37-31-304. Qualifications of applicants for license to practice. (1) Before a person may practice cosmetology, the person shall obtain a license to practice cosmetology from the department. Before a person may practice manicuring, the person shall obtain a license to practice manicuring from the department unless the person is licensed to practice cosmetology. Before a person may practice esthetics, the person shall obtain a license to practice esthetics from the department unless the person is already licensed to practice cosmetology.
     (2) (a) To be eligible to take the examination to practice cosmetology, the applicant may not be less than 18 years of age, must be of good moral character, and must possess a high school diploma or the equivalent of a high school diploma recognized by the superintendent of public instruction. A person may apply to the board for an exception to the educational requirement of a high school diploma or the equivalent of a high school diploma. The board shall adopt by rule procedures for granting an exception. The applicant must have completed a course of study of at least 2,000 hours in a registered cosmetology school and must have received a diploma from the cosmetology school or must have completed the course of study in cosmetology prescribed by the board.
     (b) A person qualified under subsection (2)(a) shall file with the department a written application to take the examination and shall deposit with the department the required examination fee and pass an examination as to fitness to practice cosmetology.
     (3) (a) To be eligible to take the examination to practice manicuring, an applicant may not be less than 18 years of age; must be of good moral character; possess a high school diploma, the equivalent of a high school diploma recognized by the superintendent of public instruction, or a certificate of completion from a vocational-technical program; and must have completed a course of study prescribed by the board in a registered school of cosmetology or a registered school of manicuring. A person may apply to the board for an exception to the educational requirement of a high school diploma, the equivalent of a high school diploma, or a vocational-technical program certificate of completion. The board shall adopt by rule procedures for granting an exception.
     (b) A person qualified under subsection (3)(a) shall file with the department a written application to take the examination and deposit with the department the required examination fee.
     (4) (a) To be eligible to take the examination to practice esthetics, an applicant:
     (i) may not be under 18 years of age;
     (ii) must be of good moral character;
     (iii) must possess a high school diploma, the equivalent of a high school diploma recognized by the superintendent of public instruction, or a certificate of completion from a vocational-technical program; and
     (iv) must have completed a course of study prescribed by the board and consisting of not less than 650 hours of training and instruction in a registered school of cosmetology or a registered school of esthetics. A person may apply to the board for an exception to the educational requirement of a high school diploma, the equivalent of a high school diploma, or a vocational-technical program certificate of completion. The board shall adopt by rule procedures for granting an exception.
     (b) A person qualified under subsection (4)(a) shall:
     (i) file with the department a written application to take the examination;
     (ii) deposit with the department the required examination fee; and
     (iii) pass an examination as to fitness to practice esthetics.

     History: En. Sec. 3, Ch. 104, L. 1929; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 14, L. 1931; re-en. Sec. 3228.3, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 222, L. 1939; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 210, L. 1945; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 244, L. 1961; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 167, L. 1969; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 168, L. 1971; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 268, L. 1973; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 310, L. 1973; amd. Sec. 65, Ch. 350, L. 1974; R.C.M. 1947, 66-803(1); amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 260, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 602, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 34, Ch. 658, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 520, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 473, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 26, Ch. 308, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 305, L. 1997.