During a phone conversation with my mom a few days ago, I learned
about a particularly ridiculous and useless piece of state
legislation. She told me she was worried about fulfilling her
“continuing education”requirement in time to renew her cosmetology license (why does the state have to license cosmetologists at all?).
“21 NCAC 14R .0101 CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
(a) The continuing education requirement for all licensees is eight hours per year. Cosmetologists may
complete the 24 hours of continuing education any time within the cosmetologist’s three-year licensing
cycle. No licensee shall receive credit for course duplication completed during the licensing cycle. Course
instructors shall not receive credit for any course taught by them…”
Apparently, the NC Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners
cares so much about the profession that they force cosmetologists to
take classes against their will (but certainly for their own
good). My mom used to go to seminars all the time (on her own
time, back when there was no continuing ed requirement), but she’s
hasn’t been able to go to any recently and she will lose the
state-granted privilege to work in cosmetology unless she gets 24 hours
of “continuing ed” very soon.
How on earth could a law this bad
stay on the books in these fine United States of America?
Licensing doesn’t make sense, but there may be a case for it when the
consumer’s choice is limited, as in emergency medical care
(maybe). In the case of hair care, where choice abounds and bad
stylists go out of business, why would there even be a State Board of
Cosmetic Art Examiners? I submit that the board does it because
they can, because people (except myself) don’t seem to mind all that
much, and because they can extract fees and create some degree of
political power for themselves. Cosmetologists should be upset.
