Cosmetology and barber board approves multiple school applications, sets inspector and paperwork conditions

The Tennessee State Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners on Monday approved multiple new-school licenses and change-of-location requests, while requiring updated floor plans, inspection sign-offs or paperwork corrections for several applicants.

Board Executive Director Roxanna Gamusio said the meeting began with a quorum and proceeded through a packed licensing agenda that included 12 school presentations and several change-of-location requests. "We do have 8 in order to proceed so we have quorum and we will get started," Gamusio said at the outset.

The board approved change-of-location and new-school requests for a mix of cosmetology, barber and specialty programs. Major approvals included Austin's Beauty College (change of location within Clarksville), Dream Builders Academy (new specialty natural hairstyling school in Bolivar), Academy of Nail Artistry LLC (new manicure branch in Knoxville), Center Stage Beauty Academy (change of location in Alcoa), Beauty Vault Institute of Cosmetology (change of location in Memphis), Master Nail Academy (new manicure school in Cookeville), All Aspects Barber Styling and Beyond (change of location in Memphis), Journey Academy of Cosmetology (new branch in Jackson/Adamsville), and Crown Cuts Academy (new barber branch in Johnson City). Several approvals included specific contingencies noted by staff or board members.

Not every application was approved without conditions. The Aesthetics and Lash Academy (Jackson) was approved contingent on an updated, more detailed floor plan and successful field inspection; the board explicitly approved the application "with the contingency that the field inspector check out and approve the floor plan." The board also approved some schools with instructions to correct routine paperwork items such as adding page numbers to published materials, clarifying refund or transfer fee language and adding a statement that students must sign enrollment paperwork prior to payment. Multiple applicants were asked to extend record retention from five to seven years to match board expectations. Sheba Training Center (Knoxville), which proposed multiple program options in a shared salon/annex model, was tabled for further clarification: the board requested a clearer schedule showing which programs run when and where before taking action.

Votes at a glance: - Austin's Beauty College (change of location, Clarksville): approved; inspector to perform routine site inspection. (motion approved) - Dream Builders Academy (new specialty natural hairstyling, Bolivar): approved. (motion approved) - Academy of Nail Artistry LLC (new specialty manicure branch, Knoxville): approved; paperwork corrections requested (timekeeping backup, record retention). One abstention was recorded on the vote. (motion approved) - Aesthetics and Lash Academy (new specialty aesthetic, Jackson): approved contingent on updated floor plan and field inspection. (motion approved, contingent) - Center Stage Beauty Academy (change of location, Alcoa): approved. (motion approved) - Beauty Vault Institute of Cosmetology (change of location, Memphis): approved. (motion approved) - Master Nail Academy (new specialty manicure, Cookeville): approved, with instructional schedule and apprenticeship/traditional separation to be clarified. (motion approved) - All Aspects Barber Styling and Beyond (change of location, Memphis): approved. (motion approved) - Journey Academy of Cosmetology (new branch, Jackson/Adamsville): approved. (motion approved) - Sheba Training Center (new cosmetology, Knoxville): application tabled for additional schedule, program separation and clearer floor-plan/annex description. (motion to table approved) - Crown Cuts Academy (new barber branch, Johnson City): approved. (motion approved) - Empower Health Beauty Academy (new cosmetology, Antioch): approved with condition that applicant submit clarified apprenticeship partner list and enrollment contract wording to distinguish apprentice vs. traditional students. (motion approved, contingent)

Why it matters: licensing decisions determine which training programs operate in Tennessee, how students may access cosmetology and barber education (including apprenticeship options), and what consumer protections—floor-plan standards, recordkeeping, and inspection—apply. Several board members emphasized the need for clear paperwork and inspector verification before issuing final approvals.

Board members and staff repeatedly flagged common paperwork weaknesses: missing explicit language that a student must sign enrollment paperwork prior to payment; inconsistent record-retention periods; incomplete floor plans (missing station counts, break rooms or door locations); and the need for explicit lists of licensed professionals who will accept apprenticeship students. For several applications the board approved the application but directed staff to withhold final licensing until the required updates were sent and the field inspector confirmed the space met regulatory requirements.

The board also reminded applicants that apprenticeship programs carry special requirements (the school remains responsible for submitted apprenticeship hours and must demonstrate placement partnerships with qualified licensed supervisors), and that those relationships should be submitted before students are placed. Several schools were asked to separate apprenticeship and traditional enrollment agreements to make students' chosen pathway (apprentice vs. traditional) explicit.

The meeting closed the licensing block after the motions were carried; multiple applicants were told to work with Director Gamusio on revisions and inspection scheduling.

Ending: Applicants approved with contingencies were told to return updated materials to staff and to coordinate inspections; the board staff indicated it would process revisions and schedule inspections before issuing final licenses.