To the Maryland Board of Cosmetologists and Maryland State Lawmakers

We, the undersigned licensed cosmetologists, hairstylists, barbers, nail technicians, salon owners, and supporters, respectfully request a review and reform of the current 7 hours where Continuing Education (CE) requirement for license renewal in Maryland. 

Licensed beauty professionals in Maryland are required to complete 6 hours of state approved continuing education in order to renew their license. Failure to complete these hours results in denial of license renewal preventing us from legally working in our profession and earning income. 

We believe this requirement is:

•  Redundant  
  
  Many salons, barbershops, and nails salons already provide ongoing in-house education and training. Professionals regularly attend hair shows, trade events, manufacturer classes, and advanced training courses to stay current with trends, techniques, sanitation standards, and product knowledge.  
  
  
• Financial Burdensome    
   
  Required CE courses must be paid for out- of- pocket. In today’s economic climate many beauty professionals are independent contractors or small business owners already facing rising costs for rent, supplies, insurance, and utilities.  
   If a licensee fails a required CE courses they must often pay again to retake the class. For some professionals, especially during economic hardship, this creates an additional financial strain that they may not be affordable.  
  
  
• Concerning the Domestic Violence CE  
   
  Cosmetologists are licensed and trained to provide technical beauty services, sanitation, and client safety within a salon setting. Domestic violence awareness training falls outside the professional scope defined by cosmetology licensure and moves into areas traditionally addressed by law enforcement, healthcare professionals, and licensed social workers. Licensing requirements should remain directly connected to public safety risks inherent to the profession (e.g., infection control, chemical safety, sanitation).

• Regulatory Burden on Small Business:

  Many cosmetologists operate as:

  Independent contractor
  Sole proprietors
  Small business owners

  Mandatory CE hours—even limited ones—create financial costs, administrative tracking burdens, and time away from income-generating work. For part-time professionals and those supporting families additional regulatory requirements have a disproportionate economic impact.

• Lack of Demonstrated Outcome Data

  We respectfully request transparency regarding:

  Evidence that DV CE requirements for cosmetologists reduce domestic violence incidents.
  Data demonstrating measurable public safety improvements from this mandate.
  Legal protections provided to cosmetologists who may act on suspected abuse.

  Public policy should be supported by demonstrable effectiveness and measurable outcomes

• Unequal Application Across Professions

  If domestic violence awareness is deemed a statewide public health priority applying this requirement solely to cosmetology professionals appears inconsistent. Many other licensed professions with regular public contact are not subject to the same mandate.

   

  Regulatory fairness requires consistent standards or broader public education initiatives rather than industry-specific mandates

• Professional Autonomy in Continuing Education

  Cosmetologists should retain discretion to select continuing education courses that directly enhance:

  Technical skill
  Client safety
  Business management
  Regulatory compliance

  Mandating specific social policy topics reduces professional autonomy and limits meaningful professional development choices. 
  
  

• Our request  
  
  We respectfully request that the Maryland legislators consider the following reforms   
  
  
• Allow in-salon education, hair shows, trade expos, and manufacturer-led classes to qualify for CE credit. 
  
  
• Provide free or state-funded CE options   
  
  
• Reduce the required CE hours   

• Reconsider or repeal the mandatory Domestic Violence CE requirement

• Make the DV course optional rather than mandatory

• Allow industry professionals to vote on CE topic requirements through advisory processes.

  We Support education, professionalism, and maintaining high industry standards.  We are committed to public safety, and ethical conduct. However the current CE requirements structure unnecessary financial and professional hardship on licensed beauty professionals across Maryland. Furthermore, licensure requirements should remain directly tied to the core functions and risks of the profession.

   
  We are asking for fairness, flexibility and reform — not the elimination of education, a system that keeps the interest of regulatory fairness, economic impact, and professional scope.