TDLR advisory board forms work groups after public outcry over written and practical exams
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Summary
Advisors, educators and TDLR staff debated the validity and timing of the written and practical barbering and cosmetology exams. The board created three work groups to study practical exam administration, earlier written-exam eligibility, and stackable licensing, and directed staff to provide multi-year pass-rate data.
The TDLR Barbering and Cosmetology Advisory Board heard multiple public commenters and staff reports on licensure testing and voted to convene three work groups to study testing and curriculum changes rather than take immediate rule action.
During public comment, instructors urged changes to both the written and practical exams, saying current pass rates prevent timely entry into the workforce. “I believe for us to have a higher success rate with the written exam that we should consider lowering it at least to the 50,” said Kimberly Moyers, a high-school instructor, arguing that earlier written eligibility and a reworked practical would improve completion and employment timelines. Laura Hayes, a program director, said current pass rates “are really time to take action,” and urged the board to reexamine the practical format. Alicia Rivera, a Mount Pleasant High School instructor, asked the board to consider school-administered practicals or targeted revisions for different types of programs.
TDLR staff said examination content and candidate materials have recently been updated. “Our SMEs reviewed 103 existing items, edited 26 items, deleted 10 items, [and] wrote and approved 59 new exam items,” Simone Cortez, program specialist for exams, told the board, and staff republished a refreshed candidate information bulletin on Oct. 1. Simone also said staff would provide corrected and up-to-date pass-rate figures for the board’s next meeting.
Rather than adopt an immediate rule change, the board assigned three work groups to develop recommendations and review data: a practical-exam group (members: Salvador Flores; Natalie Enderman; Nailing/Nelian Holman; Laura Valdez), an early-written-eligibility group (members: Ladentrick Leonard; Ron/Juan Jemison; Darren Peterson), and a stackable-licensing group (members: Natalie Enderman; Laura Valdez; Mary Lindsey; Ron/Juan Jemison). TDLR staff will convene the groups, circulate materials and return draft language or findings to the advisory board; no change to licensure rules was adopted at this meeting.
Board members and public commenters requested historical exam pass-rate data to inform the work groups. “We will be providing to you September’s pass rates,” a staff member said, and staff committed to sending five-year pass-rate reports and related analytics after the meeting.
The board’s action preserves the status quo for testing while creating a structured review process intended to produce data-driven policy options for future rulemaking and public comment.