AACS Member Schools and Beauty Professionals Gather in Utah to Oppose Suggested Micro Credentials

Recently, more than 400 beauty professionals in Utah, including numerous AACS member school owners, directors, educators, and students, attended the Business and Labor Interim Committee meeting at the Capitol Building in Salt Lake City to oppose the recommendations to replace the cosmetology license with numerous micro credentials. The Utah Office of Licensure Review submitted this proposal without input from the beauty, barber, and wellness education sector. The report also stated that licensure hours should be reduced because it is not the state’s responsibility to legislate skill, but rather to regulate safety. The representatives from the beauty education sector made it clear that changing the licensure structure of beauty and wellness careers in Utah would put it out of step with all other states and make it almost impossible for licensed professionals to move to another state to practice. The reduction of hours and the creation of the micro credentials would also make most of the educational programs too short for the students to receive federal Pell Grant funding. The recommendations will most likely be drafted into legislation that will be presented to the same committee in October for a vote. 

The AACS leadership and legal team will continue to monitor updates on these issues and keep our members informed.