November 2008
Taking License | by Kraig Bohot
Ever been stopped for speeding and your excuse to the officer about ready to write a hefty ticket is that you didn’t know the speed limit was 30 mph when you were going 50?
Ignorance isn’t necessarily bliss, nor is it an effective defense.
That’s why we impress upon our licensees in multiple health and related professions to review the profession-specific Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) and Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) of their particular profession.
Reading laws and rules may not be your idea of a fun and exciting time, but laws and rules are the dual linchpins of regulation.
Without them, we would have no specific legal requirements upon which to base everything from a profession’s scope of practice to health, safety and infection control standards established to protect practitioners and the public.
The importance of laws and rules underscores the Oregon Health Licensing Agency’s recent decision, in consultation with the Board of Cosmetology, to require out-of-state applicants to take and pass the Oregon Laws & Rules examination.
While the new requirement may make it more difficult to obtain certification for out-of-state applicants, it will help ensure that these applicants are familiar with the specific regulatory requirements and standards in Oregon prior to obtaining certification and practicing here.
In addition to out-of-state applicants, the following are required to take and pass the Oregon Laws & Rules examination effective October 1, 2008:
Certificate of identification (CID) holders who are renewing the new two-year CID. (CID holders will no longer be required to take the 10-question open-book test.)
Practitioners who are applying for certification in a new field of practice after two or more years have passed since they took and passed the Oregon Laws & Rules examination.
The Oregon Health Licensing Agency (OHLA) established the new examination requirement because:
CID holders are less likely to be subject to inspections and therefore less likely to be aware or reminded of regulatory requirements that may change within any two-year period.
Practitioners who are applying for an additional field of practice certification after two or more years since they passed the Oregon Laws & Rules examination need a “refresher” course due to possible changes in regulatory requirements.
Even if there aren’t any new regulatory requirements in the span of two years, practitioners may not always retain the knowledge needed to stay in compliance and protect themselves and the public.
That’s why OHLA now offers health, safety and infection control workshops that practitioners may attend instead of paying civil fines.
The goal is to provide practitioners with as many opportunities as possible to stay current and informed of regulatory requirements and stay in compliance.
Kraig Bohot is Communications Coordinator at the Oregon Health Licensing Agency (OHLA), a state consumer protection agency providing centralized regulatory oversight of multiple health and related professions. He can be reached at (503) 373-1939 or at kraig.bohot@state.or.us.
The Oregon Health Licensing Agency (OHLA), in consultation with the Board of Cosmetology, recently revised requirements for the Oregon Laws & Rules examination and Certificate of Identification (CID).
These changes became effective October 1, 2008.
If you have questions regarding these new requirements, please contact OHLA at 503-378-8667 or info.ohla@state.or.us.
How many practitioners and facilities are currently licensed in Oregon? (Numbers in parentheses +/- change from previous month.) According to Oregon Health Licensing Agency (OHLA) records as of Nov. 4, 2008:
| Practitioners | 30,904 (+50) |
| Facilities | 4,546 (+15) |
| Independent contractors | 7,049 (+35) |
| Certificate of ID | 167 (+6) |
| Barbering | 5,746( -104) |
| Esthetics | 13,580 (+37) |
| Hair Design | 20,982 (+36) |
| Nail Technology | 14,953 (+8) |
The Oregon Health Licensing Agency (OHLA) and Board of Cosmetology thank outgoing members Deely Klarr and Judith Peterson and welcome new members Herb Hirst and Sharon Wiser.
Judith Peterson — Terms of service: 7/1/01 - 6/30/04, 7/1/04 - 6/30/07
Judith Peterson continued to serve on until a replacement was appointed more than a year after her second term expired, highlighting her dedication and reliability as a Board member.
Ms. Peterson most recently served on the Board’s Scholarship / Education Sub-Committee.
Her experience as district manager for Perfect Look salons for more than 10 years and as a practicing hair designer since 1967 provided valuable insight into and knowledge of the industry, assisting the Board in addressing a wide range of issues.
Deely Klarr — Terms of Service: 2/20/04 – 6/30/05, 7/1/05 – 6/30/08
Deely Klarr served as the Board’s 2008 Vice-Chair and brought more than 30 years of experience as a practitioner and salon owner to her Board service.
Ms. Klarr recently served on the Enforcement, Product Safety / Public Protection and Item Writing Sub-Committees.
Ms. Klarr contributed an informed opinion on industry issues and effusive energy to Board discussions. Her sense of humor brought levity to sometimes serious issues without lessening the importance of the Board’s decision-making process.
She is planning to expand her Salem-area salon business, necessitating her resignation from the Board to concentrate on the planned expansion.
Herb Hirst — First term of service: 5/05/06 – 5/04/09
Public member Herb Hirst is retired and previously served as the public member of the Environmental Health Registration Board.
Mr. Hirst has extensive public service experience, as Business Administrator for the Oregon State Police from 1995-98 and Assistant Administrator for Administrative Services, Health Division, Department of Human Resources, 1990-95, among other positions with the State of Oregon since 1970.
He is currently serving his fifth term on the North Plains City Council, as President, and is on the Washington County Fair Board, Metropolitan Area Communications Commission, and the Washington County Planning Commission.
Mr. Hirst retired as a Colonel from the U.S. Army after 35 years of active and reserve service, which included management coursework at Harvard, Michigan and Texas universities, National War College, Ft. Leavenworth and the Department of State.
“Consumer protection coupled with good business practices and accurate licensing are prominent in my mind,” says Mr. Hirst.
Sharon Wiser — First term of service: 10/15/08 - 6/30/10
Sharon Wiser has been in the beauty industry for more than 30 years and is currently an instructor at Phagan’s School of Hair Design in Portland.
Ms. Wiser has extensive experience in beauty industry sales and management as District Sales Manager at Perfect Look Salons, Director of Operations at Premier Salons in California, General Manager of Great Clips in Oregon, Area Director of Hair Plus in North Carolina and District Manager of the Hair Cuttery in Georgia.
“I have a real passion for what happens to cosmetologists, students and for the protection and safety of the public,” says Ms. Wiser. “I look forward to giving back to the industry that has given me so much, and making a difference.”
About the Board...
The Board of Cosmetology consists of seven members appointed by the governor: six certified practitioners (who are not associated with the manufacturer, sales or distribution of cosmetic appliances or supplies) and one public member. In addition, the Oregon Health Licensing Agency (OHLA) director or representative may serve as a non-voting member. Terms of office are three years, with an appointee eligible to serve a maximum of two consecutive terms.
Oregon Health Licensing Agency
700 Summer Street NE, Suite 320 • Salem, OR 97301-1287
Licensing Office (503) 378-8667 • Enforcement Unit (503) 378-4294
www.oregon.gov/OHLA
OHLA Agency Staff:
Susan K. Wilson, Director
Tricia Allbritton, Administrative Rules/Legislation
Richard McNew, Business Administration
Tim Molloy, Regulatory Operations
Board of Cosmetology:
Michael D. Snook, Salem - Chair
Debora Masten, Salem - Vice Chair
Linda Bergmann, Florence
Patricia A. Hall, Pendleton
Herb Hirst, North Plains
Sharon Wiser, Lake Oswego
