(1) Applicants for licensure must submit a completed application on forms provided by the department, electronically or by paper, including appropriate fees and required documentation.

(2) Applicants may qualify for licensure by one of two licensure methods:

(a) examination; or

(b) credentialing.

(3) To qualify for licensure by examination, the applicant must submit the following:

(a) For a barber license:

(i) proof of age;

(ii) proof of graduation from an approved school or course of barbering with at least 1,500 hours of training as provided in ARM 24.121.604; or, if a Montana-licensed cosmetologist, completion of a supplemental barbering course pursuant to ARM 24.121.808;

(iii) proof of high school diploma or its equivalent as provided in ARM 24.121.610; and

(iv) proof of passage of a board-approved examination in barbering.

(b) For a cosmetology license:

(i) proof of age;

(ii) proof of graduation from an approved school or course of cosmetology with at least 2,000 hours of training as provided in ARM 24.121.604;

(iii) proof of high school diploma or its equivalent as provided in ARM 24.121.610; and

(iv) proof of passage of a board-approved examination in cosmetology.

(c) For an electrology license:

(i) proof of age;

(ii) proof of graduation from an approved school or course of electrology with at least 600 hours of training as provided in ARM 24.121.604;

(iii) proof of high school diploma or its equivalent as provided in ARM 24.121.610; and

(iv) proof of passage of a board-approved examination in electrology.

(d) For a manicurist license:

(i) proof of age;

(ii) proof of graduation from an approved school or course of manicuring with at least 400 hours of training as provided in ARM 24.121.608;

(iii) proof of high school diploma or its equivalent as provided in ARM 24.121.610; and

(iv) proof of passage of a board-approved examination in manicuring.

(e) For an esthetician license:

(i) proof of age;

(ii) proof of graduation from an approved school or course of esthetics with at least 650 hours of training as provided in ARM 24.121.604;

(iii) proof of high school diploma or its equivalent as provided in ARM 24.121.610; and

(iv) proof of passage of a board-approved examination in esthetics.

(f) For an instructor license:

(i) proof of a current Montana license under this chapter for barbering, cosmetology, electrology, manicuring, or esthetics;

(ii) proof of graduation from an approved school or course of teacher training with at least 650 hours of training as outlined in ARM 24.121.1105, or three years of experience working in the area of practice pursuant to 37-31-305, MCA;

(iii) proof of high school diploma or its equivalent as provided in ARM 24.121.610; and

(iv) proof of passage of a board-approved examination in teacher training.

(4) Applicants by examination who have never been licensed and who completed their professional education out of state must meet the same requirements as an applicant from Montana.

(5) Individuals who have been previously licensed in Montana under this chapter, and whose license has terminated, must reapply under one of the licensing methods.

(6) Applications will automatically time out after one year following the application open date. If an application has timed out, the applicant must reapply and pay all appropriate fees.