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New Pennsylvania Law Eliminates Job-Killing Hair Braiding Licensing Requirements
Harrisburg, PA, October 16, 2024 — Gov. Josh Shapiro today signed legislation freeing natural hair braiders from unnecessary and costly state licensing requirements.
“Hair braiding licenses demonstrate how irrational state regulations and occupational licenses can be,” said Elizabeth Stelle, director of policy analysis for the Commonwealth Foundation, a Pennsylvania-based free market think tank.
“They’re often money-making schemes, with little or no public benefit,” she said. “This bi-partisan regulatory reform was a long time coming. Six years ago, Governor Wolf called for the elimination of 13 licenses, including the one for hair braiding. Lawmakers did the right thing in ending this racket and should continue to eliminate pointless state licensing requirements impacting hundreds of low-wage and mid-wage jobs.”
According to a state website, requirements for a Pennsylvania natural hair braiding license before the new law included:
- A 10th-grade education or equivalent, unless an individual was over 35 years of age or a veteran,
- Passing the state theory and procedural examinations, and
- Completing 300 hours in a licensed cosmetology school’s natural hair braider curriculum.
In addition to the thousands of dollars spent on cosmetology school, state-levied fees included a $25 application fee, a $93 testing fee, and an $82 biennial renewal fee.
Pennsylvania is the 35th state to eliminate natural hair braiding licensing.
For information about the Commonwealth Foundation’s work on regulatory reform, click here.
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The Commonwealth Foundation transforms free-market ideas into public policies so all Pennsylvanians can flourish.