Can a Master Hair Care Specialist Crossover to Cosmetology?

In South Carolina the Barber board and Cosmetology board are two separate boards with completely separate rules and regulations. Master Hair Care Specialists fall under the Barber board. In May of 2022, the Cosmetology board gave the approval for Barbers and Master Hair Care Specialists to work in a salon with Cosmetologists, Nail Technicians and/or Estheticians. This was not allowed until that time. The question has come up regarding Master Hair Care specialists becoming or completing a "crossover" into becoming a licensed Cosmetologist. Since the approval of allowing them to work together, it is obviously not crazy to think that Master Hair Care Specialists would want to do some sort of "crossover" into obtaining their Cosmetology license.The Cosmetology board actually has given the go ahead to crossover to Cosmetology. There are, of course, requirements in place to complete the crossover, but LLR and the board have made it a reality. This is great for someone who has worked in a Barber shop and has experience in their field, and is ready to leap into a full blown Cosmetology license. 

If you know someone that wants to become a Cosmetologist in South Carolina and currently has a Master Hair Care Specialist license, what are the requirements that must be met?

5 years or more experience- A Master Hair Care Specialist who has been licensed for 5 years or more is allowed to apply for their Cosmetology crossover license, pay the fee and pass the written state board exam.

4 years of experience- In order to qualify for a Cosmetology license, a Master Hair Care Specialist will need to complete 100 hours of Cosmetology school to make up the difference.

3 years of experience- 200 hours of Cosmetology school is required. 

Under 3 years experience- 350 hours of Cosmetology school is required.

Master Hair Care Specialists have the opportunity to obtain a Cosmetology license by simply having the experience, or attending school to make up the lack of experience. This makes it a really fair path to licensure that keeps them from having to start from scratch and complete 1500 hours of Cosmetology school. 

To sum it up, a Master Hair Care Specialist in South Carolina can absolutely obtain their Cosmetology license with experience and/or additioanal schooling. Until they reach the experience level, or go to school to make up the difference, Master Hair Care Specialists can work in beauty salons, making it a great environment to get the real life training they need while simultaniously attending Cosmetology school (if they don't meet the years of experience). Here is the actual written rule of a Master Hair Care Specialist becoming a Cosmetologist from the South Carolina regulations:

Minimum Requirements for Crossover Between Licensed Cosmetologists and Master Hair Care Specialists.

(A) The board will issue Crossover Cosmetologist licenses to those licensed as Master Hair Care Specialists by the South Carolina State Board of Barber Examiners, who will submit a completed application, fee and proof of a current South Carolina Master Hair Care Specialist license. Crossover Cosmetologist applicants must have a passing score on the theory examination for that license and the total number of years experience and training prescribed hereunder, and thereafter perform satisfactorily in all portions of the practical examination prescribed by the board.

(B) Experience and training prerequisites to examinations.

(1) Five years of work experience as a Master Hair Care Specialist license.

(2) Four years work experience under such a license and one hundred (100) hours of cosmetology school training approved by the board.

(3) Three years work experience under such a license and two hundred (200) hours of cosmetology school training approved by the board.

(4) Any licensed Master Hair Care Specialist with less than three (3) years experience must have three hundred fifty (350) hours of cosmetology school training approved by the board.

(5) Any applicant must possess equal to or greater than current cosmetology education.