Georgia CommonsSB 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
Enrolled version, the latest LegiScan holds · Last action May 11, 2026 · Passed
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Underlined words are what the bill adds to current law and struck-through words are what it removes, as the printed bill shows them.
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.