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NEWARK – A total of
646 aspiring cosmetologists from across
New Jersey will become fully licensed at
the end of this month, each having completed
approximately 1,000 hours of training and
a rigorous, state-administered licensing
exam, Thomas R. Calcagni, Acting Director
of the State Division of Consumer Affairs,
announced today.
The individuals are currently
eligible to work with temporary permits.
Another 150 are scheduled for testing in
July.
“Today is a very important
day in the lives of these men and women,
and an important day for New Jersey’s
economy,” Calcagni said. “This
week, more than 640 newly-licensed professionals
are starting their careers. We hold all
licensed professionals – cosmetologists,
architects, pharmacists, and physicians
– to the highest standards, both for
the protection of consumers and as a way
to build a strong marketplace. We challenge
New Jersey’s professionals to be the
best they can possibly be.”
The new cosmetologists will
add their numbers to New Jersey’s
current total of 70,000 cosmetologists and
other professionals licensed by the State
Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling, which
is part of the Division of Consumer Affairs.
The new professionals graduated from 55
vocational schools statewide, where they
completed their cosmetology training along
with their academic education during the
past two years. Different groups completed
the practical portion of their state licensing
exams on May 23 and May 24 at Burlington
County Institute of Technology, and June
4 at Passaic County Technical Institute.
The students brought their
own live models – usually friends
or relatives – to the tests, and were
called upon by examiners to cut, wave, straighten,
blow-dry, curl, tweeze, shave, wax, and
manicure their subjects during the rigidly-timed
procedure.
The State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling,
within the Division of Consumer Affairs,
last week and today pored over the results
of the students’ practical and written
exams, and licensing applications. The results
are crucial to the decision as to whether
a license will be granted or denied. All
who passed the exams will receive their
licenses upon graduation, according to Jay
Malanga, Executive Director of the State
Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling.
The
Division of Consumer Affairs includes 46
licensing boards and committees responsible
for the regulation of 600,000 licensed professionals
statewide. Further information, including
the full list of boards and their requirements,
can be found at www.NJConsumerAffairs.gov.
Consumers
who believe they have been cheated or scammed
by a business, or suspect any other form
of consumer abuse, can file a complaint
with the State Division of Consumer Affairs
by visiting its website, www.NJConsumerAffairs.gov,
or by calling 1-800-242-5846 (toll
free within New Jersey) or 973-504-6200.
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