of
Hair Design,' 'School of Esthetics,' 'School of Nail Care,' or 'School of Barbering' as
applicable; and all such signs shall also display the words 'Service by Students Only.'
Where service is rendered by a student, no commissions or premiums shall be paid to
such student for work done in the schools; nor shall any individual be employed by the
schools to render professional service to the public; and
(D) Provide transcripts to students upon graduation or withdrawal from the school,
provided that all tuition and fees due to the school have been satisfied. Student records
shall be maintained by the schools for a minimum of five years. If a school closes its
business, the owner is required to provide copies of all student records, including, but
not limited to, transcripts, to the board within 30 days of the school closure.
(2) All schools of cosmetology, schools of hair design, schools of esthetics, schools of
nail care, and schools of barbering shall keep in a conspicuous place as determined by the
board through rules and regulations in such schools a copy of the rules and regulations
adopted by the board.
(3) All master cosmetologists, hair designers, estheticians, nail care technicians, master
barbers, and barbers II who take an apprentice pursuant to Code Section 43-10-14 shall
file immediately with the board through the division director the name and age of such
apprentice; and the board shall cause such information to be entered on a register kept by
the division director for that purpose.
(b) Any person desiring to operate or conduct a school of cosmetology, school of hair
design, school of esthetics, school of nail care, or school of barbering prior to opening shall
first secure from the board a license to do so and shall keep the license prominently
displayed in the school in a location determined by the board through rules and regulations.
(c) The board shall have the authority to pass upon the qualifications, appointments,
courses of study, and hours of study in the school of cosmetology, school of hair design,
school of esthetics, school of nail care, or school of barbering, provided that:
(1) All schools of cosmetology shall be required to teach the following courses: theory,
permanent and cold hair waving, hair coloring, hair bleaching, hair relaxing, hair
straightening, <ins>trichology training,</ins> hair and scalp treatments, massaging the face, neck,
and scalp, hair and scalp conditioning, hair cutting and shaping, hairdressing,
shampooing, styling, comb out, waxing, threading, tweezing, reception, desk work,
facials, makeup and arching, skin care, nail care, state law, board rules and regulations,
and any other subjects related to cosmetology and sanitation;
(1.1) All schools of hair design shall be required to teach the following courses: theory,
permanent and cold hair waving, hair coloring, hair bleaching, hair relaxing, hair
straightening, <ins>trichology training,</ins> hair and scalp treatments, massaging the scalp, hair and
scalp conditioning, hair cutting and shaping, hairdressing, shampooing, styling, comb out,
reception, desk work, state law, board rules and regulations, and any other subjects
related to hair design and sanitation;
(2) All schools of esthetics shall be required to teach the following courses: theory, skin
care, facials, makeup and arching, eyelash extensions, reception, desk work, massaging
the face, neck, décolletage, or arms, trimming, tweezing, or threading eyebrows and other
facial hair, dyeing, waxing, stimulating, cleansing, or beautifying, state law, board rules
and regulations, and any other subjects related to esthetics and sanitation;
(3) All schools of nail care shall be required to teach the following courses: theory,
trimming, filing, shaping, decorating, sculpturing and artificial nails, nail care,
pedicuring, reception, desk work, state law, board rules and regulations, and any other
subjects related to nail care and sanitation; and
(4) All schools of barbering shall be required to teach the following courses: theory,
<ins>trichology training,</ins> hair and scalp treatments, massaging the face, neck, and scalp,
shampooing and conditioning, shaving, coloring of hair, hair cutting and styling, facial
hair design, facial hair waxing, permanent and cold hair waving, hair relaxing, hair
straightening, chemical application, reception, desk work, state law, board rules and
regulations, and any other subjects related to barbering and sanitation.
(d)(1) The board shall have the right to suspend or revoke the certificate, permit, or
license of or to reprimand any such school of cosmetology, school of esthetics, school of
hair design, school of nail care, school of barbering or instructor or teacher therein, for
the violation of this chapter.
(2) The board shall have the same power and authority as to sanitary conditions over
schools as it has over beauty shops, beauty salons, and barber shops.
(e)(1) All teachers or instructors shall devote their entire time to instruction of students.
Any individual desiring to teach or instruct in any school of cosmetology, school of
esthetics, school of hair design, school of nail care, or school of barbering shall first file
his or her application with the division director for a license, shall pay a fee in such
amount as shall be set by the board by rules and regulations, and shall successfully pass
both a written and a practical examination to become an instructor.
(2)(A) An individual desiring to teach at the master level shall satisfy the board that he
or she:
(i) Holds a current master cosmetologist certificate of registration and is a high
school graduate, has a state approved high school equivalency (HSE) diploma, or has
a postsecondary education or college degree;
(ii) Has 750 hours of instructor training in cosmetology at a board approved school,
<ins>50 hours of which shall consist of trichology training;</ins> and
(iii) Has one year of work experience as a master cosmetologist.
(B) An individual holding a current master cosmetologist certificate of registration at
the master level who is a high school graduate, has a state approved high school
equivalency (HSE) diploma, or has a postsecondary education or college degree; who
has completed the required board approved hours of continuing education; and has
board approved work experience as an instructor or in education may, at the board's
discretion, be permitted to take the written and the practical examination to become an
instructor at the master level.
(3)(A) An individual desiring to teach at the esthetician level shall satisfy the board
that he or she:
(i) Holds a current certificate of registration as an esthetician or master cosmetologist
and is a high school graduate, has a state approved high school equivalency (HSE)
diploma, or has a postsecondary education or college degree;
(ii) Has 500 hours of board approved instructor training in esthetics of at least nine
months;
(iii) Has one year of work experience as an esthetician or master cosmetologist; and
(iv) Has passed both a written and a practical examination to become an instructor
in esthetics.
(B) An individual holding a current cosmetology certificate of registration as an
esthetician or master cosmetologist who is a high school graduate, has a state approved
high school equivalency (HSE) diploma, or has a postsecondary education or college
degree; who has completed the required board approved hours of continuing education;
and has board approved work experience as an instructor or in education may, at the
board's discretion, be permitted to take the written and the practical examination to
become an instructor at the esthetician level.
(4)(A) An individual desiring to teach at the nail technician level shall satisfy the board
that he or she:
(i) Holds a current certificate of registration as a nail technician or master
cosmetologist and is a high school graduate, has a state approved high school
equivalency (HSE) diploma, or has a postsecondary education or college degree;
(ii) Has 250 hours of board approved instructor training in nail care of at least four
months;
(iii) Has one year of work experience as a nail technician or master cosmetologist;
and
(iv) Has passed both a written and a practical examination to become an instructor
in nail care.
(B) An individual holding a current certificate of registration as a nail technician or
master cosmetologist who is a high school graduate, has a state approved high school
equivalency (HSE) diploma, or has a postsecondary education or college degree; who
has completed the required board approved hours of continuing education; and has
board approved work experience as an instructor or in education may, at the board's
discretion, be permitted to take the written and the practical examination to become an
instructor at the nail technician level.
(5)(A) An individual desiring to teach barbering shall satisfy the board that he or she:
(i) Holds a current certificate of registration as a master barber and is a high school
graduate, has a state approved high school equivalency (HSE) diploma, or has a
postsecondary education or college degree;
(ii) Has 750 hours of board approved instructor training in barbering, <ins>50 hours of
which shall consist of trichology training;</ins> and
(iii) Has passed both a written and a practical examination to become an instructor
in barbering.
(B) An individual holding a current certificate of registration as a master barber who
is a high school graduate, has a state approved high school equivalency (HSE) diploma,
or has a postsecondary education or college degree; who has completed the required
board approved hours of continuing education; and has board approved work
experience as an instructor or in education may, at the board's discretion, be permitted
to take the written and the practical examinations to become an instructor for barbering.
(6)(A) An individual desiring to teach at the hair designer level shall satisfy the board
that he or she:
(i) Holds a current certificate of registration as a hair designer or master
cosmetologist and is a high school graduate, has a state approved high school
equivalency (HSE) diploma, or has a postsecondary education or college degree;
(ii) Has 750 hours of board approved instructor training in hair design of at least four
months, <ins>50 hours of which shall consist of trichology training;
</ins> (iii) Has one year of work experience as a hair designer or master cosmetologist; and
(iv) Has passed both a written and a practical examination to become an instructor
in hair design.
(B) An individual holding a current certificate of registration as a hair designer or
master cosmetologist who is a high school graduate, has a state approved high school
equivalency (HSE) diploma, or has a postsecondary education or college degree; who
has completed the required board approved hours of continuing education; and has
board approved work experience as an instructor or in education may, at the board's
discretion, be permitted to take the written and the practical examinations to become
an instructor at the hair designer level.
(7) Any teacher or instructor shall renew his or her certificate of registration to teach in
accordance with the rules and regulations of the division director governing expiration
dates of certificates of registration by remitting with his or her application a renewal fee
in such amount as shall be set by the board by regulation; provided, however, that any
teacher or instructor who fails to renew his or her certificate of registration to practice as
a cosmetologist, esthetician, or nail technician on or before the date established by the
board by regulation shall automatically have his or her certificate of registration to teach
or instruct suspended. A person failing to renew his or her certificate of registration of
a teacher or instructor at the end of the late renewal period following the expiration date
shall be required to pay a reinstatement fee.
(8) Nothing in this Code section shall be construed as preventing an individual from
obtaining a certificate of registration as teacher or instructor who is certified by the
Department of Education to teach cosmetology in the state public schools. The
certification shall be limited to those individuals who hold a current certificate of
registration as a master cosmetologist and also hold a diploma or certificate of 1,500
credit hours from a board approved school and have completed the three-year teachers
training program required by the Department of Education. Such persons shall also pass
both a written and a practical examination satisfactory to the board and, upon passage
thereof, shall receive a certificate of registration to teach cosmetology.
(f) All teachers or instructors of cosmetology at all levels seeking renewal of certificates
of registration are required to submit to the board proof of completion of 15 hours of
continuing education in the cosmetology profession approved by the board at least half of
which consists of instruction in teaching methods.
<ins>(g)(1) As used in this Code section, the term:
(A) 'Trichology' means the science of the structure, function, and diseases of human
hair, including, without limitation, alopecia.
(B) 'Trichology training' means instruction regarding trichology and the provision of
hair care services to individuals who suffer from one or more diseases of human hair,
including, without limitation, alopecia.
(2) All trichology training requirements applicable to teachers or instructors under this
Code section shall be completed at postsecondary educational institutions that provide
courses in trichology and trichology training that are approved by the Nonpublic
Postsecondary Education Commission or the board.
</ins>
<ins>(3) Any person who holds a current certification of registration to teach or instruct as of
June 30, 2026, shall not be required to complete any trichology training required under
this Code section to maintain such certification or registration; provided, however, that
such person shall complete such trichology training before such certification or
registration may be renewed under this Code section.
(4) All courses in trichology training that are required to be taught by schools of
cosmetology, schools of hair design, and schools of barbering under this Code section
shall consist of no less than 30 hours of instruction."
</ins> SECTION 2.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.