March 2009
Texas Barber & Cosmetology News
(512) 463-6599 or 1-800-803-9202
www.license.state.tx.us
COSMETOLOGY PROGRAM
P.O. Box 12088 Austin, Texas 78711
cs.cosmetologists@license.state.tx.us
Ten Licenses Revoked and the Investigation Continues
A person cheating to obtain a license and practice cosmetology makes the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) mad. For instance, the cheating that occurred at the Victorian Beauty College (VBC) in Houston, Texas; people trying to beat the system by purchasing classroom hours, arranging for another individual to take the examination for them or BOTH! These actions are fraudulent and the Department continues to investigate former students and bogus-students of VBC. Recent Agreed Orders signed by TDLR’s executive director against ten individuals raised the number of VBC related orders to forty-eight.
VBC, a Houston-based cosmetology school, was known across the United States as a school where an individual could buy a Texas Cosmetology license without attending school or taking the examinations. Ten recently revoked licenses were obtained through VBC fraud or deceit. Together, “students” purchased classroom hours from VBC staff and/or arranged for someone else to take the required examinations.
“We do not tolerate cheating,” explains William Kuntz, Executive Director of TDLR. “TDLR will track down the people who cheated to obtain their license. It is wrong and unfair to students who attend class and study to pass the exam. Additionally, it is putting the citizens of Texas at risk of contracting infections because these students did not demonstrate their knowledge of the health and safety lessons taught in cosmetology school.”
Included in the recent Agreed Orders filed against former VBC “students” are three people who bought classroom hours and allowed Victorian Beauty College to arrange for individuals to take their examinations. Five individuals schemed with VBC to have people pose as them and take the examination. Lastly, two people bought classroom hours without having attended any classes.
In 2007 VBC and its owners signed an order to pay a fine of $250,000 and agreed to a life-time ban of all licenses held by the owners and staff. They also agreed to furnish TDLR with information about “students” across the United States who either bought required class hours or had state examinations taken for them by VBC personnel.
“TDLR will continue its investigation based on the information furnished by Victorian Beauty College,” continued Kuntz. “ We are sending a message to all students and schools who would engage in the buying and selling of required school hours or in obtaining a license through other fraudulent or deceptive means: we will find you and will take away the license you got by deceit.”
Past news releases regarding Victorian Beauty College can be viewed on the TDLR website, www.license.state.tx.us/press.htm.
It has been over a year since TDLR began its initial examination into the facts and it is still an on-going investigation. Stay tuned to the Texas Stylist for the next chapter.
| Cosmetology Vital Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Operators |
103,801 |
| Manicurists |
31,081 |
| Facial specialists |
12,313 |
| Weavers |
175 |
| Braiders |
684 |
| Shampoo specialists |
158 |
| Wig specialists |
20 |
| Shampoo apprentices |
11,333 |
| Operator instructors |
3,972 |
| Manicure instructors |
47 |
| Facial instructors |
76 |
| Wig instructors |
3 |
| Students | 21,617 * |
| Schools |
376 |
| Salons |
20,847 |
| Manicure salons |
1,342 |
| Facial salons |
550 |
| Facial/manicure salons |
3,762 |
| Hair braiding/weaving salons |
133 |
| Wig salons | 37 |
| Independent contractors |
37,948 |
| Dual shop/salon | 302 |
| * Dual number listed in cosmetology statistics | |
| Barber Vital Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Barbers |
12,893 |
| Barbers |
12,926 |
| Barber manicurists |
400 |
| Barber technicians |
20 |
| Barber hair braiding specialist |
45 |
| Barber shops |
5,312 |
| Barber manicure shops |
123 |
| Barber hair braiding shops |
3 |
| Barber hair weaving shops |
3 |
| Dual shop/salon |
302* |
| Barber instructors |
149 |
| Students |
1,670 |
| Schools |
37 |
| Class A Barber booth rentals |
3,540 |
| Barber manicure booth rentals |
74 |
| Barber hair braiding booth rentals | 1 |
| * Dual shop/salon also listed in cosmetology statistics | |
Texas Barber & Cosmetology News
(512) 463-6599 or 1-800-803-9202
www.license.state.tx.us
COSMETOLOGY PROGRAM
P.O. Box 12088 Austin, Texas 78711
cs.cosmetologists@license.state.tx.us
Cosmetology Advisory Board:
Clive Lamb, Presiding Officer
Kerin Haney, Vice Presiding Officer
Diane Salazar
Glenda Jemison
Allison Leigh Kincy
Zelda Moore
BARBER PROGRAM
P.O. Box 13489 Austin, Texas 78711
cs.barbers@license.state.tx.us
Barber Advisory Board:
Linda G. Connor, Presiding Officer
Dean Hudson, Jr, Vice Presiding Officer
Ronald Brown,
Joseph B. Grondin,
Vacancy
Commissioners:
Frank Denton, Chair
LuAnn Roberts Morgan, Vice Chair
Mike Arismendez,
Lewis Benavides,
Lilian Norman-Keeney,
Fred N. Moses,
Deborah Yurco,
William Kuntz, Exec. Director
