TEXAS HB 2847 by Goldman/Hancock
The Future of the Beauty Industry Coalition and a Texas coalition of industry leaders are pleased with their recent success in Texas. In the closing hours of Texas’ 2019 legislative session, both the House and the Senate adopted a conference report to HB 2847 that reduced the course of instruction for cosmetology from 1,500 to 1,000 hours. Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) signed the legislation on June 14, 2019.
This legislation brings common sense reform that equalizes the number of cosmetology curriculum hours at Texas private beauty schools to what currently is required in Texas high school cosmetology courses. Countless Texas salon owners have said they find no difference between the performance of high school cosmetology program graduates and private beauty school graduates. This legislation will also permit cosmetology students to take the licensure examination at 900 hours and allow schools to administer the practical examination.
Why did so many Texas salon owners and salon professionals support this legislation?
- 1,000 hours has proven successful in other states for decades. Hair is hair. If other states have successfully trained in 1,000 hours for decades, why are more hours needed anywhere else? Hair is hair.
- 1,000 hours has proven successful in the Texas high school cosmetology programs.
- Graduation rates are not improved by requiring more curriculum hours.
- Longer curriculums lead to higher loan debt and greater financial risk for students.
- 1,000 hours is more than sufficient for students to adequately learn all necessary sanitation and safety practices, as well as the necessary skills to have a successful career.
Eight states have lowered hours in the past few years. Reducing the number of curriculum hours from 1,500 to 1,000 reflects the nationwide trend in moving cosmetology students from redundant and expensive classroom instruction into the workplace. This allows aspiring cosmetologists to more quickly learn the trade and provide for their families.
