23-Jul-2002

NORTH CAROLINA ADDED TO NEW NACCAS NATIONAL COSMETOLOGY LICENSE DATABASE PLANS ARE NOW UNDERWAY TO SOLVE COSMETOLOGY EMPLOYMENT CRISIS

ARLINGTON, VA - USA Mark Gross, CEO of The National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts & Sciences is pleased to announce that North Carolina has become the latest addition to the exciting new National Cosmetology License Database -- NCLD. Six states have already provided 400,000 database entries to work with NACCAS on this project including: Ohio, Vermont, Indiana, Mississippi, Florida and now North Carolina!

MORE MOBILITY WITH RECIPROCITY! This database will soon enhance the quality and integrity of the entire cosmetology industry. There are five key benefits. First, it will help facilitate improved state-to-state, national and international reciprocity for cosmetology employment. It will reduce potential license forgeries and the proliferation of fake paperwork in the professional salon industry. It will reduce extra paperwork for state board administrators. State cosmetology licensing information will become readily available to all states on the Internet at the click of a button, once complete. Finally, it will compile all participating states' information on licensed cosmetologists into one central database.

The cosmetology industry is in an absolute employment emergency crisis situation with dramatically shrinking schools, less new students, many less professionally licensed cosmetologists, nailcare technicians and aestheticians. Currently, cosmetologists who move across state lines or who come from another country have to wait many months while their new state licensure and paperwork is processed. In the mean time, many must leave the cosmetology profession to earn a living wage to support their families until the paperwork is approved and transferred. These same cosmetologists often become involved in other career opportunities while never returning to cosmetology. Many salons have experienced the abuse of counterfeit licenses, which sadly affects our entire industry. The challenge is to make it much easier for professional cosmetologists, aestheticians and nail artists to move quickly across state lines for employment within salons, while also attracting foreign professionals to work here in the USA.

Today the cosmetology industry is faced with an enormous employment crisis, while having a zero unemployment opportunity for newcomers and those who want to move from state-to-state. Our shrinking cosmetology employment base has affected every level of our industry. The current situation is only predicted to get worse over the coming years, unless we take some drastic actions. Now is the time to help support our industry through this new National Cosmetology License Database.

NEW SUPPORT NEEDED! Clifford Culbreath, Director of Communications is heading up this effort to personally call and solicit participation and support from each state. Culbreath notes, "We encourage all salon owners, salon chains, manufacturers and representatives from every level of our industry to contact your state board of cosmetology representatives to push for more immediate and active participation from every state board of cosmetology!" Culbreath continues, "States will receive this new service for FREE during the first six months of participation. After that, there will be a nominal annual fee to each state."

NACCAS has created an accessible financial plan to help make the launch of this plan a reality. To launch this new National Cosmetology License Database Plan, NACCAS has offered to create and facilitate this program. Fortunately, Schoeneman Corporation, Fantastic Sam's Salon Chain and the JC Penney Salon division have stepped up to become the first official financial sponsors. NACCAS still needs important seed money to get it properly launched over the next few years. They are looking for sponsors at any level to support the future growth of our industry. Those who will benefit the most at first from a program like this are salon chains, independent salons, manufacturers and professional beauty product distributors.

Janette D. Martinez, a veteran Florida cosmetologist recently heard of the NCLD. She has personally pledged proceeds from some of her retail products to NACCAS, in support of the National Cosmetology License Database. Martinez notes, "I plan to move to Georgia and have been researching how to activate my license in another state. Your plans for launching this new National Licensing Database are to be admired! I am eager to participate in this program in order to help get rid of our industry employment crisis."

Fortunately, several high profile national consumer magazines like Parade Magazine, Celebrity 101 Hairstyles and ShortCuts Magazines have begun to report the positive aspects of `Creative Careers In Cosmetology', despite the incorrect stereotypes that Hollywood has given our industry. We need help from every level of our industry to promote our distinctively proud cosmetology profession in the future.

GET INVOLVED NOW! For more information, contact Cliff Culbreath at NACCAS, 4401 Ford Avenue ~ Suite 1300, Alexandria, VA 22302 USA, call 703-600-7600 or visit the NACCAS website at www.NACCAS.org.