Bill Text: IL HB5835 | 2025-2026 | 104th General Assembly | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Amends the Barber, Cosmetology, Esthetics, Hair Braiding, and Nail Technology Act of 1985. Provides that students enrolled in licensed schools of cosmetology, barbering, esthetics, hair braiding, or nail technology may apply to take a licensing examination upon completing at least 80% of the clock hours required for the license they are seeking to obtain. Removes a provision allowing the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to provide by rule for the administration of an examination prior to the completion of the applicant's program of training. Removes a provision requiring the Department to issue an annual report indicating certain statistics concerning initial applicants for a license.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2026-11-10 - Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Michael Crawford [HB5835 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2025-HB5835-Introduced.html

---

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026HB5835 Introduced , by Rep. Michael Crawford SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
225 ILCS 410/1-16 new
225 ILCS 410/3-6 from Ch. 111, par. 1703-6
225 ILCS 410/4-6.1
Amends the Barber, Cosmetology, Esthetics, Hair Braiding, and Nail Technology Act of 1985. Provides that students enrolled in licensed schools of cosmetology, barbering, esthetics, hair braiding, or nail technology may apply to take a licensing examination upon completing at least 80% of the clock hours required for the license they are seeking to obtain. Removes a provision allowing the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to provide by rule for the administration of an examination prior to the completion of the applicant's program of training. Removes a provision requiring the Department to issue an annual report indicating certain statistics concerning initial applicants for a license.
LRB104 23684 AAS 40199 b
A BILL FOR
HB5835 LRB104 23684 AAS 40199 b
AN ACT concerning regulation.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Barber, Cosmetology, Esthetics, Hair
Braiding, and Nail Technology Act of 1985 is amended by
changing Sections 3-6 and 4-6.1 and by adding Section 1-16 as
follows:
(225 ILCS 410/1-16 new)
Sec. 1-16. Early testing. Students enrolled in licensed
schools of cosmetology, barbering, esthetics, hair braiding,
or nail technology may apply to the Department's designated
testing service to take the examination required by Section
2-7, 3-6, 3A-5, 3C-7, or 3E-8 upon completion of at least 80%
of the clock hours required by Section 2-2, 2-3, 3-2, 3A-2,
3C-2, or 3E-2 and payment of a fee to the designated testing
service for initial screening and provision of the
examination. The licensed school shall provide the student's
transcript directly to the designated testing service to
verify that the student has completed at least 80% of the
required clock hours for the license the student is seeking to
obtain. A student is permitted to sit for the examination 2
times while enrolled in a licensed school but shall not be
permitted to sit for the examination a third time prior to

HB5835 - 2 - LRB104 23684 AAS 40199 b
completing all of the required clock hours at the licensed
school. Applying to take the exam under this Section shall not
be considered an application for licensure. Apprentices
seeking licensure through an apprenticeship program shall not
be permitted to sit for an examination until they have
completed all of the hours required for their apprenticeship
program under Section 1-15.
(225 ILCS 410/3-6) (from Ch. 111, par. 1703-6)
(Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 104-478)
(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2031)
Sec. 3-6. Examination. The Department shall authorize
examinations of applicants for licensure as cosmetologists and
teachers of cosmetology at the times and places it may
determine. Upon request, the examinations shall be
administered in Spanish and any other language as may be
determined by the Department to be necessary pursuant to the
Language Equity and Access Act. The Department may provide by
rule for the administration of the examination prior to the
completion of the applicant's program of training as required
in Section 3-2, 3-3, or 3-4. Notwithstanding Section 3-2, 3-3,
or 3-4, an applicant for licensure as a cosmetologist who has
completed 1,200 hours in the study of cosmetology may take the
examination. If an applicant for licensure as a cosmetologist
fails to pass 3 examinations conducted by the Department, the
applicant shall, before taking a subsequent examination,

HB5835 - 3 - LRB104 23684 AAS 40199 b
furnish evidence of not less than 100 hours of additional
study of cosmetology in a licensed school of cosmetology since
the applicant last took the examination. If an applicant for
licensure as a cosmetology teacher fails to pass 3
examinations conducted by the Department, the applicant shall,
before taking a subsequent examination, furnish evidence of
not less than 80 hours of additional study in teaching
methodology and educational psychology in a licensed school of
cosmetology since the applicant last took the examination. The
requirements for remedial training set forth in this Section
may be waived in whole or in part by the Department upon proof
to the Department that the applicant has demonstrated
competence to again sit for the examination or if the
Department otherwise determines a waiver is appropriate. The
Department shall adopt rules establishing the standards by
which this determination shall be made. Each cosmetology
applicant shall be given an examination testing both
theoretical and practical knowledge, which shall include, but
not be limited to, questions that determine the applicant's
knowledge of product chemistry, sanitary rules, sanitary
procedures, chemical service procedures, hazardous chemicals
and exposure minimization, knowledge of the anatomy of the
skin, scalp, hair, and nails as they relate to applicable
services under this Act and labor and compensation laws.
The examination of applicants for licensure as a
cosmetology, esthetics, or nail technology teacher may include

HB5835 - 4 - LRB104 23684 AAS 40199 b
all of the elements of the exam for licensure as a
cosmetologist, esthetician, or nail technician and also
include teaching methodology, classroom management, record
keeping, and any other related subjects that the Department in
its discretion may deem necessary to ensure competent
performance.
(Source: P.A. 104-153, eff. 1-1-26.)
(Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 104-478)
(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2031)
Sec. 3-6. Examination. The Department shall authorize
examinations of applicants for licensure as cosmetologists and
teachers of cosmetology at the times and places it may
determine. Upon request, the examinations shall be
administered in Spanish and any other language as may be
determined by the Department to be necessary pursuant to the
Language Equity and Access Act. The Department may provide by
rule for the administration of the examination prior to the
completion of the applicant's program of training as required
in Section 3-2, 3-3, or 3-4. If an applicant for licensure as a
cosmetologist fails to pass 3 examinations conducted by the
Department, the applicant shall, before taking a subsequent
examination, furnish evidence of not less than 100 hours of
additional study of cosmetology in a licensed school of
cosmetology since the applicant last took the examination. If
an applicant for licensure as a cosmetology teacher fails to

HB5835 - 5 - LRB104 23684 AAS 40199 b
pass 3 examinations conducted by the Department, the applicant
shall, before taking a subsequent examination, furnish
evidence of not less than 80 hours of additional study in
teaching methodology and educational psychology in a licensed
school of cosmetology since the applicant last took the
examination. The requirements for remedial training set forth
in this Section may be waived in whole or in part by the
Department upon proof to the Department that the applicant has
demonstrated competence to again sit for the examination or if
the Department otherwise determines a waiver is appropriate.
The Department shall adopt rules establishing the standards by
which this determination shall be made. Each cosmetology
applicant shall be given an examination testing both
theoretical and practical knowledge, which shall include, but
not be limited to, questions that determine the applicant's
knowledge of product chemistry, sanitary rules, sanitary
procedures, chemical service procedures, hazardous chemicals
and exposure minimization, knowledge of the anatomy of the
skin, scalp, hair, and nails as they relate to applicable
services under this Act and labor and compensation laws.
The examination of applicants for licensure as a
cosmetology, esthetics, or nail technology teacher may include
all of the elements of the exam for licensure as a
cosmetologist, esthetician, or nail technician and also
include teaching methodology, classroom management, record
keeping, and any other related subjects that the Department in

HB5835 - 6 - LRB104 23684 AAS 40199 b
its discretion may deem necessary to ensure competent
performance.
(Source: P.A. 104-153, eff. 1-1-26; 104-478, eff. 1-1-27.)
(225 ILCS 410/4-6.1)
(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2031)
Sec. 4-6.1. Applicant convictions.
(a) When reviewing a conviction by plea of guilty or nolo
contendere, finding of guilt, jury verdict, or entry of
judgment or by sentencing of an initial applicant, the
Department may only deny a license based upon consideration of
mitigating factors provided in subsection (c) of this Section
for a felony directly related to the practice of cosmetology,
esthetics, hair braiding, nail technology, and barbering.
(b) The following crimes or similar offenses in any other
jurisdiction are hereby deemed directly related to the
practice of cosmetology, esthetics, hair braiding, nail
technology, and barbering:
(1) first degree murder;
(2) second degree murder;
(3) drug induced homicide;
(4) unlawful restraint;
(5) aggravated unlawful restraint;
(6) forcible detention;
(7) involuntary servitude;
(8) involuntary sexual servitude of a minor;

HB5835 - 7 - LRB104 23684 AAS 40199 b
(9) predatory criminal sexual assault of a child;
(10) aggravated criminal sexual assault;
(11) criminal sexual assault;
(12) criminal sexual abuse;
(13) aggravated kidnaping;
(14) aggravated robbery;
(15) armed robbery;
(16) kidnapping;
(17) aggravated battery;
(18) aggravated vehicular hijacking;
(19) terrorism;
(20) causing a catastrophe;
(21) possession of a deadly substance;
(22) making a terrorist threat;
(23) material support for terrorism;
(24) hindering prosecution of terrorism;
(25) armed violence;
(26) any felony based on consumer fraud or deceptive
business practices under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive
Business Practices Act;
(27) any felony requiring registration as a sex
offender under the Sex Offender Registration Act;
(28) attempt of any the offenses set forth in
paragraphs (1) through (27) of this subsection (b); and
(29) convictions set forth in Section 4-20 of this
Act.

HB5835 - 8 - LRB104 23684 AAS 40199 b
(c) The Department shall consider any mitigating factors
contained in the record, when determining the appropriate
disciplinary sanction, if any, to be imposed. In addition to
those set forth in Section 2105-130 of the Department of
Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code
of Illinois, mitigating factors shall include the following:
(1) the bearing, if any, the criminal offense or
offenses for which the person was previously convicted
will have on his or her fitness or ability to perform one
or more such duties and responsibilities;
(2) the time that has elapsed since the criminal
conviction; and
(3) the age of the person at the time of the criminal
conviction.
(d) (Blank). The Department shall issue an annual report
by January 31, 2018 and by January 31 each year thereafter,
indicating the following:
(1) the number of initial applicants for a license
under this Act within the preceding calendar year;
(2) the number of initial applicants for a license
under this Act within the previous calendar year who had a
conviction;
(3) the number of applicants with a conviction who
were granted a license under this Act within the previous
year;
(4) the number of applicants denied a license under

HB5835 - 9 - LRB104 23684 AAS 40199 b
this Act within the preceding calendar year; and
(5) the number of applicants denied a license under
this Act solely on the basis of a conviction within the
preceding calendar year.
(e) Nothing in this Section shall prevent the Department
taking disciplinary or non-disciplinary action against a
license as set forth in paragraph (2) of subsection (1) of
Section 4-7 of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 99-876, eff. 1-1-17.)
Section 95. No acceleration or delay. Where this Act makes
changes in a statute that is represented in this Act by text
that is not yet or no longer in effect (for example, a Section
represented by multiple versions), the use of that text does
not accelerate or delay the taking effect of (i) the changes
made by this Act or (ii) provisions derived from any other
Public Act.