Georgia State Board of Cosmetology

The Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers regulates the practice of cosmetology and barbering across the state under the Official Code of Georgia (O.C.G.A.) Title 43. Rather than operating as a standalone agency, the board is one of dozens administered by the Professional Licensing Boards Division inside the Georgia Secretary of State's office, which handles the shared licensing infrastructure, staff, and online systems used by the cosmetology and barbering board and its counterparts.

The division's office is at 3920 Arkwright Road, Suite 195, in Macon. The board no longer accepts paper applications, renewals, or complaints — every transaction, including new license applications, renewals, and complaint filings, must go through the Georgia Online Application and Licensing System (GOALS) portal. Board meetings and hearings are also generally held at the Macon office.

Phone support is available Monday through Friday, roughly 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern Time, at (404) 424-9966. General questions can also be routed through the online contact form linked from the board's website. Because license and complaint investigations are confidential by law, staff cannot discuss the status of a specific complaint over the phone.

Georgia licenses six personal disciplines — Master Cosmetologist, Esthetician, Nail Technician, Hair Designer, Master Barber, and Barber II — along with Instructor licenses in each discipline, Salon/Shop establishment licenses, and School licenses. Each license type renews on its own fixed two-year cycle tied to a specific calendar date rather than the licensee's birthday, and continuing education is required for most renewals after the first.

Every Georgia personal license runs on a two-year cycle, but unlike states that renew on a licensee's birthday, Georgia fixes the expiration date by license type and calendar year. Master Cosmetologist licenses expire March 31 of even-numbered years; Estheticians and Nail Technicians expire August 31 of odd-numbered years; Hair Designers expire September 30 of even-numbered years; and Master Barbers and Barber IIs expire December 31 of even-numbered years. Most Instructor, Salon/Shop, and Cosmetology-track School licenses expire June 30 of odd-numbered years, while Hair Design Instructor and School licenses expire September 30 of odd-numbered years.

Renewal is not automatic. Once the Professional Licensing Boards Division opens the renewal window for a given license type, licensees renew online through the GOALS portal with a credit card, confirming whether they have had a conviction or board sanction since their last renewal, whether they have completed their continuing education, and whether they are a U.S. citizen. Mailed-in renewals are not accepted, and a license must show an active, valid expiration date before the holder can legally work.

Continuing education is required for renewal, but not on the very first renewal after initial licensure. Starting with the second renewal, Master Cosmetologists, Estheticians, Nail Technicians, Hair Designers, Master Barbers, and Barber IIs must complete 5 hours of continuing education every two years — 3 hours in a board-approved health and safety course and 2 hours in another approved subject area. Instructors must complete 15 hours every two years, with at least half devoted to teaching techniques or lesson planning. As of January 1, 2026, all CE completions must be logged in CE Broker, which the board uses to audit compliance before approving renewals.

A license not renewed by its expiration date enters a late-renewal period — generally 30 days for personal and instructor licenses, and up to 6 months for salons, shops, and schools — during which it can still be renewed by paying a higher late fee. A license that lapses beyond that window must go through formal reinstatement, which requires a separate reinstatement application, a larger fee, and documentation of continuing education completed since the license lapsed.

The Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers investigates complaints against licensed master cosmetologists, barbers, estheticians, nail technicians, hair designers, instructors, salons, shops, and schools for violations of Georgia's licensing laws and board rules — issues such as sanitation violations, unlicensed practice, and other unsafe or unlawful conduct. The board's jurisdiction is limited to license discipline; it does not have authority to resolve business practice, billing, or fee disputes, which are handled through civil court instead.

Complaints must be submitted in writing through the GOALS portal rather than by phone, mail, or email. A complaint must include the complainant's name, address, phone number, and email; the name, address, and license number (if known) of the person or facility being reported; a detailed description of the alleged violation; and any supporting documentation. Georgia boards reserve the right not to accept or process anonymous complaints.

Once filed, a complaint is reviewed and may be referred for investigation, which is confidential by law — the board cannot disclose the status of an open investigation over the phone. Depending on the findings, a complaint may be closed with no action, a private letter of concern, a private or public consent order, or referred to a formal administrative hearing that can result in a fine, reprimand, suspension, or revocation of the license.