(a) Any person who holds a license at the time of application as a registered hairdresser and cosmetician, or as a person entitled to perform similar services under different designations in any other state, in the District of Columbia, or in a commonwealth or territory of the United States, and who was issued such license on the basis of successful completion of a program of education and training in hairdressing and cosmetology and an examination shall be eligible for licensing in this state and entitled to a license without examination upon payment of a fee of one hundred dollars. No license shall be issued under this section to any applicant against whom professional disciplinary action is pending or who is the subject of an unresolved complaint.

(b) If the issuance of such license in any other state, in the District of Columbia, or in a commonwealth or territory of the United States did not require an examination, an applicant who has legally practiced cosmetology for at least five years in a state outside of Connecticut shall be eligible for licensure under this section if the applicant submits to the commissioner evidence of education and experience that is satisfactory to the commissioner and upon payment of a fee of one hundred dollars. Evidence of experience shall include, but not be limited to, (1) an original certification from the out-of-state licensing agency demonstrating at least five years of licensure, (2) correspondence from the applicant’s former employers, coworkers or clients that describes the applicant’s experience in the state for at least five years, and (3) a copy of tax returns that indicate cosmetology as the applicant’s occupation. No license shall be issued under this section to any applicant against whom professional disciplinary action is pending or who is the subject of an unresolved complaint in the context of providing services as a cosmetician.