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Licensing FAQ's

1. What licenses do the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology offer?

• Cosmetologist, Manicurist, Esthetician, Electrologist, Barber, Apprentice and Establishment

2. What are the requirements to become licensed as a cosmetologist?

• Submit an appropriate application and fee.
• Is not less than 17 years of age.
• Has completed the 10th grade in the public schools of this state or its equivalent.
• Is not subject to denial pursuant to Section 480 of the Business and Professions Code (see Denial of Licenses).
• Has done any of the following:
  • Completed a course in cosmetology from a school approved by the board (1,600 hours)
  • Practiced cosmetology outside of this state for period of time equivalent to the study and training of a qualified person who has completed a course in cosmetology from a school the curriculum of which complied with requirements adopted by the board. Each three months of practice shall be deemed the equivalent of 100 hours of training for qualification under paragraph (1).
  • Holds a license as a barber in this state and has completed a cosmetology crossover course in a school approved by the board
  • Completed a barbering course in a school approved by the board and has completed a cosmetology crossover course in a school approved by the board.
  • Completed the apprenticeship program in cosmetology specified in Article 4 (commencing with Section 7332).

3. What are the requirements to become licensed as a barber?

• Submit appropriate application and fee.
• Is not less than 17 years of age.
• Has completed the 10th grade in the public schools of this state or its equivalent.
• Is not subject to denial pursuant to Section 480 of the Business and Professions Code (see Denial of Licenses).
• Has done any of the following:
  • Completed a course in barbering from a school approved by the board (1,500 hours).
  • Completed an apprenticeship program in barbering approved by the board as conducted under the provisions of the Shelley-Maloney Apprentice Labor Standards Act of 1939, Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 3070) of Division 3 of the Labor Code.
  • Practiced barbering outside of this state for a period of time equivalent to the study and training of a qualified person who has completed a course in barbering from a school the curriculum of which complied with requirements adopted by the board. Each three months of practice shall be deemed the equivalent of 100 hours of training for qualification under paragraph (1).
  • Holds a license as a cosmetologist in this state and has completed a barber crossover course in a school approved by the board.
  • Completed a cosmetology course in a school approved by the board and has completed a barber crossover course in a school approved by the board.
  • Completed comparable military training as documented by submission of Verification of Military Experience and Training (V-MET) records.

4. What are the requirements to become licensed as an Esthetician?

• Submit an appropriate application and fee.
• Is not less than 17 years of age.
• Has completed the 10th grade in the public schools of this state or its equivalent.
• Is not subject to denial pursuant to Section 480 of the Business and Professions Code (see Denial of Licenses).
• Has done any of the following:
  • Completed a course in skin care from a school approved by the board (600 hours).
  • Practiced skin care outside of this state for a period of time equivalent to the study and training of a qualified person who has completed a course in skin care from a school the curriculum of which complied with requirements adopted by the board. Each three months of practice shall be deemed the equivalent of 100 hours of training for qualification under paragraph (1).
  • Completed the apprenticeship program in skin care specified in Article 4 (commencing with Section 7332).

5. What are the requirements to become licensed as a Manicurist?

• Submit an appropriate application and fee.
• Is not less than 17 years of age.
• Has completed the 10th grade in the public schools of this state or its equivalent.
• Is not subject to denial pursuant to Section 480 of the Business and Professions Code (see Denial of Licenses).
• Has done any of the following:
  • Completed a course in nail care from a school approved by the board.
  • Practiced nail care outside of this state for a period of time equivalent to the study and training of a qualified person who has completed a course in nail care from a school the curriculum of which complied with requirements adopted by the board. Each three months of practice shall be deemed the equivalent of 100 hours of training for qualification under paragraph (1).
  • Completed the apprenticeship program in nail care specified in Article 4 (commencing with Section 7332).

6. What are the requirements to become licensed as an Electrologist?

• Submit an appropriate application and fee.
• Is not less than 17 years of age.
• Has completed the 12th grade or an accredited senior high school course of study in public schools of this state or its equivalent.
• Is not subject to denial pursuant to Section 480 of the Business and Professions Code (see Denial of Licenses).
• Has done any of the following:
  • Completed a course of training in electrolysis from a school approved by the board (600 hours).
  • Practiced electrolysis, as defined in this chapter, for a period of 18 months outside of this state within the time equivalent to the study and training of a qualified person who has completed a course in electrolysis from a school the curriculum of which complied with requirements adopted by the board. Each three months of practice shall be deemed the equivalent of 100 hours of training for qualification under paragraph (1).
  • Completed the apprenticeship program in electrology specified in Article 4 (commencing with Section 7332).

7. What are the requirements to obtain an Establishment license?

• Any person, firm or corporation desiring to operate an establishment is required to submit an application to the board for a license accompanied by the appropriate fee. The application is required whether the person, firm, or corporation is operating a new establishment or obtaining ownership of an existing establishment. The applicant, if an individual, or each officer, director, and partner, if the applicant is other than an individual, shall not have committed acts or crimes which are grounds for denial of licensure in effect at the time the new application is submitted pursuant to Section 480 of the Business and Professions Code. An issued license authorizes the operation of the establishment only at the location for which the license is issued. Operation of the establishment at any other location shall be unlawful unless a license for the new locations has been obtained.

8. What is an apprentice?

• An apprentice is any person who is licensed by the board to engage in learning or acquiring a knowledge of barbering, cosmetology, skin care, nail care, or electrology, in a licensed establishment under the supervision of a licensee approved by the board.

9. What are the requirements to become licensed as an apprentice?

• The board may license as an apprentice in barbering, cosmetology, skin care, or nail care any person who has made application to the board upon the proper form, has paid the appropriate fee and who is qualified as follows:
  • Is over 16 years of age
  • Has completed the 10th grade in the public schools of this state or its equivalent.
  • Is not subject to denial pursuant to Section 480 of the Business and Professions Code (see Denial of Licenses).
  • Has submitted evidence acceptable to the board that any training the apprentice is required by law to obtain shall be conducted in a licensed establishment and under the supervision of a licensee approved by the board.
  • The may license as an apprentice in electrolysis any person who has made application to the board upon the proper form, has paid the appropriate fee, and who is qualified as follows:
    • Is not less than 17 years of age.
    • Has completed the 12th grade or an accredited senior high school course of study in schools of this state or its equivalent.
    • Is not subject to denial pursuant to Section 480 of the Business and Professions Code (see Denial of Licenses).
    • Has submitted evidence acceptable to the board that any training the apprentice is required by law to obtain shall be conducted in a licensed establishment and under the supervision of a licensee approved by the board.
    • All persons making application as an apprentice in barbering shall also complete a minimum of 39 hours of preapprentice training in a facility approved by the board prior to serving the general public.
    • All persons making application as an apprentice in cosmetology, skin care, nail care, or electrology shall also complete minimum preapprentice training for the length of time established by the board in a facility approved by the board prior to serving the general public.
    • Apprentices may only perform services on the general public for which they have received technical training.
    • Apprentices shall be required to obtain at least the minimum hours of technical instruction and minimum number of practical operations for each subject as specified in board regulations for courses taught in schools approved by the board, in accordance with Sections 3074 and 3078 of the Labor Code.

DENIAL OF LICENSES

1. What are grounds for denial?

• A board may deny a license regulated by Section 480 of the Business and Professions Code on the grounds that the applicant has one of the following:
  • Been convicted of a crime. A conviction within the meaning of Section 480 means a plea or verdict of guilty or a conviction following a plea of nolo contendere. Any action which a board is permitted to take following the establishment of a conviction may be taken when the time for appeal has elapsed, or the judgment of conviction has been affirmed on appeal, or when an order granting probation is made suspending the imposition of sentence, irrespective of a subsequent order under the provisions of Section 1203.4 of the Penal Code.
  • Done any act involving dishonesty, fraud or deceit with the intent to substantially benefit himself or another, or substantially injure another; or
  • Done any act which if done by a licentiate of the business or profession in question, would be grounds for suspension or revocation of license. The board may deny a license only if the crime or act is substantially related to the qualifications, functions or duties of the business or profession for which application is made.
  • Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, no person shall be denied a license solely on the basis that he has been convicted of a felony if he has obtained a certificate of rehabilitation under Section 4852.01 of the Business and Professions Code and following of the Penal Code or that he has been convicted of a misdemeanor if he has met all applicable requirements of the criteria of rehabilitation developed by the board to evaluate the rehabilitation of a person when considering the denial of a license under subdivision (a) of Section 482 of the Business and Professions Code.
  • A board may deny a license regulated by this code on the ground that the applicant knowingly made a false statement of fact required to be revealed in the application for such license.