(1) An applicant for any license provided in this article or for examination shall be at least sixteen years of age.

(2) An applicant for examination shall furnish proof of graduation from a barber school or beauty school approved by the private occupational school division pursuant to article 64 of title 23; approved by the state board for community colleges and occupational education pursuant to article 60 of title 23; or, if the school is located in another state or country, approved by the governmental agency responsible for approving such schools in that state or country. The applicant shall also furnish proof that the applicant has successfully completed educational requirements equal to those set by the director. If the applicant has graduated from a school located outside Colorado, the applicant shall furnish proof that the applicant has successfully completed educational requirements substantially equal to those set by the director.

(3) The director shall promulgate rules to implement this section, but shall not require an applicant for examination to furnish proof of training of more than the number of hours of course completion in the subject area in which the applicant seeks licensure as follows:

(a) (I) Fifty credits, as defined by:

(A) Institutional accreditation requirements;

(B) The Colorado commission on higher education full-time equivalent clock-to-credit hour requirements; or

(C) The department of education accreditation requirements; or

(II) One thousand five hundred contact hours for a cosmetologist;

(b) (I) Fifty credits, as defined by:

(A) Institutional accreditation requirements;

(B) The Colorado commission on higher education full-time equivalent clock-to-credit hour requirements; or

(C) The department of education accreditation requirements; or

(II) One thousand five hundred contact hours for a barber;

(c) Six hundred contact hours for an esthetician;

(d) Six hundred contact hours for a nail technician;

(e) One thousand two hundred contact hours for a hairstylist.

(4) Every person desiring to obtain a license to practice the occupation of a barber, cosmetologist, esthetician, hairstylist, or nail technician in this state shall apply and pay to the director an examination fee. The director shall issue a license to applicants who successfully pass the examination and who qualify upon the payment of the required fee.

(5) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no examinations for a hairstylist license and no hairstylist licenses shall be issued until on or after January 15, 2001.