This came after a partnership agreement between the college and the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations, or TDLR, to administer exams on the North and South campuses. San Jacinto College is the first ever college to offer this service, according to a May 19 news release from the college.
What you need to know
San Jacinto College Chancellor Brenda Hellyer said she appreciates the state's partnership to pilot this initiative.
“Previously, students would complete their final exam, walk at commencement, and three or four months later sit for their state licensing exam,” Hellyer said in the news release. “This partnership with the state and TDLR allows our faculty to administer the state licensing exam in conjunction with the program’s final exam, so that students know upon exam completion whether they are licensed to work in the state of Texas.”
According to the news release, the following programs are included in the exam:
- Cosmetology operator
- Barbering
- Massage therapy
- Manicurist
- Esthetician
How we got here
This initiative came to fruition after Tom Butler, TDLR commissioner and San Jacinto College Foundation board member, discussed the potential partnership with John Moon, Jr., San Jacinto College’s board of trustees vice chair.
After initial conversations, trustees approved the pilot and partnership at its March meeting. Funding to cover the cost of the license exam and fees was made through a donation from the late David Waters, a retired San Jacinto College cosmetology instructor, according to the news release.
What they said
Diana Perez, San Jacinto College cosmetology program director, said this partnership will help graduates enter the workforce much sooner and with more confidence.
“For the cosmetology industry, it means a more reliable talent pipeline and professionals who are ready to contribute on day one,” she said in the news release. “For Texas, it’s a model for how we can modernize the licensing process while maintaining high standards and putting students first.”
Governor Greg Abbott said this partnership sets “the bar high for future students.”
“Your hard work and commitment to quickly enter the workforce in the high demand fields of cosmetology, barbering, massage therapy and nail esthetics is admirable,” he said in a message to the students. “The license you receive today is not only the goal you have worked so diligently to attain but also a symbol of the education that has prepared you for success in any further endeavor.”
