To qualify for a license to practice as a cosmetologist, an applicant shall be an individual who meets the requirements of this section. The applicant shall be at least 17 years old. The applicant shall have completed successfully a 9th grade education or the equivalent. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, an applicant shall have received training by: serving as a registered apprentice as provided under §§ 5–404 and 5–405(e) of this title; or successfully completing a required program of at least 1,500 hours of training in a cosmetology school that is approved by the State Board of Education or the Maryland Higher Education Commission in consultation with the Board. If an applicant is a barber or master barber currently licensed in this State, the Board shall: credit the applicant with having met one–half of the training requirements of subparagraph (i) of this paragraph; and determine the manner in which the credit will be applied. An applicant meets the requirements of this subsection if: the applicant has held a cosmetologist license in another state or foreign country and has actively practiced cosmetology in the other state or foreign country for a period of 6 months; or the applicant has been trained in a cosmetology school in another state or foreign country that has standards substantially equivalent to or more stringent than the standards of a school that is approved by the State Board of Education or the Maryland Higher Education Commission in consultation with the Board. The applicant shall have completed 1 hour of in–person or virtual training in domestic violence awareness under § 5–305.1 of this subtitle. Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, the applicant shall pass a written and practical examination given by the Board under this subtitle. To qualify for a license as a senior cosmetologist, an applicant shall: have 2 years of experience as a licensed cosmetologist; and pass an examination approved by the Board.