2023 Montana Code Annotated › Title 37. Professions and Occupations › Chapter 31. Barbering, Cosmetology, Electrology, Esthetics, and Manicuring › Part 3. Licensing › 37-31-304. Qualifications of applicants for license to practice

37-31-304. Qualifications of applicants for license to practice.
(1) (a) To be eligible to take the licensing examination under this chapter, 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.
(b) A person qualified under this section shall file an application with the department, deposit the application fee with the department, and pass an examination as to fitness to practice.
(c) The board shall issue a license to practice under this chapter, 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.
(2) An applicant to practice barbering must have completed a course of study of at least 1,100 hours and received a diploma from a school authorized to offer a course of study in barbering as prescribed by the board by rule.
(3) An applicant to practice barbering nonchemical must have completed a course of study of at least 900 hours and received a diploma from a school authorized to offer a course of study in barbering or barbering nonchemical as prescribed by the board by rule.
(4) An applicant to practice cosmetology must have completed a course of study of at least 1,500 hours and received a diploma from a school authorized to offer a course of study in cosmetology as prescribed by the board by rule.
(5) An applicant to practice electrology must have completed a course of study of at least 600 hours and received a diploma from a school authorized to offer a course of study in electrology as prescribed by the board by rule.
(6) An applicant to practice manicuring must have completed a course of study of at least 400 hours and received a diploma from a school authorized to offer a course of study in manicuring as prescribed by the board by rule.
(7) An applicant to practice esthetics must:
(a) have completed a course of study of at least 650 hours of training and received a diploma from a school authorized to offer a course of study in esthetics as prescribed by the board by rule; or
(b) be a licensed cosmetologist and file an application, deposit the application fee with the department, and pass the esthetics examination as to fitness to practice.
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; amd. Sec. 85, Ch. 467, L. 2005; amd. Sec. 8, Ch. 15, L. 2015; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 260, L. 2017; amd. Sec. 7, Ch. 544, L. 2021.