Now, technicians were at the state capitol this week calling for changes to some state board of cosmetology policies, including the English only certification exam.

They pointed out most nail techs are Asian American and Pacific Islanders, and English is not their first language, which makes passing the licensing exam hard.

However, representatives with the Kentucky Board of Cosmetology said to their knowledge, all state licensing exams are given only in English.

If ensuring sanitation and safety to the public is the main focus on Kentucky State Board, we must offer multiple language exam, sanitation and safety.

A number one topic.

In the end, the written portion of the exam.

They are universal language.

One A person understand it.

They understand it.

It doesn't matter what language they understand it in.

Most of the workers in this industry are non native English speaker.

To test people in a language that they do not comprehend is forcing them to memorize only words but not understanding the material as an experience vertex.

I can assure you that will be professed to be a good one.

You don't have to be proficient in English.

To be clear, the exam that we give is a nationally created exam.

It is given in English only.

We are not the only board in Kentucky that gives only an English exam.

And in fact, every board that I have asked specifically about their exam practices requires an IT proficiency in English exam.

If it is not a first language and an exam in English should be taken.

The nail technicians told the committee they also want to see the cap removed on the number of times the exam can be taken under current regulations.

Failing the exam more than three times requires the applicant to wait six months and take an 80 hour course before retaking the test.

If they fail two more times, the applicant is banned from retaking the exam for three years.

Senate Minority Caucus Chair Reginald Thomas, a Democrat from Lexington, said he plans to introduce a bill in 2024 that would update nail tech certification, testing and nail salon regulations.