(a) Any person desiring to obtain a certificate of registration to enable him or her to engage in the occupation of cosmetology shall make application through the division director to the board and shall present proof that he or she has obtained a high school diploma, a general educational development (GED) diploma, or a postsecondary education or college degree. If, after review of the application, it is determined that the applicant is at least 17 years of age; has met the minimum educational requirements; is of good moral character; has completed a 1,500 credit hour study course with at least nine months at a board approved school or has served as an apprentice in a beauty shop or beauty salon for a period of at least 3,000 credit hours; has practiced or studied the occupation of cosmetology; is possessed of the requisite skill in such occupation to perform properly all the duties of the occupation, including his or her ability in the preparation of tools, in performing the services mentioned in paragraph (4) of Code Section 43-10-1, and in all the duties and services incident thereto; has paid to the division director an examination fee in such amount as shall be set by the board by regulation; and has presented himself or herself at the next meeting of the board held for examination of applicants at which such person is scheduled for examination and has passed both a written and a practical examination, a certificate of registration shall be issued to him or her entitling him or her to practice the occupation of master cosmetologist. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this subsection, the board shall be authorized to waive any education requirements under this subsection in cases of hardship, disability, or illness or under such other circumstances as the board deems appropriate with respect to any applicant who was enrolled in a board approved school or had completed a board approved study course as of June 30, 2000.

(b) Should an applicant under this Code section fail to pass the written or the practical examination, the board shall furnish the applicant a statement in writing, stating wherein the applicant was deficient. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent applicants from making subsequent applications to qualify under this Code section, provided they again pay the required examination fee.

(c) An approved applicant for examination under this Code section may be issued a work permit authorizing said applicant to practice such occupation until the release of the results of the written and the practical examination for which the applicant is scheduled. If the applicant fails to appear for the examination or fails any portion of the examination, the work permit shall be revoked unless the applicant provides just cause to the board as to why the applicant was unable to appear for the examination.

(d) Should an applicant have a current cosmetology license in force from another state or country, or territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia, where similar reciprocity is extended to this state and licensure requirements are substantially equal to those in this state, and have paid to the division director a fee in such amount as shall be set by the board by regulation, the applicant may be issued, without examination, a certificate of registration at the appropriate level, entitling the applicant to practice the occupation of cosmetology or the teaching of cosmetology at that level, unless the board, in its discretion, sees fit to require a written or a practical examination subject to the terms and provisions of this chapter. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this subsection, the board shall be authorized to waive any education or experience requirements applicable to any person who holds a current license or certificate to practice cosmetology outside of this state and who desires to obtain a license or certificate at a level authorized under this Code section to practice at such level in this state in cases of hardship, disability, or illness or under such other circumstances as the board deems appropriate.

(e) Any person desiring to obtain a certificate of registration at the esthetician level under the terms of this chapter shall make application through the division director to the board and shall present proof that he or she has obtained a high school diploma, a general educational development (GED) diploma, or a postsecondary education or college degree. If, after review of the application, it is determined that the applicant is at least 17 years of age; has met the minimum educational requirements; is of good moral character; has completed a 1,000 credit hour study course of at least nine months at a board approved school or has served as an apprentice in a beauty shop or beauty salon for a period of at least 2,000 credit hours; has practiced or studied cosmetic skin care as defined in paragraph (5) of Code Section 43-10-1; is possessed of the requisite skill to perform properly these services; has paid to the division director an examination fee in such amount as shall be set by the board by regulation; and has presented himself or herself at the next meeting of the board for examination of applicants at which such person is scheduled for examination and has passed a written and a practical examination, a certificate of registration shall be issued to the applicant entitling the applicant to practice the occupation of cosmetology at the esthetician level. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this subsection, the board shall be authorized to waive any education requirements under this subsection in cases of hardship, disability, or illness or under such other circumstances as the board deems appropriate with respect to any applicant who was enrolled in a board approved school or had completed a board approved study course as of June 30, 2000.

(f) Any person desiring to obtain a certificate of registration at the nail technician level under the terms of this chapter shall make application through the division director to the board and shall present proof that he or she has obtained a high school diploma, a general educational development (GED) diploma, or a postsecondary education or college degree. If, after review of the application, it is determined that the applicant is at least 17 years of age; has met the minimum educational requirements; is of good moral character; has completed a 525 credit hour study course of at least four months at a board approved school or has served as an apprentice in a beauty shop or beauty salon for a period of at least 1,050 credit hours; has practiced or studied nail care; is possessed of the requisite skill to perform properly these services; has paid to the division director an examination fee in such amount as shall be set by the board by regulation; and has presented himself or herself at the next meeting of the board held for examination of applicants at which such person is scheduled for examination and has passed both a written and a practical examination, a certificate of registration shall be issued to the applicant entitling the applicant to practice the occupation of cosmetology at the nail technician level. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this subsection, the board shall be authorized to waive any education requirements under this subsection in cases of hardship, disability, or illness or under such other circumstances as the board deems appropriate with respect to any applicant who was enrolled in a board approved school or had completed a board approved study course as of June 30, 2000.

(g) Nothing in this Code section shall be construed as preventing a person from obtaining a certificate of registration for the occupation of cosmetology at the master level, the esthetician level, or the nail technician level if such person obtains his or her credit hour study at a State Board of Education approved school or a technical institute under the jurisdiction of the Department of Technical and Adult Education or the Department of Education rather than at a board approved school.

(h) A person licensed to practice barbering under Chapter 7 of this title shall be eligible to take the master cosmetologist examination provided for in this Code section if that person completes a board approved 250 hour prescribed course in an approved cosmetology school, submits a completed application, and pays the proper fees established by the board.