South Carolina Board approves easier licensure process for out-of-state cosmetologists

The South Carolina Legislature's House Regulations, Administrative Procedures, AI and Cybersecurity Committee convened on March 26, 2025, to discuss several key regulatory documents affecting various professional licenses. The meeting focused on updates and approvals related to counseling, engineering, and cosmetology licensure.

The first item on the agenda was Document 5354, which addressed the qualifications for licensure as a professional counselor. The committee clarified that the requirements include 60 hours of graduate work and an hour of suicide prevention training. A motion was made and unanimously approved with a vote of 7-0.

Next, the committee reviewed Document 5334, which pertains to the reinstatement of lapsed licenses for counselors. This document expands the list of applicable counselors to include addiction counselor supervisors and standardizes the treatment of licenses that have lapsed for less than five years. The subcommittee recommended approval, which was also passed with a 7-0 vote.

Following this, Document 5310 was discussed, which corrected a cross-reference issue within the regulations for the Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors. The committee swiftly moved to approve this correction, resulting in another unanimous vote of 7-0.

The final item on the agenda was Document 5307, which aimed to simplify the licensure process for out-of-state cosmetology applicants. This proposal allows for the endorsement of out-of-state licenses, making it easier for qualified individuals to obtain licensure in South Carolina. The discussion highlighted concerns from industry professionals regarding the implications of this change, but the committee proceeded with a motion to approve the document.

In conclusion, the meeting resulted in the successful approval of all discussed documents, reflecting the committee's commitment to updating and streamlining professional licensure processes in South Carolina. The next steps involve implementing these changes and addressing any further concerns raised by stakeholders in the respective fields.