Q: We moved to Florida based on the Florida DBPR information on their website and the Occupational Freedom and Opportunity.
The Occupational Freedom and Opportunity act state that it endorses all current and active cosmetology licenses. Now we are being told that they no longer accept Connecticut (As of a few months ago). We have checked everywhere and there was no public announcement or amendments made to the Occupational Freedom and Opportunity Act. I have been a cosmetician in Connecticut for 12 years and my license is clean. I am being told that I have to take the state exam. English is my 2nd language. When we reached out to Florida Cosmetology Schools looking for direction on licensing, they kept referring to the Occupational Freedom & Opportunity act and do not understand why I am unable to obtain my license. This is creating a financial hardship as I have not been able to work for 2 months and if we knew I would have to take an exam, we would not have move. Please help me on this issue.
Connecticut requires 1500 hours and a successful passing of the state exam in order to get your license
A:
I've never heard of this issue, so just looked up some things up online that may help you. I do NOT vouch for the accuracy of these sites, but they may be good places to start your research and to find knowledgeable people to contact.
The American Safety Council, based in Orlando, appears to provide cosmetology courses for licensure and continuing education. Their web page - https://www.floridaonlinecosmetology.com/florida-license-requirements/
- says that Florida's endorsement of out-of-state cosmetology licenses, with no need to take an exam or more cosmetology courses, applies if the state where you are licensed requires at least 1,200 of course hours. According to this Connecticut webpage -
https://connecticut.licensesearch.org/cosmetology/#:~:text=You%20should%20complete%20at%20least%20the%208th%20grade.,Cosmeticians.%20You%20should%20pass%20the%20Prometric%20Licensing%20Exam.
- Conn. requires only 1,000 hours to be licensed there.
Getting back to the American Safety Council page above, it says that if you are licensed in a state that requires only 1,000 hours, you have two options: (A) Attend any cosmetology school (inside or outside of Florida) to take the additional 200 hours of education to qualify for endorsement, or (B) You may forego the additional 200 hours of education and take the Florida cosmetology exam. This option requires you to have held your license for at least one year.
So if you, upon researching it, determine that the above info is accurate, it appears you do not have to take the exam if you take 200 hours of course work, which can likely be done online.
Now, should the DBPR website that you relied on have made the above clear to you (if the above happens to be accurate)? Yes. Can you successfully sue them for not making it clear and inducing you to move down here? In my opinion, no, for various reasons, starting with legal immunities. (Not an official, reliable opinion). I wish you luck with getting your career back on track!
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