People in Georgia have been having trouble renewing their professional licenses since the state launched a new website.Chief Operating Officer with the Georgia Secretary of State's Office, Gabriel Sterling, said, "We launched a new one called GOALS. The Georgia Online Application and Licensing System. It's been going since October of 2023. We've had over 50,000 log-ins. It's different from the old one, and some people are having some issues, but some of them are simple new user things."Sterling said this new software should make things easier. Statesboro Esthetician Katie Clarkson said it's done everything but that."It's supposed to make things quicker. It has definitely not made things quicker at all. It has been much slower," Clarkson said. Clarkson has been licensed since August of 2017 and has never had any issues. Katie Sackewitz, another Georgia licensed cosmetologist, is also running into problems with the site. It took 60 days before her license was renewed."When you have on the state board site that it only takes 15 days from the application turn around. I was expecting to be able to work January or February," Sackewitz said. Sterling said this new software is for everyone needing a license for various professions in Georgia."Our largest one right now is those master cosmetologists. About 8,000 have renewed, and there's another 42,000 to go," Sterling said. Clarkson is one of those 42,000 cosmetologists who have been waiting for months now."I can't get anyone on the phone. I'm not getting any replies to my emails. The fact that they launched this software on a year where a majority of the cosmetology industry has to renew their professional license this year. They all fall on the same year," Clarkson said. Sterling says even though some are having trouble renewing their licenses, they're still allowed to work through the end of April while the Secretary of State's Office works through the issues."Their license is valid right no all the way through. We've extended the renewal period to take that into account. No one will not be allowed to do the work they've chosen to do because of this," he said.That's something both Clarkson and Sackewitz say they haven't been told. While that allows them to work, there's another hurdle for these cosmetologists. "The issue is for a lot of people who don't have an active license, they can't even order supplies and products to actually perform their jobs," Clarkson said.Clarkson and Sackewitz agree they need more communication directly from the Georgia Cosmetology Board. "We should be able to have direct contact with our board. It's not to complain to our board. It's just so we can have some communication with them. Now, we can't even call anybody. They don't have emails for any of our direct board members. They don't have a phone number to our direct board," Sackewitz said. Sterling said while the new software is going through some growing pains, eventually, it will serve everyone better than the previous system."At the end of the day, it's going to be better for them and better for our analysts. It will even be better for consumers in the state of Georgia," Sterling said.
, Ga. —
People in Georgia have been having trouble renewing their professional licenses since the state launched a new website.
Chief Operating Officer with the Georgia Secretary of State's Office, Gabriel Sterling, said, "We launched a new one called GOALS. The Georgia Online Application and Licensing System. It's been going since October of 2023. We've had over 50,000 log-ins. It's different from the old one, and some people are having some issues, but some of them are simple new user things."
Advertisem*nt
Sterling said this new software should make things easier. Statesboro Esthetician Katie Clarkson said it's done everything but that.
"It's supposed to make things quicker. It has definitely not made things quicker at all. It has been much slower," Clarkson said.
Clarkson has been licensed since August of 2017 and has never had any issues. Katie Sackewitz, another Georgia licensed cosmetologist, is also running into problems with the site. It took 60 days before her license was renewed.
"When you have on the state board site that it only takes 15 days from the application turn around. I was expecting to be able to work January or February," Sackewitz said.
Sterling said this new software is for everyone needing a license for various professions in Georgia.
"Our largest one right now is those master cosmetologists. About 8,000 have renewed, and there's another 42,000 to go," Sterling said.
Clarkson is one of those 42,000 cosmetologists who have been waiting for months now.
"I can't get anyone on the phone. I'm not getting any replies to my emails. The fact that they launched this software on a year where a majority of the cosmetology industry has to renew their professional license this year. They all fall on the same year," Clarkson said.
Sterling says even though some are having trouble renewing their licenses, they're still allowed to work through the end of April while the Secretary of State's Office works through the issues.
"Their license is valid right no all the way through. We've extended the renewal period to take that into account. No one will not be allowed to do the work they've chosen to do because of this," he said.
That's something both Clarkson and Sackewitz say they haven't been told. While that allows them to work, there's another hurdle for these cosmetologists.
"The issue is for a lot of people who don't have an active license, they can't even order supplies and products to actually perform their jobs," Clarkson said.
Clarkson and Sackewitz agree they need more communication directly from the Georgia Cosmetology Board.
"We should be able to have direct contact with our board. It's not to complain to our board. It's just so we can have some communication with them. Now, we can't even call anybody. They don't have emails for any of our direct board members. They don't have a phone number to our direct board," Sackewitz said.
Sterling said while the new software is going through some growing pains, eventually, it will serve everyone better than the previous system.
"At the end of the day, it's going to be better for them and better for our analysts. It will even be better for consumers in the state of Georgia," Sterling said.
