California Eliminates State Board Exam and Reduces Licensure Hours

New Bill Establishes Shorter Program Hairstylist License Future California stylists won’t have to take a hands-on exam and will need fewer hours of training to become licensed now that a new bill has passed, bringing major changes to the state’s professional beauty industry.     The bill—known as SB 803—reduced the cosmetology and barbering programs to 1,000 hours of training. Previously, cosmetology requires 1,600 hours and barbering required 1,500. The bill also established a new 600-hour program for hairstylists that want to offer cutting and styling services only (color and chemical straightening services are excluded).     Related: New bill would eliminate (more…)