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

(2) Applicants may qualify for licensure by one of the following licensure methods: examination or credentialing. To qualify for licensure by credentialing, an applicant must satisfy the requirements of (3) and (4).

(3) To qualify for licensure by credentialing the applicant must submit the following documentation:

(a) For a barber license:

(i) proof of age;

(ii) proof of current unencumbered barber license in another state;

(iii) license verification from each state or jurisdiction the applicant has been licensed in, whether the license is current or not; and

(iv) proof of passage of a board-approved examination in barbering with appropriate passing scores.

(b) For a barber nonchemical license:

(i) proof of age;

(ii) proof of current unencumbered barber license in another state;

(iii) license verification from each state or jurisdiction the applicant has been licensed in, whether the license is current or not; and

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

(c) For a cosmetology license:

(i) proof of age;

(ii) proof of current unencumbered cosmetology license in another state;

(iii) license verification from each state or jurisdiction the applicant has been licensed in, whether the license is current or not; and

(iv) proof of passage of a board-approved examination in cosmetology with appropriate passing scores.

(d) For an electrology license:

(i) proof of age;

(ii) proof of current unencumbered electrology license in another state;

(iii) license verification from each state or jurisdiction the applicant has been licensed in, whether the license is current or not; and

(iv) proof of passage of a board-approved examination in electrology with appropriate passing scores.

(e) For a manicurist license:

(i) proof of age;

(ii) proof of current unencumbered manicurist license in another state;

(iii) license verification from each state or jurisdiction the applicant has been licensed in, whether the license is current or not; and

(iv) proof of passage of a board-approved examination in manicuring with appropriate passing scores.

(f) For an esthetician license:

(i) proof of age;

(ii) proof of current unencumbered esthetician license in another state;

(iii) license verification from each state or jurisdiction the applicant has been licensed in, whether the license is current or not; and

(iv) proof of passage of a board-approved examination in esthetics with appropriate passing scores.

(4) An out-of-state applicant applying for a license by credentialing must also meet the following requirements:

(a) To qualify for a barber license the applicant must possess a license type in good standing that includes scope of training and practice equal to ARM 24.121.604(2) and either have completed a course of training of at least 1,100 hours in a school or attest to 1,250 hours of work experience as a licensed barber.

(b) To qualify for a cosmetologist license the applicant must possess either:

(i) a license type in good standing that includes scope of training and practice equal to the cosmetologist requirements in ARM 24.121.604(3) and either have completed a course of training of at least 1,500 hours in a school or attest to 1,500 hours of work experience as a licensed cosmetologist; or

(ii) a combination of licensure in good standing that includes scopes of training and practice equal to:

(A) ARM 24.121.604(3)(d) through (g) and have completed a course of training equal to or exceeding 900 hours in a school;

(B) ARM 24.121.604(4) and have completed a course of training equal to or exceeding 200 hours in a school; and

(C) ARM 24.121.604(5) and have completed a course of training equal to or exceeding 400 hours in a school.

(c) To qualify for an electrology license the applicant must possess a license type in good standing that includes the scope of training and practice equal to ARM 24.121.604(4) and either have completed at least 450 hours of electrology training in a school or attest to at least 750 hours of work experience as a licensed electrologist.

(d) To qualify for a manicurist license the applicant must possess a license type in good standing that includes the scope of training and practice equal to ARM 24.121.604(5) and either have completed at least 200 hours of electrology training in a school or attest to at least 750 hours of work experience as a licensed manicurist.

(e) To qualify for an esthetician license the applicant must possess a license type in good standing that includes the scope of training and practice equal to ARM 24.121.604(5) and either have completed at least 400 hours of esthetician training in a school or attest to at least 750 hours of work experience as a licensed esthetician.

(f) For any other combinations or types of licensure such as hairstyling, braiding, or make-up artists, applying for licensure will be individually assessed by review of the respective licensing requirements, course curricula and transcripts and may require further review by the board.

(5) Applicants with foreign training will be considered nonroutine for the purposes of evaluating the education and qualifications and must:

(a) submit copies of their training and education curricula to the board;

(b) provide acceptable official translations of all supporting documents required for licensing and evaluation by the board. Acceptable translations are prepared by a reliable source such as a third party company or certified translator authorized to provide official translations to English, but translations prepared by the applicant or the applicant's relatives, coworkers, or friends are not acceptable. Documentation and contact information of the translator must be attached to the translation for the board to review and contact if necessary; and

(c) take and pass the board-approved examination. Proof of passage of the examination must be received from the source or another state licensing jurisdiction through a license verification.

(6) Applicants who obtained their training from Canada are not considered foreign for purposes of this rule.

(7) 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.

(8) Individuals who have been previously licensed in Montana under this chapter and whose licenses have terminated must reapply.

(9) Applications will automatically time out after one year following the application open date. Applicants with applications that have timed out must reapply and pay all appropriate fees.