PSI Cosmetology and Barber Division Official Report
Date: October 7, 2025
Source Material: Notes from MI PSI Educators Workshop
This report summarizes key issues, industry context, and PSI's corresponding actions discussed during the recent Michigan PSI Educators Workshop. The focus is on operational concerns, the foundational principle of licensure, and industry-wide initiatives.
I. Operational Issues and Action Plans
A. Michigan Testing Equity Concern (Southfield vs. Grand Rapids)
A significant concern regarding inconsistent practical exam scoring across different testing sites was raised.
- The Discrepancy: Students from the Detroit Metro area (Southfield) were failing the practical exam while performing essentially the same steps that students were performing and passing in Grand Rapids. This pattern has reportedly been occurring for two years.
- Educator's Advice: Due to this inconsistency, an educator advised their students to "Drive to Grand Rapids" to take the test, to ensure they pass and don't "continue to pay for this test".
- PSI's Action Plan: PSI immediately acknowledged this as a serious problem, committing to **Investigation** and stating they would hold a **Training Commitment** session the very next day to ensure all examiners are "looking for the same things" and applying standards consistently across all sites.
B. Student Data Transfer and Licensure Delays
Educators voiced ongoing frustrations with the process for transferring student eligibility information, leading to significant delays.
- The Problem: Instructors repeatedly submit required eligibility paperwork, but students are later incorrectly informed that their instructor "didn't send all your stuff in".
- Consequence: These data transfer issues are a primary cause of severe licensing delays—sometimes taking "five, six months to get licensed"—and cause students to become "extremely frustrated" with their instructors.
- PSI's Response: PSI acknowledged the "disconnect between information" and is actively trying to **"refine the process"** and implement **"updates systemwide"** to make it easier for schools. PSI also committed to investigating a separate, subsequent delay between a student receiving eligibility confirmation and the ability to schedule the test.
II. Resources and New Tools
A. New PSI School Reports Portal
PSI is launching a new School Reports Portal to provide educational institutions with vital data.
- Primary Purpose: The portal allows schools to track student success, identify areas for coaching (where the school needs to "bear down"), and provide necessary information for NAFFES reporting.
- Key Report: The mechanism is the School Summary Report by Topic (Theory/Practical), which breaks down student performance by each topic tested.
- Data Confidentiality: The reports do not include any specific student names or ID numbers.
B. The Candidate Bulletin / Test Taker Guide
The guide is emphasized as a critical resource, acting as a "road map" for student preparation and anxiety reduction.
- Content Focus: It specifically contains the outline for the theory exam, which is focused on the knowledge required for public health and safety.
- Transparency: Any fundamental changes to the guide or examination require approval from the state board.
III. Licensure Foundation and Industry Trends
A. Core Foundation: Public Health and Safety
The fundamental basis for occupational and professional licensing is the **protection of the public health, safety, and welfare**.
- Historical Precedent: This principle dates back to the legal case *Dent versus West Virginia*.
- Current Industry Focus: There is a renewed effort to "go back to public health and safety and welfare." PSI's testing goal explicitly focuses on "public health and safety" by observing infection control.
B. High-Risk vs. Low-Risk Services
A Nevada legislative report identified services by their risk to public health:
| Risk Level | Service | Rationale for Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Highest Risk | Hair Removal (Waxing) | Grave risk of transmitting infections, such as herpes, due to unsanitary practices like "double dipping". |
| High Risk | Eyelash Extensions | Sudden popularity combined with a historical lack of regulation creates an environment where "some bad things can happen" if safety is ignored. |
| Low Risk | Hair Cutting | Ranked "way low on the list" because the consequence of a "bad haircut" is a lost customer, not the kind of public harm (e.g., catching MRSA or herpes) that mandates licensure. |
C. Deregulation and Industry Response
Current legislative and industry trends are seeing a push toward deregulation in some states, which experts argue increases public risk.
Deregulation Examples:
- Abolished Boards: New Jersey and Arizona abolished the board of cosmetology and barbering.
- Abolished Instructor Licenses: California, Texas, and Colorado abolished the instructor license.
TEC Initiative (Textured Education Collective):
The TEC is actively working to ensure state board licensing and training are inclusive of all hair textures while upholding the highest health and safety standards. This effort has led to mandates in:
- Louisiana (2021): Requires textured hair training and includes cutting textured hair on licensing exams.
- New York (2023): Requires cosmetology state board licensing to include training, education, and testing on hair types and textures.