Alaska barber and hairdresser board proposes dropping notary rule for license applications

The Alaska Board of Barbers and Hairdressers would drop the notary requirement on license exam applications under changes it proposed Wednesday. Written comments are due by 4:30 pm Nov. 30.

The rules cover barbers, hairdressers, estheticians, manicurists and their schools. The board would also repeal a rule requiring that verification of work experience or training be certified or notarized, and revise rules on examinations, teaching equipment, shops in private residences and student permits.

The board would repeal sections on schools run by colleges or universities, which it says do not exist in Alaska, and on a board-provided theory syllabus. It would also repeal a rule barring applicants from revealing their identity to examiners, because the department no longer gives the exams. For new schools, the proposal would remove a 1,000-square-foot minimum and a required inspection by a board member before licensing.

Students re-enrolling after a break of two years or more would keep credit for earlier hours, which the board's FAQ says removes a barrier to licensure. The board would stop accepting hours for a student enrolled in school and an apprenticeship at the same time. Applicants reinstating a license lapsed more than three years would have to pass the written examination.

The FAQ ties the package to Gov. Mike Dunleavy's Administrative Order 360. The notice lists no known costs to the public or the state.

In August, Alaska News reported that lawmakers were weighing whether to keep the board and other licensing boards.

Comments can be submitted through the state public notice. After the comment period, the board may adopt the changes, adopt different language on the same subjects or take no action.