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Senators press board to modernize licensing systems and reduce exam backlogs
Summary
Senators urged the Board of Cosmetology and Barbering to adopt digital licensing portals, streamline exam scheduling, expand practical exam capacity and consider reciprocity; board members agreed to explore IT solutions, proctoring partnerships with community colleges and competency-based testing.
Senator Johns and other committee members urged the board to prioritize digitizing licensing services and creating a secure online portal after describing past clerical backlogs and mail-related delays. Senator Johns said switching to a digital system would "make it a much easier process for licensees or permittees to be able to communicate, renew, submit documents" and recommended prioritizing user-focused implementation.
Board members and senators discussed practical exam capacity and proctoring locations; McElree said the board is exploring evaluator contracts and partnerships with community colleges to proctor practical exams and that the written exam is computer-based. Senator Boyd relayed constituent complaints that practical exam scheduling delays were excessive and that some businesses had not been inspected in years; the board said it would review evaluator staffing and inspection schedules.
