---
title: SB 485. Professional Counselors; applicants for a license in social work enrolled in a master's degree program to take the master's social work licensing examination in their final semester of the program; authorize
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/sb485
cite_as: SB 485, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb485
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb485.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb485/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73054
date: 2026-05-11
status: passed
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 1275
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb485.md?full=1
bill_number: SB 485
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: Senate
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2026-05-11
last_action: Effective Date 2026-07-01
sponsors:
- Chuck Payne
- Jason Anavitarte
- Kay Kirkpatrick
- Ed Setzler
- Randy Robertson
- Billy Hickman
- Chuck Hufstetler
- Max Burns
- Frank Ginn
- Bill Cowsert
- Carden Summers
- Mike Hodges
- Ben Watson
- Bo Hatchett
- Alan Powell
text_version: Enrolled
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SB485/2025
upstream_id: 2113614
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- social work licensing
- professional licensing
- nail technicians
- behavior analyst certification
- REAL ID requirements
---
# SB 485. Professional Counselors; applicants for a license in social work enrolled in a master's degree program to take the master's social work licensing examination in their final semester of the program; authorize
## Text
Senate Bill 485
By: Senators Payne of the 54th, Anavitarte of the 31st, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Setzler of
the 37th, Robertson of the 29th and others
AS PASSED
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 require that an applicant for a certificate of registration
as a nail technician provides a photocopy of such applicant's driver's license or identification
card with his or her application; to require that the holder of such certificate of registration
provides a photocopy of such holder's driver's license or identification card upon application
for renewal of such certificate; to require beauty shops and beauty salons which are training
nail technician apprentices to include a photocopy of such apprentices' driver's licenses or
identification cards to the division director upon registration of such apprentices; to require
the display of photographs of holders of certificates of registration and apprentices in the
beauty shop, beauty salon, or barber shop; to amend Article 1 of Chapter 10A of Title 43 of
the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to examination regarding professional
counselors, social workers, and marriage and family therapists, so as to authorize applicants
for a license in social work enrolled in a master's degree program to take the master's social
work licensing examination in their final semester of the program; to amend Code Section
43-7A-2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to definitions regarding the
practice of applied behavior analysis, so as to require a certifying entity for the Behavior
Analyst Certification Board to be a nonprofit organization; 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 in Code Section 43-10-9, relating to application for certificate
of registration, by revising subsection (d) as follows:
"(d)(1) Any individual desiring to obtain a certificate of registration to enable him or her
to engage in the occupation of a nail technician shall make application through the
division director to the board and shall present proof that he or she has obtained a high
school diploma, a state approved high school equivalency (HSE) diploma, or a
postsecondary education or college degree. If, after review of the application, it is
determined that the applicant is at least 17 years of age; has met the minimum educational
requirements; has completed a 525 credit hour study course of at least four months at a
board approved school or has served as an apprentice in a beauty shop, beauty salon, or
barber shop for a period of at least 1,050 credit hours; has practiced or studied nail care
as defined in paragraph (12) of Code Section 43-10-1; is possessed of the requisite skill
to perform properly these services; and has passed both a written and a practical
examination approved by the board, a certificate of registration shall be issued to the
applicant entitling the applicant to practice the occupation of nail technician.
(2) On and after July 1, 2028, any applicant for a certificate of registration pursuant to
this subsection shall include with his or her application a photocopy of such applicant's
driver's license or identification card compliant with Section 202 of the federal REAL ID
Act of 2005 and the standards established by 6 C.F.R. 37.11.
(3) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this subsection, the board shall allow
endorsement to an applicant who submits a complete application, along with a fee, and
verification that he or she holds an active license or certificate of registration as a nail
technician or an instructor or teacher of the occupation of a nail technician in another
state or territory of the United States. The board may pass requirements for endorsement
by rule."
SECTION 2.
Said chapter is further amended in Code Section 43-10-10, relating to display of certificate
of registration, renewal, reinstatement, continuing education requirements, and exemptions,
by adding new subsections to read as follows:
"(a.1) On and after July 1, 2028, the holder of a certificate of registration issued to a nail
technician under subsection (d) of Code Section 43-10-9 shall display a copy of the
photograph from such certificate holder's driver's license or identification card of not less
than two inches by two inches in size with the display of his or her certificate of
registration in a conspicuous place in his or her beauty shop, beauty salon, or barber shop."
"(b.1) On and after July 1, 2028, notwithstanding subsection (a) of this Code section and
in addition to the requirements of subsection (b) of this Code section, at the time of renewal
of a certificate of registration issued to a nail technician under subsection (d) of Code
Section 43-10-9, the holder of such certificate shall provide a photocopy of such certificate
holder's driver's license or identification card compliant with Section 202 of the federal
REAL ID Act of 2005 and the standards established by 6 C.F.R. 37.11."
SECTION 3.
Said chapter is further amended in Code Section 43-10-14, relating to study by individuals
16 years of age and older, registration of apprentices, registration certificate, and waiver of
education requirements, by revising subsection (b) as follows:
"(b) Every beauty shop, beauty salon, and barber shop owner shall have the responsibility
for registering apprentices with the division director. The shop of or salon owner shall file
a statement in writing, showing the apprentice's name and the address of the shop; provided
that, on and after July 1, 2028, for any individual apprenticing as a nail technician, the shop
or salon owner shall additionally provide a photocopy of such apprentice's driver's license
or identification card compliant with Section 202 of the federal REAL ID Act of 2005 and
the standards established by 6 C.F.R. 37.11; provided, further, that the shop or salon owner
shall cause a copy of the photograph from such driver's license or identification card of not
less than two inches by two inches in size to be displayed in a conspicuous place in such
beauty shop, beauty salon, or barber shop. The board shall have the authority to require
the shop or salon owner or master cosmetologist, hair designer, esthetician, nail technician,
or master barber who is supervising the apprentice to furnish to the board the number of
hours completed by the apprentice. The shop or salon owner shall remit to the division
director a fee in such amount as shall be set by the board by regulation for the registration
of the apprentice. The apprentice shall receive a certificate of registration showing the
capacity in which he or she is permitted to practice barbering or the occupation of a
cosmetologist. The certificate of registration shall be effective for a period of four years.
A certificate of registration authorizing a person to learn barbering or the occupation of a
cosmetologist under a cosmetologist, master cosmetologist, hair designer, esthetician, nail
technician, or master barber shall not be renewed; and, upon the expiration of certificate
of registration issued, such person shall not be permitted to practice in any capacity."
SECTION 4.
Article 1 of Chapter 10A of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
examination regarding professional counselors, social workers, and marriage and family
therapists, is amended by revising Code Section 43-10A-9, relating to examination, as
follows:
"43-10A-9.
(a) The board shall provide for the conduct of examinations for licensure in each specialty
at least twice a year. Examinations may be written, oral, experiential, or any combination
thereof and shall deal with such theoretical and applied fields as prescribed by the board.
The examinee's name shall not be disclosed to any person grading the examination until
that grading is complete.
(b) An applicant for a license in social work enrolled in a master's degree in social work
program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education may sit for the master's
social work licensing examination in such applicant's final semester of the program. The
board may adopt rules and regulations to administer the provisions of this subsection."
SECTION 5.
Code Section 43-7A-2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to definitions
regarding the practice of applied behavior analysis, is amended by revising paragraph (5) as
follows:
"(5) 'Certifying entity' means the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, Inc., or its
successor, or another entity that conducts programs to certify professional practitioners
of behavior analysis that are accredited by the National Commission on for Certifying
Agencies or the American National Standards Institute as identified by the board;
provided, however, that such entity shall be a nonprofit organization exempt from
taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986."
SECTION 6.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
## Summaries written by Georgia Commons
The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary.
A Georgia Senate bill would let social work students take their licensing exam during their final semester of a master's program, while also adding driver's license photocopy and photo display requirements for nail technicians and requiring the group that certifies behavior analysts to be a nonprofit.
### Plain-language summary
This bill changes several unrelated parts of Georgia's professional licensing laws. Currently, people seeking a license in social work must finish their master's degree before taking the required licensing exam. The bill would let students enrolled in an accredited master's in social work program take the master's social work licensing exam during their final semester, before graduating, and lets the licensing board write rules to administer this change.
Separately, starting July 1, 2028, the bill requires anyone applying for or renewing a nail technician certificate, and any apprentice training to become one, to submit a photocopy of a driver's license or ID card that meets federal REAL ID standards. Shops would have to display a photo from that ID alongside the certificate. The bill also requires the organization that certifies behavior analysts, such as the Behavor Analyst Certification Board, to be a tax-exempt nonprofit under federal law.
### What it does
- Lets applicants for a social work license take the master's social work licensing exam in their final semester rather than waiting until after graduation.
- Requires, starting July 1, 2028, nail technician applicants to submit a photocopy of a REAL ID compliant driver's license or ID card with their application.
- Requires nail technicians to submit an ID photocopy again when renewing their certificate, starting July 1, 2028.
- Requires beauty shops to collect ID photocopies from nail technician apprentices and display a photo from that ID in the shop.
- Requires the entity that certifies behavior analysts, like the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, to be a nonprofit organization exempt from federal taxes under Section 501(c)(3).
### Who it affects
Master's degree students seeking a social work license, the state licensing board for counselors, social workers, and therapists, nail technicians and nail technician apprentices, beauty shop and salon owners, and organizations that certify behavior analysts, such as the Behavior Analyst Certification Board.
### Why it matters
Social work students could become licensed and start working sooner after graduation instead of waiting to sit for the exam. Nail technicians and shop owners would face new paperwork and display requirements tied to identification starting in 2028, and behavior analyst certification would be limited to nonprofit entities.
### Key provisions
- Section 1 requires nail technician applicants, starting July 1, 2028, to include a photocopy of a REAL ID compliant driver's license or ID card with their application (O.C.G.A. § 43-10-9).
- Section 2 requires nail technicians to display a photo from their ID alongside their certificate and to resubmit an ID photocopy at renewal, effective July 1, 2028 (O.C.G.A. § 43-10-10).
- Section 3 requires beauty shop owners to collect and display ID photocopies for nail technician apprentices starting July 1, 2028 (O.C.G.A. § 43-10-14).
- Section 4 allows social work license applicants in their final semester of an accredited master's program to sit for the licensing exam and lets the board adopt implementing rules (O.C.G.A. § 43-10A-9).
- Section 5 requires the certifying entity for behavior analysts to be a nonprofit organization exempt from federal taxes under Section 501(c)(3) (O.C.G.A. § 43-7A-2).
## Status
- Status: Passed (2026-05-11)
- Last action: Effective Date 2026-07-01 (2026-05-11)
- Sponsors: Chuck Payne, Jason Anavitarte, Kay Kirkpatrick, Ed Setzler, Randy Robertson, Billy Hickman, Chuck Hufstetler, Max Burns, Frank Ginn, Bill Cowsert, Carden Summers, Mike Hodges, Ben Watson, Bo Hatchett, Alan Powell
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73054
> The history, votes, and amendments (1,275 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb485.md?full=1