PBA Joins Beauty Industry Working Group in Support of Cosmetology Licensing

The Professional Beauty Association (PBA) has joined the Beauty Industry Working Group (BIWG) as a united industry voice supporting cosmetology licensing. Other members include the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), the International SalonSpa Business Network (ISBN) and the National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC). The mission of BIWG is to suggest the development of consistent standards and recommendations for the professional beauty industry, specifically focusing on standards relating to licensing, education, testing, health and public safety. Recently, BIWG released a report measuring the importance of cosmetology licensing in the professional beauty industry and its economic contributions in the U.S.
 
"PBA is constantly advocating for licensing and this Working Group reinforces these efforts. Cosmetology licensing plays an integral role in the economy and provides the necessary safety and sanitation to all beauty professionals and their clients. We hope that this group and the resources associated with it will help all people, legislators and beauty professionals alike, see the importance of licensing and unite to fight deregulation," said Myra Y. Irizarry Reddy, Director of PBA Government Affairs & Industry Relations.  
 
The report, "The Value of Cosmetology Licensing to America's Health, Safety and Economy," addresses the economic contributions of the professional beauty industry and indicates that they are not only far-reaching but they are also significant. According to the report, the industry supports 2 million direct and indirect jobs, generates more than $85.8 billion in sales, pays nearly $31.6 billion in wages and contributes nearly $3.8 billion in income taxes. In addition, beauty professional jobs are expected to grow at a rate well above the 11% national average for all industries, discrediting the claim that licensing acts as a barrier to job growth.
 
Beauty professionals touch nearly all Americans across every demographic in large and small communities. These professionals acquire their special skills to provide safe, high quality services to their clients through extensive training, certification and licensing as established by States Boards of Barbering and Cosmetology. In addition to establishing training requirements, licensing and regulations, State Boards of Barbering and Cosmetology institute health and safety standards for the operation of beauty salons and trade schools to protect professionals as well as customers.
 
Public opinion overwhelmingly supports professional beauty licensing to maintain the best practices for safety and quality standards. The benefits of beauty licensing are significant. Licensing of beauty professionals improves the quality of workers in the beauty industry and ultimately protects consumers from unqualified individuals. In fact, a national post-election study in 2012 shows that 82% of respondents think safety and quality would decline significantly if states ended licensing professions like hairstylists, barbers, nail technicians and skin care specialists. The results are consistent across age groups, income groups and political affiliations.
 
For more information and to read the full report, please visit probeauty.org/BIWG/.

[Image: Beth via Flickr.com]