In a monumental stride for the beauty industry, the Kentucky State Board of Cosmetology, in partnership with PSI, the official beauty licensing exam agency, has implemented multiple language options for the Nail Licensing exam. As of today, September 17, 2024, aspiring nail technicians can now take their licensing exams in Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, and English. This achievement represents a significant breakthrough, particularly for the thousands of Asian nail salon owners and technicians who hold a dominant share of the market in Kentucky.
The journey to this milestone has been tireless and community-driven, with a campaign led by the Asian community to provide more inclusive opportunities for non-English speakers. With over 1,700 signatures on a Change.org petition calling for reform at the Kentucky Board of Cosmetology, the movement culminated in historic changes on September 9, 2024. That day, Michael Carter was sworn in as the first-ever licensed nail technician on the Board, and the Board’s executive director was replaced, setting a new tone for progress and inclusion.
Key members of the newly reformed Board, including Lianna Nguyen, the first Asian and Vietnamese woman on the Board, and Michael Carter, have worked diligently to ensure that this language expansion becomes a reality. Their leadership and advocacy reflect the Board’s commitment to serving the diverse nail salon community, which has long been a pillar of the beauty industry in Kentucky.
Louisville Beauty Academy, a Kentucky State-Licensed and Accredited Beauty College, proudly supports this landmark change. As we continue our mission to empower future beauty professionals, we encourage all nail school graduates who wish to take their licensing exam in one of the newly available languages to schedule their test as soon as possible. We also advise students to purchase practice tests directly from PSI, particularly for the Vietnamese language, to help ensure success in the theory examination.
This update currently applies to the Nail Licensing exam only, but it marks an essential first step toward a more inclusive and equitable future in Kentucky’s beauty industry. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the nail community for their relentless campaigning and leadership, which made this moment possible. The efforts of the newly appointed Board members will undoubtedly create lasting impacts for generations of nail technicians to come.
Louisville Beauty Academy is committed to keeping you informed of the latest developments and changes. We celebrate this achievement with all nail school graduates and look forward to seeing the continued growth of our diverse community of beauty professionals.
Note: Practice tests in Vietnamese and other languages are now available through PSI. Make sure to utilize these resources to enhance your preparation for the licensing exam.
Contact: For all questions related to scheduling your licensing exam, contact [email protected]. If you have trouble booking the language you need, call PSI at (833) 333-4741.
Disclaimer: The information shared by Louisville Beauty Academy is intended to keep students and graduates informed of the latest changes and updates regarding the Nail Licensing exam. However, Louisville Beauty Academy does not guarantee the accuracy of third-party information, including changes in examination processes, languages, or availability of services. We strongly advise all students to verify details directly with PSI and the Kentucky State Board of Cosmetology. Louisville Beauty Academy is not liable for any decisions made based on the information provided and encourages individuals to confirm all details independently to ensure compliance with official licensing requirements.
