Board hears draft report on cosmetology apprenticeship program; staff, members call for changes

Board staff presented a draft report on the state’s cosmetology and barbering apprenticeship program at the Feb. 10 meeting, describing systemic problems staff said require regulatory and legislative attention.

Why it matters: Apprenticeships are a state-supported pathway into licensing designed to allow training while earning pay. The board’s report identified gaps in oversight that, staff and board members said, put apprentices at risk of high fees, inadequate training and poor workplace protections. The findings have implications for a 2026 sunset review and potential legislative changes.

What staff reported: The board presented data showing low overall pass rates for apprentices and particularly low pass rates for Spanish-language test takers in 2024 (approximately 22% pass rate reported for cosmetology Spanish-language examinees in apprenticeship pathways). Staff described several recurring problems: - High tuition and fees charged by some apprenticeship sponsors or third-party training facilities (staff reported averages around $7,000 and instances substantially higher), and additional administrative and…