According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, all states require cosmetologists to hold a valid license before offering their services to the public. If you are a cosmetologist who has allowed your license to expire, you need to contact your state licensing board to learn about its renewal process. In many cases, renewal is a simple matter of completing a form and paying a fee but, in some circumstances, you may have to retake a licensing exam or complete other requirements before the licensing board approves your renewal.
It's a good idea to verify a license renewal after completing the application. You can do this by using the cosmetology license lookup feature on your state's website.
Most professional licenses, including those for cosmetologists, are subject to renewal. The renewal process differs by state, but typically requires:
Advertisement Article continues below this adMany states now prefer that licensees complete the renewal process online. If you are planning to renew your license, visit your state's licensing website and set up an account. You may need to provide digital files of documents, such as continuing education completion certificates or government ID to complete the process.
Most states have a slightly different process for license renewal when the license has already expired. In most cases, the process merely involves paying an additional fee. However, if your license has been expired for a long period of time, you might be subject to other requirements.
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According to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, the process for renewing an expired license depends on the length of the expiration. For example, licenses that have been expired for 90 days or less require a payment of one and one-half times the normal renewal fee. Renewals of licenses between 91 days and 18 months after the expiration date require a payment of twice the amount of the standard renewal fee. And licenses that have been expired more than 18 months, but less than three years, require approval from the executive director of the licensing board, along with the doubled renewal fee. If a Texas license has been expired for more than three years, renewal is not possible, so you'll have to take the licensing exam again and apply for a new license.
Note that states are not obligated to offer a grace period to cosmetologists who have allowed their licenses to expire. The licensing boards of both Texas and Delaware, for example, make it clear that it is illegal to practice with an expired license. Continuing to offer services while a license is expired may result in penalties, including fines. And according to Evergreen Beauty College's Consequences of Practicing Cosmetology Without a License, there is also the possibility of criminal charges if your actions cause harm to a client.
An expired cosmetology license can interfere with your job, cost you money and may even require you to spend time and additional funds on retaking the licensing exam. Avoid these hassles by ensuring that your license is renewed on time:
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Some states permit cosmetologists to place their licenses into inactive status. This can be a good option for people who plan to temporarily move out of state or who need to take time off and don't want to pay for continuing education courses while not working.
According to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, a cosmetologist with an inactive license still has to pay regular renewal fees, but does not have to complete continuing education until they are ready to reactivate the license. If the cosmetologist wants to reactivate the license, they must submit the application plus a fee, along with proof that the applicant has completed the required continuing education coursework for a standard license renewal.
Lainie Petersen writes about business, real estate and personal finance, drawing on 25 years experience in publishing and education. Petersen's work appears in Money Crashers, Selling to the Masses, and in Walmart News Now, a blog for Walmart suppliers. She holds a master's degree in library science from Dominican University.