Iowa State Board of Cosmetology

Iowa merged its separate barbering and cosmetology boards into a single board on July 1, 2023, under House File 652, creating one consolidated license and scope of practice for barbers and cosmetologists. The Board of Barbering and Cosmetology Arts & Sciences now evaluates applicants, issues licenses, sets rules for the industry, and investigates complaints of unprofessional conduct against licensees, establishments, and schools. The board functions within DIAL's Professional Licensing division rather than as a stand-alone state agency.

The board's office is at 6200 Park Avenue, Suite 100, Des Moines, IA 50321. All applications, renewals, and license lookups are handled through DIAL's online licensing portal rather than by mail or in person. Licensing questions and documentation can be directed to the barbering and cosmetology program by phone at (515) 380-7408 or by email at plpublic@idph.iowa.gov.

Iowa's personal license disciplines include a combined Barbering and Cosmetology Arts & Sciences license (1,550 hours of training), Esthetician (600 hours), Nail Technologist (325 hours), and Electrologist (425 hours). The board also issues Instructor licenses, Establishment licenses for salons and barbershops, and School licenses for training programs. Applicants for any personal license must pass a board-approved national exam with a score of 75 percent or higher.

Nearly all Iowa barbering and cosmetology licenses run on a shared two-year renewal cycle that begins April 1 and ends March 31 two years later — the same statewide window for every licensee, rather than a renewal date tied to each person's birthday. Continuing education is required for renewal after a licensee's first renewal period, with the required hours scaling by how many active licenses a person holds.

Every Iowa barbering and cosmetology personal license renews on a fixed, statewide biennial cycle that runs from April 1 of one year through March 31 two years later — the same cycle applies to every licensee regardless of when the license was first issued. A licensee issued a new or reactivated license within six months of that cycle's end is not required to renew again until the following renewal period two years later, and a licensee holding multiple disciplines may have all licenses aligned to a single shared expiration date.

Renewal is completed online through DIAL's licensing portal. Licensees can renew within 60 days before their license expires by submitting the online renewal application, paying the renewal fee, and uploading certificates of completion for any required continuing education. The renewal fee is $60 for barbering and cosmetology, esthetician, nail technologist, and electrologist licenses; $80 for establishment licenses; and $270 for school licenses. All fees are nonrefundable.

Continuing education is not required for a licensee's first renewal after receiving an initial license. After that, renewal requires 6 hours of continuing education for one active license, 10 hours for two active licenses, or 14 hours for three active licenses, with a portion of those hours specific to each discipline and at least 2 hours covering Iowa laws, rules, and infection control. Licensees who hold an instructor license must complete an additional 6 hours in teaching methodology. Licensees who practice exclusively in another state, or who are active-duty military or military spouses, may satisfy Iowa's requirement by meeting the continuing education rules of the state where they practice.

A license not renewed by its expiration date enters a 30-day grace period, during which it can still be renewed by paying a $60 late fee in addition to the standard renewal fee. A license that is not renewed by the end of the grace period becomes inactive, and practicing in Iowa on an inactive license can result in disciplinary or legal action. Reactivating an inactive license requires an online application, the required continuing education (doubled to a minimum of 12 hours per license if the license has been inactive more than five years), and a reactivation fee of $120 for personal licenses, $144 for establishments, or $330 for schools.

Complaints against Iowa barbers, cosmetologists, estheticians, nail technologists, electrologists, instructors, salons, and schools are filed with DIAL, which oversees the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology Arts & Sciences. Under the board's administrative rules, a complaint can be submitted online, in writing, or verbally, but it must include the complainant's name and contact information, the name of the licensee involved, and a concise statement of the allegations — Iowa does not accept anonymous complaints. A person who files a complaint in good faith, or who cooperates with a board investigation, is not civilly liable for doing so.

Once a complaint is received, board staff may request additional information from the parties involved, solicit a response from the licensee, subpoena records, conduct interviews, and gather evidence to determine whether the allegations warrant further action. Some complaints are referred to a peer reviewer for evaluation before the board decides how to proceed. Outcomes can range from no action being taken to formal discipline, including fines, probation, or suspension or revocation of a license.