To expand licensing opportunities and safety regulation in the esthetics industry

HB 5538 creates a new "Master Esthetician" license in West Virginia for professionals seeking to perform advanced, noninvasive skin treatments beyond basic esthetics. To qualify, applicants must hold a current esthetician license, complete 600 hours of advanced training (including skin analysis and safety protocols), pass an exam, and pay fees. The bill defines the scope of practice to include advanced services affecting the epidermis/superficial dermis but explicitly prohibits medical procedures or deeper skin penetration. It establishes renewal requirements with continuing education and grants the Cosmetology Board authority to set safety rules for these advanced services. This directly affects estheticians aiming to expand their practice and aims to enhance consumer safety through clearer licensing standards.