Cosmetology Licensure Guide

The purpose of the Cosmetology Guide is to provide transparency, inform applicants of expected timelines for receiving your license, and outline steps you can take to reduce mistakes and mitigate delays. To provide the greatest clarity on the licensing process from start to finish, we will break it down into three phases, providing estimated times for each stage of the process, and recommendations for how to reduce processing times.

A cosmetologist (CO) needs a license when performing the following services for pay:

• Cleaning and/or beautifying human hair by cutting, coloring and/or styling human hair with or without chemicals
• Removing unwanted hair
• Using mechanical or electrical appliances on the upper body for massage, stimulation and/or manipulation
• Applying makeup, preparations and creams
• Manicures and/or pedicures
  

Two of the primary ways to receive a cosmetologist (CO) license in PA are by examination or by reciprocity.

Cosmetologist License by Examination

Obtaining a cosmetologist license by examination means that you have completed a minimum of 1,250 hours in the cosmetology curriculum at a licensed school of cosmetology and passed the Pennsylvania Cosmetology Licensure Examination.

Tips for reducing processing time for cosmetologist license by examination

1. An official state criminal history record check (CHRC) is required from your current state of residence. For applicants living, working, or completing training in Pennsylvania, your CHRC will be generated automatically as part of your application and the required fee will be included at checkout.

If you attended a school outside of Pennsylvania to obtain your cosmetology hours, please use school code: CS00000.

Cosmetologist License by Reciprocity

Obtaining a cosmetologist license by reciprocity means you have already obtained a license in another state. A person is eligible for licensure by reciprocity if they are currently licensed in one of the states with which Pennsylvania has an understanding of reciprocity with and has at least two or more years of licensed work experience.

Currently, the State Board of Cosmetology has a reciprocal agreement with every state except: Connecticut, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, New Jersey, New Mexico, Rhode Island, and Utah.

Tips for reducing processing time for cosmetologist license by reciprocity

To help reduce your processing time, please note the following suggestions and information:

An official state criminal history record check (CHRC) is required from your current state of residence. For applicants living, working, or completing training in Pennsylvania, your CHRC will be generated automatically as part of your application and the required fee will be included at checkout.

In addition to the background check from your current state of residence, you will need to submit official state CHRCs from every state where you have lived, worked, or completed training during the last 5 years. An FBI background check can be submitted in lieu of state checks where you previously lived, worked or trained. No record checks can be dated more than 90 days prior to the date you submit your application.