SB485: SB485 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

This bill bundles together several unrelated licensing changes in Georgia law. For nail technicians, it adds new identification requirements starting July 1, 2028: applicants must submit a photocopy of a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or ID card with their application, renewal applicants must do the same, and beauty shop or salon owners registering nail technician apprentices must also submit a photocopy of the apprentice's ID. Shops must display a small photo copy from that ID near the certificate of registration. The bill also changes rules for professional counselors and social workers. Currently, students must finish their master's program before sitting for the licensing exam. This bill lets applicants for a social work license who are enrolled in an accredited master's program take the master's social work licensing exam during their final semester, with the licensing board allowed to write rules to administer this. Finally, the bill updates the legal definition of a 'certifying entity' for applied behavior analysis, requiring such an entity to be a nonprofit organization exempt from federal taxes under Section 501(c)(3).

• Allows applicants for a social work license enrolled in an accredited master's program to take the master's social work licensing exam during their final semester instead of 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 renewing their certificate of registration after July 1, 2028 to also submit a photocopy of their driver's license or ID card.
• Requires beauty shop, beauty salon, and barber shop owners registering nail technician apprentices to submit a photocopy of the apprentice's ID starting July 1, 2028.
• Requires shops to display a small photograph copy from the ID alongside the certificate of registration or apprentice registration in a visible location.
• Changes the legal definition of a certifying entity for behavior analysis practice to require that the entity be a tax-exempt nonprofit organization.

Nail technicians, nail technician apprentices, and beauty shop, beauty salon, and barber shop owners in Georgia; social work students enrolled in master's degree programs and the licensing board that oversees counselors, social workers, and marriage and family therapists; and organizations that certify behavior analysis practitioners.

Social work students could enter the workforce and get licensed sooner by testing before graduation. Nail technicians and shop owners would face new paperwork and display requirements tied to federally compliant identification starting in 2028, and behavior analysis certifying bodies would need nonprofit status to remain recognized under Georgia law.

• Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 43-10-9 to require nail technician applicants to submit a photocopy of a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or ID card starting July 1, 2028.
• Section 2 amends O.C.G.A. § 43-10-10 to require nail technicians to provide an ID photocopy at renewal and to display a photo copy of at least two inches by two inches alongside their certificate.
• Section 3 amends O.C.G.A. § 43-10-14 to require shop or salon owners to submit and display ID photocopies for nail technician apprentices starting July 1, 2028.
• Section 4 revises O.C.G.A. § 43-10A-9 to let social work master's students sit for the licensing exam in their final semester and lets the board adopt rules to administer this.
• Section 5 revises O.C.G.A. § 43-7A-2 to require a certifying entity for behavior analysis to be a nonprofit organization exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
• Section 6 repeals conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-07-01
2. 2026-05-11Act 514
3. 2026-05-11Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
4. 2026-04-10Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
5. 2026-03-27Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub (Senate)
6. 2026-03-23House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
7. 2026-03-23House Third Readers (House)
8. 2026-03-18House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)

• Chuck Payne (R, SD-054)Primary sponsor
• Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-031)
• Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-032)
• Ed Setzler (R, SD-037)
• Randy Robertson (R, SD-029)
• Billy Hickman (R, SD-004)
• Chuck Hufstetler (R, SD-052)
• Max Burns (R, SD-023)
• Frank Ginn (R, SD-047)
• Bill Cowsert (R, SD-046)
• Carden Summers (R, SD-013)
• Mike Hodges (R, SD-003)
• Ben Watson (R, SD-001)
• Bo Hatchett (R, SD-050)
• Alan Powell (R, HD-033)

1. PassedSenate voteMarch 6, 2026

   48 yea, 0 nay (3 not voting, 4 absent)

   Passage: Senate Vote #665

2. PassedHouse voteMarch 23, 2026

   121 yea, 46 nay (1 not voting, 8 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #747

3. PassedSenate voteMarch 27, 2026

   46 yea, 0 nay (1 not voting, 7 absent)

   Agree To House Substitute: Senate Vote #856

• social work licensing
• nail technician regulations
• professional licensing
• behavior analysis certification
• cosmetology