Section 43-10-12. Regulation and permits for schools; teachers and instructors; registration of apprentices; certification as teacher by Department of Education

   (a) (1) All schools of cosmetology, schools of esthetics, or schools of nail care shall:

      (A) Cause to be registered with the board, at the time of opening, 15 bona fide students;

      (B) Have not less than one instructor for every 20 students or a fraction thereof; and

      (C) Keep permanently displayed a sign reading "School of Cosmetology," "School of Esthetics," or "School of Nail Care," as the case may be; and all such signs shall also display the words "Service by Students Only." Where service is rendered by a student, no commissions or premiums shall be paid to such student for work done in the schools; nor shall any person be employed by the schools to render professional service to the public.

   (2) All schools of cosmetology, schools of esthetics, and schools of nail care are required to keep in a conspicuous place in such schools a copy of the rules and regulations adopted by the board.

   (3) All cosmetologists who take an apprentice pursuant to Code Section 43-10-14 shall file immediately with the board through the division director the name and age of such apprentice; and the board shall cause such information to be entered on a register kept by the division director for that purpose.

(b) Any person desiring to operate or conduct a school of cosmetology, school of esthetics, or school of nail care prior to opening shall first secure from the board a permit to do so and shall keep the permit prominently displayed in the school.

(c) The board shall have the right to pass upon the qualifications, appointments, courses of study, and hours of study in the school of cosmetology, school of esthetics, or school of nail care, provided that:

   (1) All schools of cosmetology shall be required to teach the following courses: theory, permanent and cold waving, hair coloring and bleaching, hair and scalp treatments, hair and scalp conditioning, hair cutting and shaping, hairdressing, shampooing, styling, comb out, charm, reception, desk work, art and laboratory, facials, makeup and arching, skin care, nail care, state law, state rules and regulations, and any other subjects related to cosmetology and sanitation;

   (2) All schools of esthetics shall be required to teach the following courses: theory, skin care, facials, makeup and arching, charm, reception, desk work, art and laboratory, massaging the face or neck, trimming eyebrows, dyeing, waxing, stimulating, cleansing, or beautifying, state law, state rules and regulations, and any other subjects related to esthetics and sanitation; and

   (3) All schools of nail care shall be required to teach the following courses: theory, trimming, filing, shaping, decorating, sculpturing and artificial nails, nail care, charm, reception, desk work, art and laboratory, state law, state rules and regulations, and any other subjects related to nail care and sanitation.

(d) (1) The board shall have the right to suspend or revoke the certificate, permit, or license of or to reprimand any such school of cosmetology, school of esthetics, or school of nail care, or instructor or teacher therein, for the violation of this chapter.

   (2) The board shall have the same power and authority as to sanitary conditions over schools as it has over beauty shops and beauty salons.

(e) (1) All teachers or instructors shall devote their entire time to instruction of students. Any person desiring to teach or instruct in any school of cosmetology, school of esthetics, or school of nail care shall first file his or her application with the division director for a license, shall pay a fee in such amount as shall be set by the board by regulation, and shall successfully pass both a written and a practical examination to become an instructor.

   (2) (A) A person desiring to teach at the master level shall satisfy the board that he or she:

         (i) Holds a current cosmetology license at the master level and is a high school graduate, has a general educational development (GED) diploma, or has a postsecondary education or college degree;

         (ii) Has 750 hours of instructor training in cosmetology at a board approved school; and

         (iii) Has one year of work experience at the master level.

      (B) A person holding a current cosmetology license at the master level who is a high school graduate, has a general educational development (GED) diploma, or has a postsecondary education or college degree; who has completed the required board approved hours of continuing education; and has board approved work experience as an instructor or in education may, at the board's discretion, be permitted to take the written and the practical examination to become an instructor at the master level.

   (3) (A) A person desiring to teach at the esthetician level shall satisfy the board that he or she:

         (i) Holds a current cosmetology license at the esthetician or master level and is a high school graduate, has a general educational development (GED) diploma, or has a postsecondary education or college degree;

         (ii) Has 500 hours of board approved instructor training in esthetics of at least nine months;

         (iii) Has one year of work experience at the esthetician or master level; and

         (iv) Has passed both a written and a practical examination to become an instructor in esthetics.

      (B) A person holding a current cosmetology license at the esthetician or master level who is a high school graduate, has a general educational development (GED) diploma, or has a postsecondary education or college degree; who has completed the required board approved hours of continuing education; and has board approved work experience as an instructor or in education may, at the board's discretion, be permitted to take the written and the practical examination to become an instructor at the esthetician level.

   (4) (A) A person desiring to teach at the nail technician level shall satisfy the board that he or she:

         (i) Holds a current cosmetology license at the nail technician or master level and is a high school graduate, has a general educational development (GED) diploma, or has a postsecondary education or college degree;

         (ii) Has 250 hours of board approved instructor training in nail care of at least four months;

         (iii) Has one year of work experience at the nail technician or master level; and

         (iv) Has passed both a written and a practical examination to become an instructor in nail care.

      (B) A person holding a current cosmetology license at the nail technician or master level who is a high school graduate, has a general educational development (GED) diploma, or has a postsecondary education or college degree; who has completed the required board approved hours of continuing education; and has board approved work experience as an instructor or in education may, at the board's discretion, be permitted to take the written and the practical examination to become an instructor at the nail technician level.

   (5) Reserved.

   (6) (A) A person desiring to teach at the hair designer level shall satisfy the board that he or she:

         (i) Holds a current cosmetology license at the hair designer or master level and is a high school graduate, has a general educational development (GED) diploma, or has a postsecondary education or college degree;

         (ii) Has 750 hours of board approved instructor training in hair design of at least four months;

         (iii) Has one year of work experience at the hair designer or master level; and

         (iv) Has passed both a written and a practical examination to become an instructor in hair design.

      (B) A person holding a current cosmetology license at the hair designer or master level who is a high school graduate, has a general educational development (GED) diploma, or has a postsecondary education or college degree; who has completed the required board approved hours of continuing education; and has board approved work experience as an instructor or in education may, at the board's discretion, be permitted to take the written and the practical examinations to become an instructor at the hair designer level.

   (7) Any teacher or instructor shall renew his or her license to teach cosmetology biennially in odd years by remitting with his or her application a renewal fee in such amount as shall be set by the board by regulation; provided, however, any teacher or instructor who fails to renew his or her certificate of registration to practice as a cosmetologist, esthetician, or nail technician on or before the date established by the board by regulation shall automatically have his or her license to teach or instruct suspended. A person failing to renew his or her instructor's license within two years after expiration shall be required to pay a reinstatement fee after board review.

   (8) Nothing in this Code section shall be construed as preventing a person from obtaining a certificate of registration as teacher or instructor who is certified by the Department of Education to teach cosmetology in the state public schools. The certification is limited to those persons who hold a current cosmetology license at the master level and also hold a diploma or certificate of 1,500 credit hours from a board approved school and have completed the three-year teachers training program required by the Department of Education. Such persons shall also pass both a written and a practical examination satisfactory to the board and, upon passage thereof, shall receive a license to teach cosmetology.

(f) All teachers or instructors of cosmetology at all levels seeking renewal of licenses are required to submit to the board proof of completion of 15 hours of continuing education in the cosmetology profession approved by the board at least half of which consists of instruction in teaching methods.

Ga. L. 1963, p. 45, § 12; Ga. L. 1966, p. 195, § 6; Ga. L. 1977, p. 803, § 4; Ga. L. 1979, p. 1327, § 8; Ga. L. 1980, p. 1420, §§ 9, 10; Ga. L. 1983, p. 1219, § 5; Ga. L. 1985, p. 1057, § 10; Ga. L. 1986, p. 10, § 43; Ga. L. 1992, p. 2490, § 1; Ga. L. 1996, p. 1239, § 6; Ga. L. 2000, p. 814, § 1; Ga. L. 2000, p. 1706, § 19; Ga. L. 2001, p. 1077, § 3; Ga. L. 2001, p. 1185, § 2; Ga. L. 2002, p. 415, § 43; Ga. L. 2006, p. 904, § 8/SB 145.