MONTOURSVILLE, Pa. -- Governor Tom Wolf wants to do away with requiring licenses for more than a dozen jobs in Pennsylvania, including barbers.
The barbers we spoke with in Montoursville are proud of their license and are concerned that if it's easier to become a barber, it could demean their craft.
If you stop by Lycoming Barber Shop in Montoursville, you could find yourself sitting in Joshua Polcinski's barber chair.
Polcinski has been a professional barber for about 10 years The career path may run in the family but Polcinski had to train and pass an exam to receive his license.
"Truthfully, 1,250 hours and nine months sounds like a long time, but to learn everything, it takes that long," Polcinski said.
To keep his name above his chair, every year Polcinski has to pay to renew that license.
"I think it was about $160 or something, something like that it cost us for our license this year," said Polcinski.
Governor Wolf says it's that license that could be deterring people from finding jobs like a barber.
In some cases, the governor considers a license "red tape" that can have burdensome rules that block people from getting a job.
Recently, the governor called to repeal licenses for 13 jobs, including a barber and replace them with less restrictive requirements.
- Auctioneers, only require registration and bonding.
- Barbers, only require certification from a licensed barber school, passage of examination, minimum hours of training, and registration with the State Board of Barber Examiners.
- Cemetery Broker/Cemetery Salesperson, only require passage of relevant examination, 60 hours of instruction and registration.
- Campground Membership Salesperson, only require registration with the State Real Estate Commission.
- Natural Hair Braiding License, eliminate this license.
- Orthotic fitter/Orthotist/Pedorthist/Prosthetist, only require credentialing, passage of an education program, training, and minimum hours of training.
- Practitioner of Oriental Medicine, maintain existing, but separate acupuncturist licensing requirement to protect public health and safety.
- Rental Listing Referral Agent, only require registration with the State Real Estate Commission.
- Vehicle Factory Representative, only require registration with the State Board of Vehicle Manufacturers, Dealers, and Salespersons.
Barbers would still have to pass an exam and get certification from a licensed barber school.
Polcinski thinks student barbers could benefit from even more training
"I know there are a lot of states that don't accept our license and we have to go through some other process to get it," Polcinski said. "When you're talking about accountability, it holds people accountable. "
"You wouldn't want a mechanic working on your car without being trained so I wouldn't want someone who doesn't know what they're doing working on my hair," said Alan Cady of Cogan Station.
"I don't have a problem with them having a license because that means they understand their trade; they know what they are doing. Like I said before, it's the cost that I have a concern with," said Jerry Kennedy of Williamsport.
That's what most of the barbers we spoke to could agree on. They would like to see the cost to renew a license lowered. According to the barbers in Montoursville, it cost them around $150 dollars this year.