Salon to Statehouse: The Fight for Fair Licensing in Iowa
In 2023, to become a licensed cosmetologist in Iowa, you were required to complete 2,100 training hours – 10x more than an emergency medical technician (EMT) and 3x more than a police officer.
Jerry Akers and his daughter Sam Reges, both lifelong entrepreneurs, discovered the extent of licensing regulations after operating Great Clips salons across Iowa. The barrier to entry for cosmetology professionals made it hard for them to obtain a license and earn a living. Fortunately, Americans for Prosperity propelled landmark legislation that leveled the playing field for aspiring professionals in the industry.
The Burden of Over-Regulation in Cosmetology
When Jerry Akers started managing his first Great Clips in 2006, he had no idea how restrictive the requirements were for stylists entering the industry. At the time, obtaining a cosmetology license in Iowa required 2,100 training hours, an average of 600 more hours than what was required in other states.
Stylists were forced to work day and night to pay off beauty school loans, while others had to quit their jobs or drop out of school as they couldn’t make ends meet with the financial and training demands. Beauty schools had a strict attendance policy and only allowed for limited absences so many stylists were disqualified from continuing their education amidst troubling life circumstances, such as medical producers or family emergencies.
“I had to take a leave in January of 2015 to give birth. I was due with twins, however one twin passed away during the delivery and I was dealing with postpartum depression,” a cosmetology student recounts. “I was told by the school that I had to return from my leave in 6 weeks or else I could kiss my career goodbye.”
Jerry’s disdain for government-issued roadblocks largely stemmed from his humble beginning working as a farmhand. He knew how hard it could be to make ends meet even without bureaucrats inserting themselves and causing further harm.
“We feel their pain. We [will] do everything we can to help,” Jerry asserted.
At the time, AFP was involved in the push to pass HF 652 — a bill that would reduce the number of required training hours to be on par with other states and deregulate low-level services. AFP Iowa State Director Tyler Raygor heard of Jerry and knew he’d be an effective and informed voice to testify on the bill.
On an icy day in the winter of 2023, Jerry was on his way out of town when his phone buzzed with a message from Tyler telling him there was going to be a hearing on the bill the next morning. Jerry couldn’t pass up the opportunity to partner with AFP to break down barriers for aspiring cosmetologists and immediately turned around to drive the 7 hours back.
AFP Trims Down Training Requirements
Jerry and Sam arrived at the Iowa State Capitol the next morning armed with only their industry expertise. They were a bit apprehensive navigating the legislature for the first time. However, they had AFP by their side guiding them through the process. Jerry and Sam delivered compelling testimony on the impact regulations had on training cosmetologists before they spoke with legislators one-on-one.
In the weeks and months that followed, AFP deployed the grassroots tactics and resources needed to connect Jerry and Sam with influential allies. Ultimately, they were able to demonstrate to lawmakers the challenges training stylists faced and transform them into policy champions to support the bill. AFP’s steadfast advocacy shifted sentiments around the issue and forced action. HF 652 passed in May 2023.
“An understanding of the industry combined with AFP’s legislative process and tactics [made] it a home run,” Tyler recalls.
The new law reduced the required training hours from 2,100 to 1,550. It also shrunk bureaucratic oversight by combining the barber and cosmetology boards, and deregulated a range of services that previously required onerous licensing. Aspiring cosmetologists gained the ability to work and earn a living while completing their training, expanding access and opportunities for all Iowans.
Thanks to AFP’s tireless advocacy and help from Jerry and Sam, Iowa hair stylists can obtain a license with less training hours and pay less to secure a license. But this is not the end, far from it. AFP-Iowa is now championing legislation to create an apprenticeship program for aspiring barbers and continuing their efforts to remove government barriers, cultivating prosperity for more working-class Iowans.
Join forces with AFP to fight regulations that limit freedom and prosperity!
