Tennessee board approves three new or relocated specialty schools, requests clarifications on plans

The Tennessee Cosmetology and Barber Examiners Board on Dec. 2 approved a new manicure specialty school, a natural-hair apprenticeship school and a change of location for an existing apprenticeship school, while asking each applicant to correct or clarify paperwork before final registration.

Board Executive Director Roxanna Gamusio opened the agenda item on new schools and introduced applicants. The board then reviewed applications, floor plans, enrollment agreements, catalogs and contingency plans submitted by the three providers.

A Veil Academy — a manicure-only specialty school based in Memphis — was approved after the applicant, Ashley Glenn, described the program as a five-month course. “It is a 5 month program. I don't know what else you need to know about it,” Glenn said. Board members noted the paperwork was “very meticulous,” and asked Glenn to add a statement clarifying the school’s refund policy for students who request refunds after 30 days of enrollment; the applicant agreed to revise the catalog. The board voted to approve the school as presented.

Art of Locks Training Academy, proposed by Latara Spearman of Memphis, was approved with corrections. Spearman told the board she will train students “solely focusing on natural hair” through an apprenticeship model. Board members reminded Spearman that apprenticeship training requires theory instruction at the school and practical hours in a shop, and that apprenticeship natural-hair programs total 300 hours. The board noted the paperwork listed an item allowing up to 150% time (permitting a potential nine-month completion window) and asked Spearman to correct floor-plan square footage so the classroom space is clearly separated from salon areas; Spearman said she would resubmit corrected plans. The board approved the school conditional on those revisions.

Caviar Beauty Institute was approved for a change of location. Owner LaShawn (Lashawn) Thompson said the school is moving next door and that the institution currently operates apprenticeship programs. Board staff identified gaps in the catalog and enrollment descriptions — for example, program descriptions that could be read as implying students do practical work before theory — and asked Thompson to revise the catalog to match the enrollment agreement and to strengthen the contingency plan (including named partner schools to receive students in a teach-out). Thompson said she will correct the catalog, add a more explicit class schedule to the enrollment agreement so students know when theory and synchronous instruction will occur, and provide clearer floor-plan square footage. The board approved the location change with those requested clarifications.

Why it matters: The board’s approvals expand training pathways in specialty nail and natural-hair services and allow an existing provider to continue operating after relocation. At the same time, the board used approvals to press for clearer student-facing documents and stronger contingency planning, saying those items are essential both for student consumer protection and for inspections.

Board direction and next steps: For each approved provider the board asked staff to confirm corrected floor plans and revised enrollment materials before final administrative processing. Applicants were specifically asked to (1) add explicit refund language for enrollments after 30 days (A Veil), (2) correct the school-only square footage and clearly separate classroom from salon areas (Art of Locks), and (3) update Caviar’s catalog/enrollment agreement to reflect the apprenticeship model and to name contingency partners and a staggered class schedule.

Votes and formal actions: The board recorded motions and seconds on each item and approved all three requests during the meeting.

Additional context: Board staff reminded applicants that apprenticeship programs must deliver theory in the school and that practical hours must be completed in a salon; the board also noted some apprenticeships may permit up to 150% of the standard completion time and that applicants should decide and document their scheduling approach.