NEW JERSEY – Legislation sponsored by Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz and Senator Shirley K. Turner was approved by the Senate and sent to the Governor’s desk last week, which would permit junior cosmetology and hairstyling students to obtain a student permit to shampoo and rinse hair while completing their training. Non-students could also obtain employment as shampoo technicians under the bill.
“The current requirement of 600 hours of course instruction to wash hair is an excessive hurdle for employment opportunities. Reducing the amount of hours required to become a shampoo tech will give students a chance to gain invaluable hands-on experience while continuing their schooling, establish new employment pathways for non-students, and help salons fill staffing needs,” said Ruiz (D-Essex/Hudson).
“Sixty hours of relevant coursework or training is more than sufficient for individuals to begin working with clients and washing hair,” said Turner (D-Mercer/Hunterdon). “This is a great way for people to supplement their education or make a living, and will benefit salons and barbershops by providing them much-needed assistance.”
Currently, in order to obtain a student permit to practice cosmetology and hairstyling, an applicant is required to be a senior student with at least 600 hours of course instruction.
Under the bill, S-2245, a junior student in a course of instruction in cosmetology and hairstyling would be eligible to obtain a student permit to shampoo and rinse hair if the student submits to the Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling satisfactory evidence that the student has completed at least 60 hours of relevant course instruction. The student would also need to demonstrate to the Board that they do not have a communicable, contagious, or infectious disease that could be transmitted while providing services.
For non-students to obtain employment as shampoo technicians, they would need to complete 60 hours of training either offered by a licensed cosmetology and hairstyling school or public school vocational program or provided by a licensed shop for a reasonable fee and pass a practical examination by the Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling.
The bill passed the Senate in a 38-0 vote.
