Issa Gets Results for California Cosmetology Graduates Denied Opportunity to Earn License
Washington, DC — Today, Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-50) led a follow-up conversation with area cosmetology school graduates detailing his recent efforts to ensure that the State of California allow these students to test for their official state licenses.
In both direct correspondence to Governor Gavin Newsom and in personal meetings, Issa has called on the State to solve the multi-month delays that are keeping thousands of graduates from beginning work. Issa stated:
“Only weeks ago, I met with students of the El Cajon Bellus Academy who are ready to begin work but have been denied due to the State of California’s failure to provide state mandated testing or develop a suitable temporary alternative in light of delays due to the pandemic.”
“Only days after our conversation, students at Bellus Academy and other area schools are now receiving testing dates scheduled for the very near future, cutting months from their expected wait. This is a very welcome start, but now the state must commit to a comprehensive solution including online and virtual testing options to ensure than every graduate receive a timely opportunity.”
Congressman Issa today sent a letter to the Executive Officer of California’s State Board of Barbering & Cosmetology, urging “the Board to go further and announce additional efforts to provide a more stable solution for all who are waiting and those that will soon graduate. Read the letter here.
March 4, Congressman Issa requested immediate action by Governor Gavin Newsom. Read the full letter here.
March 5, Congressman Issa visited Bellus Academy in El Cajon to meet with students harmed by the States failure.
Bellus Academy is a beauty and wellness educational facility where Congressman Issa met with students about the significant hardship created by the State of California’s failure to offer license testing.
The state ended in-person licensing exams in March 2020. Throughout the course of the state’s COVID lockdown, students were promised that tests would resume. Currently, nearly 7,000 graduates are waiting for exam dates, but the state has so far failed to provide a sufficient solution to the backlog.
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