Cosmetology Act Improvements Introduced

Qualified men and women will be able to enter and progress in the cosmetology industry faster, especially in rural areas, under changes to the Cosmetology Act introduced today, Nov. 6.

In Nova Scotia, about 9,200 members, 2,400 salons, 17 schools and 600 students are licensed or registered to provide services such as hairdressing, skin care, nails and make-up.

"A provincially regulated cosmetology industry means that people working in the field are properly trained and their customers know they are being served in a safe and clean environment," said Labour and Advanced Education Minister Marilyn More. "We worked closely with industry to make the Cosmetology Act reflect current industry practices in Nova Scotia and across the country."

Under the act, the industry is managed by the Cosmetology Association of Nova Scotia (CANS), a self-governing body. The association establishes standards of practice for various areas of the profession and inspects workplaces to enforce those standards.

Currently, someone would enter the profession as a junior cosmetologist and practice under a master cosmetologist. Nova Scotia is the only province in Canada to have a two-tiered classification, which makes it difficult for cosmetologists to relocate here from other provinces. As well, junior cosmetologists sometimes have difficulty finding a master cosmetologist in rural communities, which could make it difficult to find work locally.

The proposed changes update the act and address industry concerns. They include:

• allowing the Minister of Labour and Advanced Education to approve CANS's by-laws
• allowing CANS to establish licences for specific areas of practice, such as a facial licence
• requiring CANS to obtain permission from the Minister of Labour and Advanced Education before revoking or suspending a licence
• establishing an appeal process for disciplinary actions, which previously went through the courts
• eliminating the Provincial Examining and Licensing Committee and allowing CANS to administer testing procedures.

"The association has a great record of protecting the public and advancing the profession," said Cosmetology Association of Nova Scotia president Lloyd Petrie. "We are celebrating our 50th anniversary this year and these changes give the industry a modern regulatory structure for the future."

The changes will also bring the Cosmetology Act in line with national efforts to make it easier for workers to move between provinces.

The department consulted with the association and its members for several years before bringing forward the proposed changes at the request of CANS.