ASCP Skin Deep

November | December 2014

Issue link: https://www.ascpskindeepdigital.com/i/393439

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 7 of 52

Create your free business website! www.ascpskincare.com 5 your niche Getting Involved Could you fi ll a seat on your state board? by Rebecca Jones The spur to a legislative career began when Tsamouras, the owner of a medical spa in Richmond, Virginia, wanted to get her master esthetician's license. That meant 1,200 hours of training, at a cost that was dismaying to her. She felt that surely there must be a less expensive way, like the apprenticeships available to Virginia barbers, cosmetologists, and nail techs—but that option wasn't available to estheticians, and Tsamouras didn't understand why. "The only way to make a change in your profession," she says, "is to get involved." Tsamouras learned that one of the seats on Virginia's Board for Barbers and Cosmetology was coming open. She applied, got the endorsement of her delegate to the state legislature, and sent in some other letters of recommendation. Soon, the governor's offi ce called to offer her the seat, and she was sworn in. Six months later, in January 2012, she became president of the board. Now, three years later, her goal of creating an esthetics apprenticeship program in Virginia is close to fruition. "Nothing will happen until the General Assembly votes on it, but the ball is in motion," Tsamouras says. Giving Back to the Industry Every state has a regulatory board that oversees professions such as esthetics and cosmetology. Many have one or more seats set aside for estheticians, but even if they don't, anyone can apply for a position on the state board. While board membership doesn't pay much—usually just enough to cover the expense of traveling to a meeting several times a year—those who've done it say it's worth the effort. "I enjoy it very much, because I feel like I'm giving back to the industry," says Janice Curtis, an esthetician who is a member of the South Carolina Board of Cosmetology. "There's so much to be gained. Part of my job is to monitor what's being taught in continuing education classes, and I've learned things I didn't even know were out there." "Just know there's an awful lot of reading involved," adds Curtis, who got her appointment to the board by contacting her state governor to express her interest. "We might hear as many as 75 cases over a two-day meeting, and we have to review all that information beforehand." Much of the work involves issues of potential license revocation, safety, or sanitation. But she estimates that when you add up meetings, conference calls, and preparation, board service requires only a couple of hours per week. Serving the Public In Concord, New Hampshire, esthetician Michelle Kapos is in the second year of her fi ve-year term on the New Hampshire Board of Barbering, Cosmetology, and Esthetics. She has fi rsthand knowledge of how important it can be to have an Board service requires only a couple of hours per week. esthetician's voice in the state legislature: in 2012, three bills were introduced to dissolve all licensing boards. All three failed, but only after heated debate. "I don't think a lot of people have a true appreciation of what licensure is all about," Kapos says. "To just let people start doing esthetics without training or licensure is very scary. The board serves an important function." She adds, "I'm very much about serving the public. I take it very seriously. When we get complaints of license violations or anything underhanded, we serve the community as best we can. And everybody in the community knows who we are." Rebecca Jones is a longtime newspaper reporter and freelance writer based in Denver, Colorado. Contact her at killarneyrose@comcast.net. Daniella Tsamouras wished there was an apprenticeship program for estheticians—and felt strongly enough about it to seek a position on her state board to make a change.

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of ASCP Skin Deep - November | December 2014