Minnesota State Board of Cosmetology

The Minnesota Board of Cosmetology was created to serve and protect the health and safety of the people of Minnesota, and the state has regulated the hair care industry since 1927. The board licenses individual practitioners — cosmetologists, estheticians, advanced practice estheticians, nail technicians, hair technicians, and eyelash technicians — as well as instructors, salon managers, salons, and schools. Its work includes inspecting salons and schools, licensing practitioners and establishments, and enforcing Minnesota Statutes Chapter 155A and Minnesota Rules Chapters 2105 and 2110. Barbering is licensed through a separate agency, the Minnesota Board of Barber Examiners.

The board is made up of seven members appointed by the governor: two licensed cosmetologists (one recommended by a professional association), one licensed instructor teaching at a public school, one licensed instructor teaching at a private school, one licensed advanced practice esthetician, one licensed nail technician, and one public member. All licensed board members must have at least five years of experience in their licensed occupation before appointment. The full board meets five to six times a year, and members also serve on committees that meet four to five times a year.

The board's office is at 1000 University Avenue West, Suite 100, St. Paul, MN 55104, with parking and the main entrance located behind the building. Staff are available by phone at (651) 201-2742 and by email at cosmetology@state.mn.us, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed on state holidays. The board encourages licensees and the public to contact the office in advance of any in-person visit to confirm staff availability.

Minnesota licenses cosmetologists (1,550 training hours), estheticians (600 hours), advanced practice estheticians, nail technicians (350 hours), and a newer hair technician license (900 hours, available since July 1, 2024) that covers hair services only. The board also issues eyelash technician licenses (14 hours), instructor licenses, salon manager licenses, salon establishment licenses, and school licenses. Nearly every license type runs on a three-year cycle, and practitioners and salon managers must complete 8 hours of continuing education — split between a 4-hour core course and a 4-hour professional practice course — to renew; instructors need 45 hours of continuing education to renew their license.

Individual Minnesota licenses run on a three-year cycle and expire on the last day of the licensee's birth month in the year the license is due. Salon and school licenses also run on a three-year cycle but expire on the last day of the month in which the license was originally issued. Because expiration is tied to a fixed month rather than the issue date, a newly issued license can run for anywhere from just over two years to nearly three, depending on when in the cycle it was granted.

To renew, practitioners and salon managers must first complete a 4-hour core continuing education course covering laws and rules and health, safety, and infection-control standards, plus a 4-hour professional practice course on topics such as product chemistry, equipment use, or business management — 8 hours total. Instructors must complete 45 hours of continuing education, split between 30 hours of teaching-methodology courses and 15 hours of clinical practice courses. Renewal can then be completed online through the board's licensing portal, or by submitting the paper Active License Renewal application by mail or in person with the required fee. Applications for licenses expired more than six months can only be submitted by mail or in person, not online.

By statute, the board must issue, deny, or flag for additional review a complete renewal application and its fees within 15 working days; expedited and military applications are handled within 5 business days. A late renewal carries a penalty of up to $45 for a practitioner or instructor license and up to $50 for a salon or school license, and licensees found practicing on an expired license during an inspection face separate penalties.

Licensees who have placed their license on inactive or retired status can apply to reactivate it using the board's Retired License Activation Application, which is distinct from the standard renewal form. Licensees who let a license lapse well beyond its expiration date should contact the board directly, since reinstatement requirements can depend on how long the license has been expired.

The Minnesota Board of Cosmetology investigates complaints alleging violations of Minnesota Statutes Chapter 155A and Minnesota Rules Chapters 2105 and 2110 by licensed practitioners, salons, and schools — including unlicensed practice of cosmetology services, infection-control or safety violations, and services performed outside the scope of a license. The board does not handle customer-service disputes, refund or scheduling disagreements, or employment-related complaints, and it has no authority to refund money or order compensation; consumers seeking financial recovery are directed to an attorney or the practitioner's liability insurance.

Complaints are filed through the board's online Complaint Form, which walks a complainant through indicating whether the issue was reported before, providing complainant and respondent contact information (including the license number, if known), a written statement of what happened, and any supporting documentation. A signed authorization for the release of information is required — complaints submitted anonymously or without that authorization are likely to be dismissed without investigation.

Once submitted, an investigator contacts the complainant to confirm receipt and may request additional information while the board gathers facts and reviews the case. The Complaint Committee then determines what action, if any, is appropriate, and the complainant is notified once the matter is resolved with the licensee, though resolution can take time even after a decision is made.