DES MOINES, Iowa—Today, Rep. Derek Wulf reintroduced language to HF 711 that would create an establishment training program for barbers. Currently, barbers have only two options for training: barbering school or a structured apprenticeship. This creates a third, more flexible option for them to get the training they need. This bill passed the Iowa House of Representatives earlier this year, but when the Senate passed its version last night, it did so with major amendments that removed the establishment training option and, instead, simply lowered the number of hours required to become licensed. While this would be a positive change, it does not solve the problem HF 711 was originally intended to address.
The Iowa Barber Coalition—a group of barbers and aspiring barbers throughout the state—is once again calling on the Iowa lawmakers to support the full bill.
“We haven’t come this far just for a reduction in hours,” said Iowa Barber Coalition member, and owner of Universal Barbershop, Craig Hunt. “We are here because our industry needs profound change. The way we’ve been doing things for decades isn’t working. The establishment training program gives us a third option, a new way for us licensed barbers to help shape the next generation.”
The Iowa Barber Coalition was formed by a group of barbers and the Institute for Justice (IJ) last year after a similar reform bill failed to pass out of the state House committee.
“The original version of this bill, passed by the House, would make it easier for barbers to get the supervised training and experience they need to succeed, while still protecting the safety of customers,” said IJ Activism Special Projects Coordinator Tom Solomon. “Turning this bill into a simple reduction in hours does not address the concerns so many Iowa barbers have expressed. We encourage both chambers to restore the original language and allow aspiring barbers the flexibility to learn on their own terms.”
Iowa has some of the most burdensome licensing laws for barbers in the country, requiring 1,550 hours in school or 2,000 hours in a structured apprenticeship—followed by two state exams. This inflexible and burdensome system holds many barbers back and keeps others on the sidelines. For example, Des Moines resident Stephanie Mattison spent $25,000 to enroll in barbering school and could not pick up part-time work to pay for the schooling because she was in class 10 hours per day. By comparison, emergency medical technicians, dental assistants, pharmacy technicians, school bus drivers, pesticide applicators, unarmed security guards, and most types of building contractors all require less training than barbers.