Both chambers of Connecticut’s legislature have approved a bill that would allow barbers to be licensed through an apprenticeship, following a vote Monday by house legislators.
The legislation, approved by state senators earlier this month, would allow aspiring barbers to pursue a career in the field without paying to attend a trade school for 1,000 hours of training.
Under the bill, apprenticeships would have to be at least 2,000 hours, or 50 fulltime weeks. Applicants for licenses would still be required to complete the eighth grade and to pass a written state exam.
Advocates for the bill testified that it could lower cost barriers to becoming a barber and help to lower unemployment.
Massachusetts, New York, Alabama and California have similar programs for barbers.