This page provides information for Tennessee license requirements including how to apply for a new license, renew an existing one, reactivate an expired license and Tennessee license reciprocity for when you need to transfer a license to this state or out of land. If available, we provide other useful information such as cosmetology schoolhouse hours requirements, how to apply for additional license for professions like manicurists, blast technicians, instructors etc. If you did not discover the answer you lot were looking for on this page or if you accept questions or issues pertaining to cosmetology, and then we recommend you contact the Tennessee State Lath of Cosmetology and Hairdresser Examiners.

Tennessee Cosmetology License Verification

If you demand to verify a license for a salon or person, then you can do so by visiting the Tennessee Board of Cosmetology license verification website. From in that location you tin can search for the person or business concern and run across if at that place are whatever disciplinary actions on record. This will let you to make an informed determination nigh the person and or business organization providing your service.

All Licensees

Failure to remit fees past expiration engagement volition consequence in a penalty fee being assessed. All penalties are strictly enforced and are never waived.

Agile Licenses

The renewal form volition include the renewal fee. The licensee must renew online to avert delays. Links to the online system can exist found at core.tn.gov.

Inactive Licenses (Instructors Just)

The renewal grade includes the renewal fee and should be paid online at cadre.tn.gov. A letter must exist submitted to the lath requesting to place instructor as inactive .The asking must exist done timely.

Failure To Complete Renewal Requirements

If the Licensee fails to consummate all requirements for renewal, the license volition elapse. Persons who continue to act in any capacity in the cosmetology field will be subject to disciplinary action. The ability to reinstate an expired licednse does not allow a person to continue to human activity as a licensee without a valid license. Please contact the Cosmetology Board office for specific reinstatement policy provisions.

If you need additional information, please contact the Cosmetology Board office. However, no verbal statement fabricated by a member of the board office staff should be interpreted as an exception or waiver of these instructions and policies.

Refunds

No refunds will be processed for fees paid as a result of a failure to follow these directions.

How do I retire my license?

You will demand to submit:

  • The current active license
  • A statement requesting to retire the license and giving your current mailing address, and
  • A $fifty fee. Upon receipt of these three items, the lath will send you a retired inactive license certificate. The holder of a retired certificate shall not practice in any of the areas for which the license was issued until the license has been reactivated

How do I reactivate my retired license?

If you are 65 years of age or older, you may active your retired license by submitting to the board office:

  • Proof of your historic period and
  • A fee which is the same as the renewal fee for the license to exist reactivated

If y'all are under 65 years of age, in club to activate your retired license, you must offset take and pass the practical and police portions of the examination for the license and second, pay a fee which is the aforementioned as the renewal fee for the license to exist reactivated.

Please note: only individuals over age 65 are exempt from re-testing when reactivating a retired license.

Tennessee Aesthetician License

An aesthetician does one or more of the following; massage, clean, stimulate, manipulate, exercise, beautify or perform similar work with hands or mechanical or electrical apparatus or by use of cosmetic preparations, tonics, lotions or creams; places or applies bogus eyelashes, gives facials, applies makeup, gives skin care or removes superfluous hair by tweezing, depilatories or waxing.

Licensing Requirements

Be at least sixteen years of age having completed and passed a course of instruction of not less than 750 hours in the practice and theory of aesthetics at a school of cosmetology.

Examination Requirements

A written and applied examination is required.

Renewal Requirements

Renewals are required every 2 years.

Awarding and Fees

For information on awarding, registration, examination or fees, contact our testing vender PSI online at candidate.psiexams.com or by phone 800-733-9267. License renewals can be washed hither. The Aesthetician renewal fee is $lx, as set forth in Rule 0440-1-.13(3) of the Tennessee Rules of Cosmetology.

The renewal form and fee must be submitted to the board part prior to the expiration date listed on the license. If the renewal is not processed prior, there is an additional late fee of $25 per license. If the late fee is due, your license is not renewed.

Tennessee Cosmetologist License

A cosmetologist performs, for compensation, arranging, dressing, curling, waving, cleansing, cutting, singeing, bleaching, coloring, or similar work on the hair. A cosmetologist may care for or service wigs or hair pieces; manicure; massage, make clean, stimulate, dispense, exercise, beautify or perform similar work upon the hands, arms, face, neck, or feet with easily or by use of corrective preparations, tonics, lotions or creams; identify or utilize artificial eyelashes, give facials, apply make up, give skin care, or remove superfluous hair past tweezing, depilatories, or waxing. Effective July 1, 2015, a cosmetologist may shave using a safety razor.

Licensing Requirements

Be at to the lowest degree 16 years of historic period and run into educational and examination requirements.

Educational Requirements

Completion of 1,500 hours in practise and theory at a school of cosmetology.

Examination Requirements

Written and applied examination.

Renewal Requirements

Renewal notices are mailed approximately one month prior to renewal engagement. Licensee required to submit renewal notice with required fee, if applicable, due by expiration appointment on license.

Application and Fees

For data on application, registration, examination or fees, contact our testing vender PSI online at candidate.psiexams.com or past telephone, 800-733-9267. License renewals tin can be done here.

The Cosmetologist renewal fee is $60, as ready forth in Rule 0440-i-.13(iii) of the Tennessee Rules of Cosmetology. The renewal form and fee must exist submitted to the board office prior to the expiration date listed on the license. If the renewal is not processed prior, at that place is an additional late fee of $25 per license. If the late fee is due, your license is non renewed.

Tennessee Cosmetology Instructors

A person who is licensed as a cosmetologist, aesthetician, manicurist or natural hair stylist and is certified with the board as a cosmetology, aesthetician, manicuring or natural hair stylist instructor. The person may not practice cosmetology, esthetics, manicuring, or natural pilus styling as a profession inside a school setting, only may practice as a cosmetologist, aesthetician, manicurist, or natural hair stylist elsewhere.
Prospective

A school of cosmetology must take at least 1 certified teacher, and must have at least one certified instructor for each junior instructor employed by the school. A certified instructor must be on the premises whenever a cosmetology school (including public high schoolhouse or state vocational technical school offering cosmetology, aesthetics, manicuring, or natural hair styling courses) is in operation. A cosmetology schoolhouse must accept at least ane registered cosmetology (manicuring, aesthetics or natural hair) instructor for every xx students enrolled, and must have i licensed instructor for each junior instructor being supervised.

Certification Requirements

Concur a valid license as a cosmetologist, aesthetician, manicurist, natural hair stylist and see educational and feel requirements. The private must hold a license in the field they are approved to teach for at to the lowest degree 3 continuous years in order to obtain an teacher license.

Education and Feel Requirements

Be a high school graduate or possess a graduate equivalency diploma (GED) and either complete a board-approved form in instructor training of at to the lowest degree 300 hours inside a menses of six months equally an teacher trainee OR complete service every bit a junior instructor for a minimum of ane year. (A junior instructor holds a valid cosmetologist's, aesthetician's, manicurist's or natural hair stylist'south license and engages in a course of training in do teaching in a school under the personal supervision of a licensed instructor for a period not to exceed three years). Effective July 1, 2015, for a individual to receive an teacher license, they need to accept been licensed for at least iii continuous years.

Examination Requirements

Written and applied (consists of lesson plan) examination.

Continuing Education Requirements

Attendance in a cosmetology instructor training program of at least sixteen hours duration every 2 years at a session approved by the board . Individuals receive announcements of these seminars or may check the board website to program ahead. They are held yearly, one in each Yard Division. Xvi. Click here for Continuing Didactics Data.

Renewal Requirements

Renewal required every ii years along with completion of sixteen hours of connected instruction.

Application and Fees

For information on application, registration, exam or fees, contact our testing vender PSI online at candidate.psiexams.com or past telephone, 800-733-9267. License renewals tin be done here.

The Instructor renewal fee is $80, as gear up forth in Dominion 0440-1-.13(3) of the Tennessee Rules of Cosmetology. The renewal form and fee must be submitted to the board office prior to the expiration engagement listed on the license. If the renewal is not processed prior, in that location is an boosted late fee of $25 per license. If the late fee is due, your license is not renewed.

Tennessee Manicurist License

A person who manicures or pedicures the nails of whatsoever person, or performs boom artistry.

Licensing Requirements

Be at least sixteen years of historic period, complete a class of education of not less than 600 hours in the practice and theory of manicuring at a school of cosmetology.

Exam Requirements

Written and practical test.

Renewal Requirements

Renewal notices mailed approximately ane month prior to renewal date. Licensee required to submit renewal notice with required fee, if applicable, due past expiration date on license.

Application and Fees

For information on application, registration, test or fees, contact our testing vender PSI online at candidate.psiexams.com or by phone, 800-733-9267. License renewals can exist done here.

The Manicurist renewal fee is $60, as set forth in Dominion 0440-i-.xiii(3) of the Tennessee Rules of Cosmetology. The renewal form and fee must be submitted to the board office prior to the expiration date listed on the license. If the renewal is non processed prior, there is an additional late fee of $25 per license. If the late fee is due, your license is non renewed.

Tennessee Natural Hair Stylist License

A person who uses techniques which outcome in tension on hair strands such every bit twisting, wrapping, weaving, extending, locking or braiding of the hair by hand or mechanical appliances, which piece of work does non include the awarding of dyes, reactive chemicals or other preparations to change the colour or straighten, curl or alter the structure of the hair. The techniques include providing or offering to the general public for compensation any of the following services solely for development or improvement of physical qualities of the natural hair structure: intertwining in a systematic motion to create patterns in a three-dimensional class; inversion or outversion apartment confronting the scalp along the part of a directly or curved row; or extension with natural or synthetic fibers.

Licensing Requirements

Be at least sixteen years of historic period and satisfy education and exam requirements.

Teaching Requirements

Satisfactory completion of a course of instruction of not less than 300 hours in the practice and theory of natural hair styling at a schoolhouse of cosmetology.

Exam Requirements

A written and practical exam is required.

Renewal Requirements

Renewal notices are mailed approximately one month prior to renewal date. Licensee required to submit renewal notice with required fee, if applicable, due by expiration appointment on license.

Application and Fees

For data on application, registration, test or fees, contact our testing vender PSI online at candidate.psiexams.com or by phone, 800-733-9267. License renewals can be done hither.

The Natural Hair Stylist renewal fee is $60, every bit gear up forth in Rule 0440-ane-.13(3) of the Tennessee Rules of Cosmetology. The renewal grade and fee must be submitted to the lath function prior to the expiration date listed on the license. If the renewal is not processed prior, there is an additional late fee of $25 per license. If the late fee is due, your license is not renewed.

Tennessee Master Barber License

A barber performs one or whatsoever combination of practices listed for payment, straight or indirectly, or without payment for the public mostly: shaving or trimming beards, cut, or styling the hair, giving facial and scalp massages or treatments with oils, creams, lotions or other preparations either past hand or mechanical appliances; singeing, curling, shampooing, coloring, bleaching or straightening the hair, or applying pilus tonics; cutting plumbing fixtures, measuring and forming caput caps for wigs or hair pieces; hair weaving (excluding medical or surgical procedures); applying cosmetic preparations, antiseptics, powders, oils, clays or lotions to scalp, confront, cervix or other parts of the trunk; or manicuring and nail care. (A technician'southward license is bachelor that permits a express number of the higher up practices.)

Licensing Requirements

Be at least seventeen years of age, and satisfying educational activity and examination requirements.

Educational Requirements

A Twelfth-grade education (Tenth-grade prior to July 1, 2015) or equivalent and satisfactory completion of 1,500 hours in a registered barber school. 750 hours of approved training in a registered school of cosmetology tin can count towards the 1,500 required hours in the registered barber school if a Tennessee Cosmetology License is valid.

Renewal Requirements

Renewal required every two years.

Application and Fees

For information on application, registration, examination or fees, contact our testing vender PSI online at candidate.psiexams.com or past phone, 800-733-9267. License renewals tin can be done here.

The Main Barber renewal fee is $sixty, as prepare forth in Dominion 0200-1-.11(3) of the Tennessee Rules of Barber Examiners. The renewal form and fee must be submitted to the board part prior to the expiration date listed on the license. If the renewal is not processed prior, there is an additional late fee of $60 per license. If the late fee is due, your license is not renewed.

Tennessee Hairdresser Technician License

Applies tints or dyes to the pilus, shampoos hair, manicures nails, applies cosmetic preparations, antiseptics, powders, oils, clays or lotions to scalp, face, neck or other parts of the torso.

Licensing Requirements

Be at to the lowest degree seventeen years of age, not owe whatsoever money to a barbering school, and encounter education and examination requirements.

Educational Requirements

A tenth grade instruction and satisfactory completion of a course in a registered hairdresser school or higher of not less than 340 hours of continuous instruction of not more than eight hours per 24-hour interval and 40 hours per week.

Renewal Requirements

Renewal required every two years.

Application and Fees

For information on application, registration, examination or fees, contact our testing vender PSI online at candidate.psiexams.com or by phone, 800-733-9267. License renewals can be done here.

The Technician renewal fee is $80, equally set forth in Rule 0200-1-.11(i)(b) of the Tennessee Rules of Barber Examiners. The renewal class and fee must be submitted to the lath function prior to the expiration date listed on the license. If the renewal is non candy prior, at that place is an additional late fee of $25 per license. If the late fee is due, your license is not renewed.

Tennessee Barber Instructor

A registered principal barber certified past the board as a hairdresser teacher.

Prospective

No barber school or higher may operate without the presence of a registered barber teacher. A hairdresser school must take at least one registered barber instructor or hairdresser teacher banana for every 15 students enrolled, and must take i licensed barber instructor for each barber instructor assistant.

Certification Requirements

Concur a valid document of registration as a master barber, having been duly registered every bit a primary barber for a catamenia of at least three years or having completed a 300 hr teacher training program at a board certified barber school, and meets the education, continuing education, and test requirements.

Educational Requirements

Completion of twelfth grade in an accredited school or equivalent.

Examination Requirements

Successful completion of an examination prescribed by the board.

Continuing Teaching

Attendance in a barber instructor grooming program of at least sixteen hours duration every 2 years at a session approved by the board . Individuals receive announcements of these seminars or may cheque the board website to programme alee. They are held yearly, i in each One thousand Division.

Renewal Requirements

Renewal required every two years.

Awarding and Fees

For information on awarding, registration, test or fees, contact their testing vender PSI online at candidate.psiexams.com or by phone, 800-733-9267. License renewals can be done here.

The Master Barber renewal fee is $70, as set along in Rule 0200-i-.11(1)(c) of the Tennessee Rules of Barber Examiners. The renewal form and fee must exist submitted to the lath office prior to the expiration date listed on the license. If the renewal is non processed prior to the due engagement, in that location is an additional belatedly fee of $25 per license. If the late fee is due or the continued pedagogy has not been met, your license is not renewed.

Tennessee Barber Teacher Assistant

A registered primary barber certified by the lath as a hairdresser instructor banana. Employment as a barber teacher banana is limited to iii years.

Prospective

Every barber school must have one licensed hairdresser instructor for each barber instructor banana.

Certification Requirements

Hold a valid document of registration as a master hairdresser and meets the pedagogy and examination requirements.

Educational Requirements

Completion of twelfth grade in an accredited school or equivalent, and electric current enrollment in a three hundred-hour instructor grooming program at a board-certified hairdresser school.

Application and Fees

For information on application, registration, examination or fees, contact their testing vender PSI online at candidate.psiexams.com or by telephone, 800-733-9267. License renewals tin can be done hither.

Getting a Tennessee Shop/School License

For information on how to obtain a business concern license to operate a professional shop or school, please see the list of specific vocations below.

Tennessee Cosmetology School Hours

Type Requirements
Cosmetologist License 1500 Hours
Natural Hairstylist License 300 Hours
Master Hairdresser License 1500 Hours
Barber Technician License 340 Hours
Esthetician License 750 Hours
Nail Technician License 600 Hours
Electrologist License 600 Hours
Permanent Makeup Artist License Must Have Tattoo Artist License
Cosmetology Instructor License Cosmetology License + 300 Hours + ane Yr Junior Instruction
Barber Teacher License Hairdresser License For 3+ Years + 450 Hours
Massage Therapist License 500 Hours

Renewing Your Tennessee License

  • To renew your license online, click hither
  • To view reciprocal data for both cosmetology and barber, click here
  • To view exam information for both cosmetology and hairdresser, click here.

How do I modify my name on my Cosmetology/Barber license?

In club to change your name, you may download the affirmation for name alter by clicking here and remit to the mailing address beneath. Include a $x application fee, your onetime license, and a copy of the legal document changing your proper name.

Cosmetology and Barber Examiners
Tennessee Dept. of Commerce and Insurance
Davey Crockett Tower, fourth Fl
500 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37243

How do I change the address on my Cosmetology/Barber license?

Accost changes are at present completed online through the Cadre organisation. If you have not previously washed then, you lot will exist required to create a new account.

How exercise I register to take my Country Lath Test?

To schedule exams y'all must contact their testing vendor, PSI, at 800-733-9267.

When does my Cosmetology/Barber renewal take issue?

When all required renewal fees accept been paid in total, the renewal will accept effect from the engagement the license expires.

I let my Cosmetology/Hairdresser license expire. How do I have it reinstated?

You may renew if your license has not been expired for iii years or less and yous volition be required to pay a belatedly fee. If your license has been expired for more than than iii years and pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-4-117(d) you are required to retake the police force and practical portions of the exam and reapply. Please click the link here consummate the Application to Test. Please exist sure to read the Eligibility Verification of Entitlements Attestation and submit this page with the awarding also, Eligibility Verification. Instructions for registering for the exam are included with the awarding.

How practice I transfer my Cosmetology/Barber license to another land?

Delight print and consummate the License Certification grade. A $fifty fee is required for processing. Request are processed in the lodge they are received. Return the grade and fee to:

500 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37243

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