(Radio Iowa) – Aspiring barbers and cosmetologists soon will be able to work without a license in Iowa if they are supervised by a licensed professional in the industry. Governor Reynolds recently signed the bill to allow “establishment training programs” for cutting, coloring and styling hair. Craig Hunt of the Iowa Barbers Coalition says it’s a great opportunity.

“Right now we’re having a shortage of barbers, especially, because there’s only 1000 licensed barbers in the state of Iowa versus 10,000 cosmetologists,” Hunt says. Hunt, who owns two barber shops and a salon in the Des Moines metro, started taking the required training to be a barber when he was 19 years old.

“I started in 1997, did 1100 hours, took a leave of absence for over 10 years,” Hunt says. “They made me start the barbering program over — 2100 more hours. I spent a total of $35,000 in school debt and 3200 hours total,” he says. Hunt is now a master barber and has been teaching for over 15 years. He says the new law sets up a great alternative to traditional cosmetology and barbering schools and is similar to existing apprenticeships for barbers.

“A private training program will allow us to work hands on with the people in our field and it will also as the business owner and the barber we’ll be training the employees, the contractors that actually work in our establishments,” Hunt said, “so we’re going to take more pride in training those individuals than somebody else.”

Licensed barbershops and salons will have to register with the Iowa Board of Barbering and Cosmetology Arts and Sciences if they hire people to train on the job. Customers must be notified in writing if an unlicensed person is going to cut, color, style or perm their hair. Critics of the legislation say the change lowers standards and could endanger customers. The bill easily passed the Iowa House and Senate and, while there were “no” votes, none of the bill’s opponents spoke during debate.