37-31-304. Qualifications of applicants for license to practice. (1) Before a person may practice barbering, the person shall obtain a license to practice barbering from the department. Before a person may practice cosmetology, the person shall obtain a license to practice cosmetology from the department. Before a person may practice electrology, the person shall obtain a license to practice electrology 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 barbering, the applicant must be at least 18 years of age, must be of good moral character, and must possess a high school diploma or its equivalent that is recognized by the superintendent of public instruction. An applicant may apply to the board for an exception to the requirement of a high school diploma or its equivalent. The board shall adopt by rule procedures for granting an exception. The applicant must have completed a course of study of at least 1,500 hours in a registered barbering school and must have received a diploma from the barbering school or must have completed the course of study in barbering at a school of cosmetology authorized to offer a course of study in barbering prescribed by the board.
     (b) A person qualified under subsection (2)(a) shall file a written application and deposit the application fee with the department and pass an examination as to fitness to practice barbering.
     (c) The board shall issue a license to practice barbering, without examination, to a person licensed in another state if the board determines that:
     (i) the other state's course of study hour requirement is equal to or greater than the hour requirement in this state; and
     (ii) the person's license from the other state is current and the person is not subject to pending or final disciplinary action for unprofessional conduct or impairment.
     (3) (a) To be eligible to take the examination to practice cosmetology, the applicant must be at least 18 years of age, must be of good moral character, and must possess a high school diploma or its equivalent that is 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 its equivalent. 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 (3)(a) shall file a written application and deposit the required application fee with the department and pass an examination as to fitness to practice cosmetology.
     (4) (a) To be eligible to take the examination to practice electrology, the applicant must be at least 18 years of age, must be of good moral character, and must possess a high school diploma or its equivalent that is recognized by the superintendent of public instruction. An applicant may apply to the board for an exception to the requirement of a high school diploma or its equivalent. The board shall adopt by rule procedures for granting an exception. The applicant must have completed a course of education, training, and experience in the field of electrology as prescribed by the board by rule.
     (b) A person qualified under subsection (4)(a) shall file a written application and deposit the required application fee with the department and pass an examination as to fitness to practice electrology.
     (5) (a) To be eligible to take the examination to practice manicuring, an applicant must be at least 18 years of age, must be of good moral character, and must possess a high school diploma or its equivalent that is recognized by the superintendent of public instruction. The applicant 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 or its equivalent or a certificate of completion from a vocational-technical program. The board shall adopt by rule procedures for granting an exception.
     (b) A person qualified under subsection (5)(a) shall file a written application and deposit the required application fee with the department and pass an examination as to fitness to practice manicuring.
     (6) (a) To be eligible to take the examination to practice esthetics, an applicant must be at least 18 years of age, must be of good moral character, and must possess a high school diploma or its equivalent that is recognized by the superintendent of public instruction. The applicant 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 or its equivalent. The board shall adopt by rule procedures for granting an exception.
     (b) A person qualified under subsection (6)(a) shall file a written application and deposit the required application fee with the department and 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; amd. Sec. 11, Ch. 243, L. 2003.