LEGISLATIVE SUMMARY - Eyelash Extension Technician License - June 1, 2017

To:      Interested cosmetology practitioners, schools, and suppliers
Fr:       Minnesota Salon and Spa Professional Association
Re:       Recent eyelash technician law modification—deadline for licensure and enforcement extended!

The recently adjourned special session of the Minnesota Legislature enacted a necessary deadline extension for eyelash technicians seeking required licensure, unless already licensed as a cosmetologist or aesthetician.  The new law is effective immediately after being signed by Governor Dayton earlier this week.  (The new law is incorporated in 2017 Special Session Law, chapter 4, article 2, sections 63-65.)

The original law governing this practice was enacted last year (2016 Session Law, chapter 127) which required the BCE to create rules and included various deadlines beginning July 1, 2017 for the BCE to process license applications for unlicensed eyelash technicians to continue practicing without penalty.  The absence of new BCE rules on this topic prompted this new deadline extension, which also statutorily inserted some basic rules in statute to be reflected in the final BCE rules once they are promulgated.

The following review summarizes the additional changes made this past session pertaining to the future regulation of eyelash extension services in Minnesota:  

Existing eyelash technicians (who are not licensed as a cosmetologist or aesthetician) may now be “grandfathered” for an initial three-year license to be an eyelash technician as follows:

  • Satisfactory submission of application with the required fees to BCE only between August 1, 2017 and January 31, 2018 which includes: 
  • Documentation of having successfully completed an eyelash extension training course before July 1, 2017.  (Nonspecific regarding course length, year taken, or provider of instruction.)
  • Original passing results, not more than one year old, of BCE approved laws/rules/theory test.
  • Proof of completing a 6-hour BCE approved health, safety, infection control, state laws and rules course.  Two hours of this must concern state laws and rules.  Course can only be offered by a recognized BCE licensed school or BCE recognized professional association of cosmetology.
  • Proof of high school diploma or equivalent.

Existing eyelash salon managers (who are not licensed as a cosmetology or esthetician salon manager) may be “grandfathered” for an initial three-year license to be an eyelash salon manager as follows:

  • Adherence to the above listed (5) items, as well as:
  • Documentation of at least 2,700 hours of experience performing eyelash extensions within the last three years, and
  • Original passing results, not more than one year old, of BCE approved salon manager test.

“Future” eyelash technician and eyelash salon manager licenses beyond those successfully “grandfathered” as described previously will occur sometime on or after February 1, 2018, subject to adoption of BCE rules currently being developed.  By law, these yet to be released rules must incorporate the following standards:

  • Scope of practice.
  • Conditions and process of issuing and renewing an eyelash technician, eyelash manager, and eyelash salon license.
  • Education and testing requirements, which specify a 14-hour maximum for training, and can only be provided through a BCE licensed school of cosmetology.
  • License fees that reflect existing practitioner, manager, and salon fees for initial application and renewal.
  • Continuing education requirements for license renewal, but limited only to the 4-hour health, safety, infection control, state laws and rules requirement every three years.

To recap:

 Grandfathering of existing eyelash technicians and managers will occur upon satisfactory submission to the BCE with an eligible application only between August 1, 2017 and January 31, 2018.  This will be a three-year license requiring regular renewal thereafter.

No other eyelash technician or manager license will be available until after February 1, 2018.  BCE rules will determine that process in the coming months.

State enforcement on all practicing eyelash technicians, managers and salons with this revised licensing law will become effective February 1, 2018.

Please Note:

Anyone who currently holds a cosmetology or esthetics practitioner or salon license is NOT required to obtain an additional license to apply eyelash extensions.  The application of eyelash extensions is already included in scope of practice.