Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Business & Financial Services Committee

SSB 5996

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Description: Requiring the department of licensing to adopt rules regarding online learning for training in cosmetology, manicuring, barbering, esthetics, master esthetics, and instruction.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Commerce & Labor (originally sponsored by Senators Angel, Fain and McAuliffe).

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

  • Requires the Department of Licensing to adopt rules regarding distance or online learning in the areas of cosmetology, manicuring, barbering, esthetics, master esthetics, and instructor-training.

  • Modifies the definition of "curriculum" to include online learning in a licensed school or an apprenticeship program in the areas of cosmetology, manicuring, barbering, esthetics, master esthetics, and instructor training.

  • Requires the Department of Licensing to review distance or online learning in the areas of cosmetology, manicuring, barbering, esthetics, master esthetics, and instructor-training and provide its findings to the Legislature no later than January 1, 2016.

Hearing Date: 2/12/14

Staff: Linda Merelle (786-7092).

Background:

The Department of Licensing (DOL) regulates the practices of cosmetology, barbering, manicuring, and esthetics, areas of practice that involve the use of tools and chemicals which may be dangerous when mixed or applied improperly.

A "curriculum" means the courses of study taught at a school, or in an approved apprenticeship program established by the Washington state apprenticeship and training council and conducted in an approved salon or shop. No statute or administrative rule prohibits online learning.

Areas of Practice Defined.

Cosmetology.

Means:

Barbering.

Means cutting, trimming, arranging, dressing, curling, shampooing, shaving, and mustache and beard design of the hair of the face, neck, and scalp.

Manicuring.

Means cleaning, shaping, polishing, decorating, and caring for and treatment of the cuticles and the nails of the hands or feet, and the application and removal of sculptured or otherwise artificial nails by hand or with mechanical or electrical apparatus or appliances.

Esthetics.

Means the care of the skin for compensation by application, use of preparations, antiseptics, tonics, essential oils, exfoliants, superficial and light peels, or by any device, except laser, or equipment, electrical or otherwise, or by wraps, compresses, cleansing, conditioning, stimulation, superficial skin stimulation, pore extraction, or product application and removal. It may also include the temporary removal of superfluous hair and application of product to the eyelashes and eyebrows, including extensions, design and treatment, tinting and lightening of the hair, excluding the scalp.

Master Esthetics.

Means the care of the skin for compensation including all of the methods allowed in the definition of the practice of esthetics. It also includes the performance of medium depth peels and the use of medical devices for care of the skin and permanent hair reduction. The medical devices include lasers, light, radio frequency, plasma, intense pulsed light, and ultrasound.

The license for a "master esthetician" was created in 2013 pursuant to Substitute House Bill 1779. The DOL began granting licenses for master estheticians in January 2014.

Instructor-Trainee.

Means a person who is currently licensed in this state as a cosmetologist, barber, manicurist, esthetician, or master esthetician, and is enrolled in an instructor-trainee curriculum in a licensed school.

Area of Practice

Minimum Curriculum Training Hours Required

School

Apprentice Training

Cosmetologist

1600

2000

Barber

1000

1200

Manicurist

600

800

Esthetician

750

800

Master Esthetician

1200 or Esthetician License plus 400

1400

Instructor-Trainee

500

NA

Summary of Bill:

The Legislature finds that online learning:

The Legislature also states that online learning is an appropriate and efficient method for the study of theory for cosmetology, manicuring, barbering, esthetics, and instructor-training.

The definition of "curriculum" is modified to expressly include courses of study that are taught online by a school or by an approved apprenticeship program. The Director of the DOL must adopt rules regarding distance or online learning, and those rules must include a limit on the number of hours of online learning that may be used toward minimum licensing requirements in the areas of cosmetology, manicuring, barbering, esthetics, master esthetics, and instructor-training.

No later than January 1, 2016, the DOL must conduct an evaluation review of distance or online learning in the areas of cosmetology, manicuring, barbering, esthetics, and instructor-training. The evaluation review must be provided to the committees of the Legislature that oversee the licensing of those professions.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.