Oct. 18, 2023
HARRISBURG – The House today approved legislation sponsored by Rep. Zach Mako (R-Lehigh/Northampton) to address the lack of barber-teachers in Pennsylvania.
“I’m pleased to see this bill advance from the House,” Mako said. “It’s past time we address the issue of a lack of barber-teachers before it’s too late. For four legislative sessions, I have sponsored legislation on this topic. This version addresses some concerns raised by the State Board of Barber Examiners. I’m hopeful everyone is on board now. Without barber-teachers, there are no barbers. I urge the Senate to take action so that finding a barber in the future doesn’t become next to impossible.”
House Bill 327 would lower the age an applicant is eligible to take the barber-teacher examination from 23 to 18 years of age; reduce the minimum training hours to become a licensed barber-teacher from 1,250 to 500 hours; allow people currently holding both a cosmetology and barber license to obtain a barber-teacher license if the person completes the training and examination required for licensure as either a barber-teacher or cosmetology teacher; and allow a barber-teacher currently licensed in another state with substantially similar licensing requirements as Pennsylvania to be granted a barber-teacher license with examination.
The bill now goes to the Senate for its consideration.
The 183rd House District includes Lowhill and North Whitehall townships and Slatington Borough in Lehigh County. It also consists of Allen, East Allen, Lehigh and Moore (part) townships, and Bath, North Catasauqua, Northampton and Walnutport boroughs in Northampton County.
Representative Zachary Mako
183rd Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Tracy Polovick
717.260.6358
tpolovick@pahousegop.com
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