AB 1153 Summary

• Expands the practice of cosmetology to include giving facials, using esthetic devices (steamers, LED equipment, etc.), and performing superficial exfoliation on nonliving skin layers without ablating or destroying live tissue.

• Establishes master esthetician certification requiring completion of a 1,200-hour board-approved advanced esthetics program; individuals who completed the standard 600-hour esthetician course need only 600 additional hours of practical and technical training.

• Makes it an unfair business practice for any person to use the title "master esthetician" or similar terms implying such certification without meeting the certification requirements.

• Prohibits persons not licensed as estheticians from representing themselves as estheticians and clarifies that barbering and cosmetology do not include practicing medicine or surgery, including use of radiographs, furnishing drugs or invasive devices, or diagnosing injury or disease.

• Sets master esthetician certification fee at no more than $40 and provides that no state reimbursement is required because violations constitute criminal offenses.