What is the primary purpose of the Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology?

The primary purpose of the Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology is to regulate the practice of cosmetology. This includes setting and enforcing standards for education, training, and licensure of cosmetologists to ensure public safety and health. By establishing regulations, the Board aims to protect consumers from unqualified practitioners and maintain high professional standards within the industry. This includes issuing licenses to practitioners and schools, ensuring that they meet necessary educational requirements, and overseeing compliance with laws governing the practice of cosmetology in the state.

The other options, while potentially beneficial to the industry and its practitioners, do not align with the Board's main responsibility of regulation and oversight. Financial support for beauty schools, promoting careers, and conducting competitions are not fundamental roles of the Board, as its primary focus is the protection of public interest through regulation.