Ohio Frequently Asked Questions

Please click here to read our exchange/refund policy.

What are the license statuses and credential definitions?

License Status:

• Active - the license or permit is current until the indicated expiration date.
• Active in Renewal - the license or permit is current until the indicated expiration date but has not completed the renewal process.
• Active in Renewal Paid - the license or permit is current until the indicated expiration date and renewal is being processed.
• Lapsed - a personal license has not been renewed for two consecutive renewal periods or more, additional requirements must be met to bring status to current active.
• Escrowed - Licensee has met renewal requirements but not CE requirements. Licensee does not meet requirements to provide services.
• Administrative Action - Licensee, salon or facility is under legal process of the Board.

Credential Definitions:

• STU. Student enrolled in a licensed Ohio cosmetology school OR scheduled for an examination.
• COS. Cosmetologist may provide hair, skin and nail services.
• COSM. Managing Cosmetologist may provide hair, skin and nail services and manage any type salon.
• COSI. Cosmetology instructor may teach hair, skin and nail services in an Ohio licensed school.
• COSS. Cosmetology/Beauty Salon may provide hair, skin and nail services - full service.
• HD. Hair Designer may provide only hair services.
• HDM. Managing Hair Designer may provide only hair services and manage only a Hair Designer Salon.
• HDI. Hair Designer instructor may teach only hair services in an Ohio licensed school.
• HDS. Hair Designer Salon may provide only hair services.
• NHS. Natural Hair Stylist may provide only braiding and artificial hair services.
• NHSM. Managing Natural Hair Stylist may provide only braiding and artificial hair service and manage only a Natural Hair Salon.
• NSHI. Natural Hair Stylist Instructor may teach only braiding and artificial hair services in an Ohio licensed school.
• NHSS. Natural Hair Stylist Salon may provide only braiding and artificial hair services.
• MAN. Manicurist may provide only nail enhancements and nail services to hands and feet.
• MANM. Managing Manicurist may provide only nail enhancements and nail services to hands and feet and manage only a Manicure Salon.
• MANI. Manicuring Instructor may teach nail enhancements and nail services to hands and feet in an Ohio licensed school.
• MANS. Manicuring Salon may provide only nail enhancements and nail services to hands and feet.
• EST. Esthetician may provide facials and beautification services to face and body.
• ESTM. Managing Esthetician may provide facials and beautification services to face and body and only manage an Esthetics Salon.
• ESTI. Esthetics Instructor may teach facials and beautification services to face and body in an Ohio licensed school.
• ESTS. Esthetician Salon may provide facials and beautification services to face and body.
• SCHL. School licensed to teach cosmetology or a branch of cosmetology.
• IC. Independent Contractor must hold a Managing License, rents or leases space to provide services, responsible for tax and Workmans? Compensation responsibilities.
• TAN. Tanning Facility.

You will need your user ID and password that was attached to your license.  This information is unique to each licensee and allows for access to the state of Ohio E-Licensing system.  Visit www.license.ohio.gov

• Click on the update address button
• Enter in the new information on both the credential address and mailing address(be sure everything is correct)
• Click on submit

If you forgot your user ID and Password, call the Board Office toll free at 866-642-6723 and we will provide that information to you.

Click on the link below that will take you to the forms section. Follow the instructions on the "How to file a complaint" form. Be sure to ask yourself these questions before completing the required document:

• Is this service related (poor haircut or coloring)? If it is, The Ohio State Board of Cosmetology does not have jurisdiction to enforce sanctions on service related complaints. Contact the Better Business Bureau (BBB) for advice.
• Are you willing to sign the complaint and provide a phone number so we can contact you? Please remember that all complaints are subject to public records law.
• Have you approached the Manager of the establishment to try and resolve your issue? If you bring this issue to their attention, perhaps they can resolve it without Board intervention.

The link below will take you directly to the complaint form.
http://www.cos.ohio.gov/uploads/File/complaint%20form.pdf

The Ohio State Board of Cosmetology regulates all services, equipment, and chemicals used by a licensee or in a licensed salon or tanning facility. Despite this, it is not necessary to receive prior approval before using a product or service. However, the Board has the authority to research and deny usage of a piece of equipment or a service if it falls outside of the scope of practice of Cosmetology.

If you are unsure of whether a service or piece of equipment is approved and would like the Board's ruling, you may complete a Request for Approval. If you have any questions, please contact the Board office.

You will need to submit one recent photograph of yourself. The photo must be no smaller than 2½ x 3½ and no larger than a wallet size; one uncut passport photo is recommended. Digitally produced pictures must be printed on photographic paper. Polaroid or photos printed on basic printer paper will be rejected. On the back of the photo print your name, address, Ohio license ID #, email address, and phone number including area code.

In addition you must include a copy of your state issued driver's license or state ID with your picture. A stamped self addressed envelope must be provided to return your photo. Mail your photo to:

Your photo will be stamped, processed and returned within 7 days of receipt in our office. Any photo received without a self addressed stamped envelope cannot be returned or processed.

NOTE: Your Board license photo must be updated at least once every five (5) years.

Continuing Education (C.E.) is required of all Ohio licensees who wish to keep their license active when they renew. The two exceptions to the C.E. requirement are individuals who will be renewing their very first Ohio license and those individuals who are at least 65 years of age, on or before the expiration date of the renewal period. C.E. can be completed in the methods listed below.

• Internet Courses (over the internet)
• On Site Courses (Hair shows, Nail seminars, etc.
• Correspondence Courses (through the mail)

The list of Board approved C.E. classes is updated monthly and available on the Continuing Education page.

If you currently hold an active managers license you can obtain an Independent Contractor (IC) license by completing and submitting an Independent Contractor (IC) Application.

NOTE: You are required to post both your manager's license and independent contractor's license at your station at all times while you are working.

NOTE: Your managers license must be renewed prior to renewing your Independent Contractor (IC) license.

There are two ways to apply for the Managers Exam.

1. Complete the Managers Exam Application Based on Work Experience or
2. You can complete the Managers Course in an Ohio licensed School of Cosmetology. You must contact a school for specific information. Upon completion of the course, the school will provide the Managers Exam Application to you.

You must have a current active managers license in order to obtain an instructor license. There are two ways to obtain this license:

1. You may complete the Instructor License Application Based on Work Experience or
2. You can complete the Apprentice Instructor Training Program in an Ohio licensed School of Cosmetology. You must contact a school for specific information. After completing apprenticeship training, the school must complete the application and submit it to the Ohio State Board of Cosmetology for processing.

You must contact the Ohio State Board of Cosmetology to obtain the CE requirements and fees associated with moving your license from escrow status.

In order to receive a duplicate license, you must come to the Board office in Grove City Ohio and bring the following information:

• A new 2x3 picture of yourself for Board approval
• A form of mail that verifies your address
• The ability to pay a $20 fee by check, credit/debit card or money order (cash is not accepted)

The Amnesty Program is an initiative that began in July of 2009 that allows previously licensed individuals to regain their license without retaking the Board exam. To be eligible, you must have passed the state board exam in the past, be willing to pay back fees and complete intensive continuing education classes, including a mandatory 4 hour class provided by the Board, free of charge.

Anyone interested should contact the Board and request an individualized packet for amnesty.

NO. You will be asked to confirm that you have completed your CE hours requirement for the type of license held during the online renewal process. You are required to print and save your continuing education course certificates. Information contained on the certificate will be asked for you to provide at the time you renew your license but you are not required to include the certificate when you renew your license. You may be required to provide your course certificate to the State of Ohio Board of Cosmetology in case of a random audit. Because you may need to provide the certificate in case of an audit and because information that appears on the certificate will be asked for during your renewal its your responsibility to retain your CE certificates.

Please print your certificate when you complete the course and pay your course fee. If you are using a mobile device such as a smart phone of a iPad or other such device that is not connected to a printer, you can also make a screenshot of the certificate and then save the screenshot of the certificate to a folder on your mobile device.

Providers are required to provide you with a replacement certificate should you lose the certificate you are required to print at the time you complete and pay for a Continuing Education course. If you lose your course certificate and you completed your course with us using our Internet course you will be able to log back into your online account where you can open and print your course certificate at any time.

You may keep your license in escrow indefinitely as long as you continue to pay the renewal fee each renewal period.

Every state has different rules and requirements. You should contact the state that you want to become licensed in and ask if the number of education hours you received in cosmetology school is equal to or greater than the number of hours required become licensed in the state you are seeking to be licensed in. Some states require that you attend cosmetology school for the same or greater number of hours before they will grant you a license. While other states will take into consideration the number of hours that you have been practicing in your profession to account for a portion of the hours required. This is why you need to contact the board of cosmetology in the state you are seeking to become licensed.

It is also good for you to know that you do not transfer your license like you do with a driver’s license. You are permitted to have a professional license in as many states as you are willing to maintain a license in. When you apply for a license in another state you are applying for a license in another state based on the license that you hold in your home state. When you get your license in the state you are moving to you will still retain the license in the state you are moving from. If you think there may be any chance that you will ever move back to the state you moved from you should consider keeping that license up. If your license expires after which a laws change increases the number of hours required to become licensed for your license type you may have to return to school for the number of hours increased by the law change.

Once you determine the qualifications you must meet to become licensed in the state you are seeking a license in you will need to acquire the application for the license type you have from the state you are seeking a license in. Most states offer the download of license application from the state website. Or you can call the state and have the appropriate application mailed to you. Either way you will need to acquire and fill out the application, providing all required documentation asked for in the application.

As part of an application for a license in another state based on the license you received in your home state you will need to apply for what is commonly called a "letter of verification". It is sometimes referred to with other names such as "Letter of Certification" or "Board Certification". Whatever the name your states uses it is still the same type of document. It is a document that the Board of cosmetology from your home state will provide to the board of cosmetology in the state that you are seeking to become licensed, in which contains the number of hours you attended cosmetology school to become licensed and that you passed the state board exam in your home state.

Typically you are not permitted to have access to this document and for this reason most states do not send this document to you directly. Instead your home state should send the document directly to the board of cosmetology or like processing office in the state that you are seeking to become licensed. If your state does send you this document be certain not to open the envelope. Opening the envelope may render the document worthless and you will be required to obtain another of the same type document. It must reach the state you are seeking to become licensed in unopened.

For Ohio this document is called "Board Certification". Ohio will mail the Board Certification directly to the Board for the state you requested it to be mailed to. You will be required to pay the $50 processing fee for each Board Certification you request. To have your Board Certification Letter sent to the state you wish to become licensed in you must first complete the Request for Board Certification Form. You can contact the Ohio Board of Cosmetology for the form. Complete the form and send it to the address on the form.

There are two ways to verify the status of your license:

• Go online to the Ohio License Center web page and do a search for your license. The search results will provide you with your license status, or
• Contact the Board and request the status of your license.

There are two ways to apply for the Managers Exam.

1. Complete the Managers Exam Application Based on Work Experience or
2. You can complete the Managers Course in an Ohio licensed School of Cosmetology. You must contact a school for specific information. Upon completion of the course, the school will provide the Managers Exam Application to you.

All out of state licensees must submit an Out of State License Application to the Ohio State Board of Cosmetology and request a Board Certification Letter from the state where they hold a current and active license. License certifications must be mailed directly from the Board. Certifications sent from applicants will not be accepted as part of an application!

Once your information has been received and processed you will receive the relevant exam information.

In order to take the Ohio state board examination without additional training in Ohio, you must have completed the entire course in your state, even if those hours exceed our requirements listed below. Your hours must be transferred to the Ohio State Board of Cosmetology and you will need to contact the state board in which you originally received your training and request a board certification for those hours. If the state board does not certify hours, you will need to make this request with your school.

In either case, the certification must be mailed directly to the Ohio State Board of Cosmetology. The Ohio board does not accept certifications from applicants.

Minimum hour requirements are as follows:

• Cosmetology 1500 hours
• Esthetics 600 hours
• Natural hair stylist 450 hours
• Hair Designer 1200 hours

If your state does not meet or exceed our required number of hours, you will be required to complete the additional hours in an Ohio school and then apply to take the Ohio exam. A list of licensed cosmetology schools is available on our website. It is the sole discretion of the school to accept your out of state cosmetology hours and the Ohio state board cannot override their decision.

You must complete and return the Salon License Application to the Board office for processing at least 45 business days prior to your anticipated opening date. All of the instructions necessary to complete the application, as well as pertinent information such as specific requirements, are provided with the application packet.

Ohio Salon Application

There are currently five different types of salon licenses issued by the Ohio State Board of Cosmetology. Each salon license permits specific types of services to be provided within the salon. The different license types are listed below:

• Beauty Salon - Permits all cosmetology services
• Nail Salon - Permits only services for fingernails and toenails
• Esthetic Salon - Permits only services for skin care and makeup application
• Hair Designer Salon - Permits only services for hair (cut, curl, color, etc.)
• Natural Hair Styling Salon - Permits only natural services for hair (braiding)

The type of license someone holds determines the type of salon in which they are permitted to work. Your license must correspond with the salon license. The only exception is Cosmetologists. Cosmetologists are permitted to work in any cosmetology licensed salon.

It is the Ohio Board of Cosmetologys' responsibility to ensure safe and sanitary conditions for the public inside Cosmetology salons and schools. It is the Ohio Board of Cosmetologys' duty to see that all businesses offering cosmetology services or training are appropriately licensed and ensure the individuals performing such services hold the appropriate licenses as well. The Board has no jurisdiction over such things as poor service, wages, health and liability insurance, fees charged for services or business practices. The Ohio Board of Cosmetology can only enforce the laws and rules of Ohio Revised Code section 4713 and Ohio Administrative Code section 4713 which relate to Licensing and Sanitation.

If you are modifying the services provided, the name of the salon, or the salon owner, you must complete and submit a new Salon License Application.

NOTE: Changes to the plumbing may require an inspection from your local building commission.

Yes. A salon can hold multiple licenses. For example. a licensed salon may also hold a barber license. Specific requirements are listed in the Salon Packet received from the Board of Cosmetology, as well as the Ohio Administrative Rules and Regulations.

You must complete and return the Tanning Facility License Application to the Board office for processing at least 45 business days prior to your anticipated opening date. All of the instructions for completing the application and necessary information such as facility requirements are provided with the application packet.

Anyone that wishes to operate indoor tanning equipment inside a licensed tanning facility must complete a Board approved tanning certification course. See the tanning page for a list of approved providers.

It is the Board's responsibility to ensure safe and sanitary conditions for the public inside Cosmetology licensed salons and schools. It is the Board's duty to see that all businesses offering tanning are appropriately licensed and to ensure the individuals operating the Tanning equipment are properly certified. The Board has no jurisdiction over such things as poor service, wages, health and liability insurance, fees charged for services or business practices. The Board can only enforce the laws and rules of the Ohio Revised Administrative Code section 4713 and Ohio Administrative Code section 4713 which relate to Licensing and Sanitation.

Yes. A tanning facility may be combined with just about any other type of business. See Rules and Regulations for specific requirements.

Yes. All licensed tanning facilities are required to provide protective eye wear at no additional charge. Eye wear must be properly sanitized prior to each tanning session.

The tanning operator is responsible for these tasks. The customer is not required to clean the beds/booths or any other part of a tanning room.