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Hair-braiding licensing requirements are being rolled back by Pennsylvania law. PHOTO/GETTY IMAGES
Pa. law eliminates expensive braiding licensing
Ed Gruver//October 17, 2024//
Listen to this articleA new Pennsylvania law eliminates hair-braiding licensing requirements, reducing hurdles to employment and new businesses.
Gov. Josh Shapiro signed legislation Wednesday freeing natural hair braiders from costly state licensing requirements. Pennsylvania is the 35th state to eliminate natural hair braiding licensing.
“Hair braiding licenses demonstrate how irrational state regulations and occupational licenses can be,” Elizabeth Stelle, director of policy analysis for the Commonwealth Foundation, said in a statement. “They’re often money-making schemes, with little or no public benefit.
Requirements for a Pennsylvania natural hair braiding license included the following:
- A 10th-grade education or equivalent, unless an individual was over 35 years of age or a veteran.
- Passing the state theory and procedural examinations.
- Completing 300 hours in a licensed cosmetology school‘s natural hair braider curriculum.
State fees had also included a $25 application fee, a $93 testing fee, and an $82 biennial renewal fee, in addition to thousands of dollars to attend cosmetology school.
“This bi-partisan regulatory reform was a long time coming,” said Stelle. “Six years ago, Governor Wolf called for the elimination of 13 licenses, including the one for hair braiding. Lawmakers did the right thing in ending this racket and should continue to eliminate pointless state licensing requirements impacting hundreds of low-wage and mid-wage jobs.”
