State Licensing Requirements in ARKANSAS
Cosmetologists
The Department of Health shall admit to examination for a license as a cosmetologist a person who has made the application to the department in proper form, has paid the fee required, and who:
- Applicant shall be at least 16 years of age.
- Applicant shall have completed 2 years of high school in the public schools of Arkansas or its equivalent.
- Applicant shall complete 180 hours of theory.
- Applicant shall complete one of the following:
- Training of at least 1,200 hours.
- The prescribed course of study in cosmetology under the laws of another state whose licensing requirements are equal to or stricter than those in Arkansas.
Technical Advisory Committee.
Each application for admission to examination and each application for a license as a cosmetologist or any branch of cosmetology shall be in writing on blanks prepared and furnished by the Department of Health. In addition, each application shall be accompanied by the required fee and shall contain proof of the qualifications of the applicant for examination for registration and license.
The application shall be verified by the oath of the applicant. The examination of applicants for a license in any of the branches or practices of cosmetology shall include both a practical demonstration and written test and shall embrace the subjects concerning the particular branch or branches, practice, or practices for which a license is applied.
There are no continuing education requirements in Alabama.
Arkansas does not accept apprenticeship credit.
In order to receive reciprocity in Arkansas, an applicant must do the following:
- Applicant for a license as a cosmetologist is not less than 18 years of age.
- Applicant must hold a current valid license upon application for reciprocity, evidenced by a certified copy of the license and an affidavit from the other state or by such other evidence as the department may require.
- Applicant must have passed an examination comparable to the examination given in this state.
- Applicant must pass an Arkansas law examination under this chapter.
license applied for, accompanied by the required fee, a person licensed as a cosmetologist under the
laws of another state shall be granted a license to practice cosmetology in this state not of greater
scope than the occupation or occupations for which the applicant was previously licensed in the
other state.
Any individual wishing to engage in cosmetology instruction shall meet the following qualifications:
- Applicant shall be 21 years of age or older
- Applicant shall have completed 600 hours of teacher training in a school of cosmetology over a period of not less than 4 months.
- Applicant shall have passed an instructor’s examination given by the Department of Health and has received an instructor’s license.
- A licensed instructor shall not teach outside of the profession which the license
allows. - A cosmetology school shall offer an education in cosmetology regardless of whether the curriculum includes a specialty course.
- A licensed instructor shall not teach outside of the profession which the license
Hair Stylists
The Department of Health shall admit to examination for a license as a hairstylist a person who has made the application to the department in proper form, has paid the fee required, and who:
- Applicant shall be at least 16 years of age.
- Applicant shall have completed 2 years of high school in the public schools of Arkansas or its equivalent.
- Applicant shall complete 180 hours of theory.
- Applicant shall complete one of the following:
- Training of at least 1,200 hours.
- The prescribed course of study in cosmetology under the laws of another state whose licensing requirements are equal to or stricter than those in Arkansas.
Each application for admission to examination and each application for a license as a hairstylist or any branch of cosmetology shall be in writing on blanks prepared and furnished by the Department of Health. In addition, each application shall be accompanied by the required fee and shall contain proof of the qualifications of the applicant for examination for registration and license. The application shall be verified by the oath of the applicant.
The examination of applicants for a license in any of the branches or practices of cosmetology shall include both a practical demonstration and written test and shall embrace the subjects concerning the particular branch or branches, practice, or practices for which a license is applied.
There are no continuing education requirements.
Arkansas does not accept apprenticeship credit.
In order to receive reciprocity in Arkansas, an applicant must do the following:
- Applicant for a license as a cosmetologist is not less than 18 years of age.
- Applicant must hold a current valid license upon application for reciprocity, evidenced by a certified copy of the license and an affidavit from the other state or by such other evidence as the department may require.
- Applicant must have passed an examination comparable to the examination given in this state.
- Applicant must pass an Arkansas law examination under this chapter.
Any individual wishing to engage in hairstyling instruction shall meet the following qualifications:
- Applicant shall be 21 years of age or older
- Applicant shall have completed 600 hours of teacher training in a school of cosmetology over a period of not less than 4 months.
- Applicant shall have passed an instructor’s examination given by the Department of Health and has received an instructor’s license.
- Applicant shall agree not to teach outside the profession in which the license to practice allows.
Barbers
Any person shall be qualified to receive a certificate of registration to practice as a registered barber who:
- Is qualified under the statutes provisions.
- Is of good moral character and temperate habits.
- Applicant shall have passed a satisfactory examination conducted by the State Board of
Barber Examiners to determine his or her fitness to practice barbering. - Applicant shall present a diploma showing graduation from a grammar school or its
equivalent as determined by an examination conducted by the board. - Applicant shall be at least sixteen and one-half (16 ½) years of age.
- Applicant shall have received training approved by the appropriate licensing authorities.
Examinations shall include both a practical demonstration and a written and oral test and shall embrace the subjects usually taught in schools of barbering approved by the board. A certificate of registered barber shall be issued by the board to any applicant who shall pass a satisfactory examination making a grade of not less than 75% in all subjects upon which he or she is examined and who shall possess the qualifications required in this chapter.
There are no continuing education requirements in Alabama.
The board shall issue a barber technician certification provided the person has:
- Applicant shall have completed the 12th grade.
- Applicant shall have completed a sixty-day apprenticeship program under the instruction of a licensed barber and designed by the board, which shall include a thorough study of sterilization of tools and of the barber laws of the State of Arkansas.
- Applicant shall have passed an examination prepared and conducted by the board to determine the applicant’s fitness and ability to practice as a barber technician.
the examination prepared by the board only upon certification by the instructing barber that the
person has completed the course as designed by the board.
Arkansas does offer reciprocity. Any person recently coming into this state who has an unrevoked or unexpired license issued by the proper authorities of another state may be issued a certificate of registration as a registered barber upon making the application as required by law and upon the payment of a one hundred fifty-dollar reciprocity fee.
- Any person applying for reciprocity who has at least 1,500 hours of training may be granted registration by reciprocity upon completion of those hours and proof of licensure by the proper authorities in the state in which the person received the training.
- Any person applying for reciprocity who has fewer than 1,500 hours of training must also have been continuously engaged in the practice of barbering for at least one year in addition to providing proof of licensure in the state where the applicant received training o holds a license.
Arkansas law requires instructors to meet the following requirements:
- Applicant shall must be a high school graduate.
- Applicant shall must have completed a postgraduate course of 600 hours in barber teacher theory in an approved school.
- Applicant shall must pay a teacher license fee of $40.00 per year.
Estheticians
The Department of Health shall admit to examination for a license as an esthetician a person who
has made application to the department in proper form, has paid the fee required, and who:
- Applicant shall no less than 16 years of age.
- Applicant shall have completed 2 years of high school in the public schools of Arkansas or its equivalent.
- Applicant shall have completed training of at least 480 hours.
Each application for admission to examination and each application for a license as an esthetician or any branch of cosmetology shall be in writing on blanks prepared and furnished by the Department of Health. In addition, each application shall be accompanied by the required fee and shall contain proof of the qualifications of the applicant for examination for registration and license. The application shall be verified by the oath of the applicant. The examination of applicants for a license in any of the branches or practices of cosmetology shall include both a practical demonstration and written test and shall embrace the subjects concerning the particular branch or branches, practice, or practices for which a license is applied.
There are no continuing education requirements in Alabama.
Arkansas does not accept apprenticeship credit.
Arkansas does allow reciprocity as long as the following requirements are met:
- Applicant shall be no less than 18 years of age.
- Applicant shall hold a current valid license upon application for reciprocity, evidenced by a certified copy of the license and an affidavit from the other state or by such other evidence as the department may require.
- Applicant shall have passed an examination comparable to the examination given in this state.
- Applicant shall pass an Arkansas law examination under this chapter.
Each person employed in a school to instruct students in the school shall be a licensed esthetician
who meets the following requirements:
- Applicant shall be at least 21 years of age or older
- Applicant shall have completed 600 hours of teacher training in a school of cosmetology over a period of no less than 4 months
- Applicant shall have passed an instructors’ examination given by the Department of Health and has received an instructor’s license.
- Applicant shall agree not to teach outside the profession in which the license to practice allows.
Nail Technicians/Manicurist
The Department of Health shall admit to examination for a license as a nail technician a person who has made application to the department in proper form, has paid the fee required, and who:
- Applicant shall be no less than 16 years of age.
- Applicant shall have completed 2 years of high school in the public schools of Arkansas or its equivalent.
- Applicant shall have completed training of at least 480 hours.
completes any examination, and pays the license fee shall be issued a manicurist license.
Each application for admission to examination and each application for a license as a nail technician or any branch of cosmetology shall be in writing on blanks prepared and furnished by the Department of Health. In addition, each application shall be accompanied by the required fee and shall contain proof of the qualifications of the applicant for examination for registration and license. The application shall be verified by the oath of the applicant. The examination of applicants for a license in any of the branches or practices of cosmetology shall include both a practical demonstration and written test and shall embrace the subjects concerning the particular branch or branches, practice, or practices for which a license is applied.
There are no continuing education requirements in Alabama.
Arkansas does not accept apprenticeship credit.
Arkansas does allow reciprocity as long as the following requirements are met:
- Applicant shall be no less than 18 years of age.
- Applicant shall hold a current valid license upon application for reciprocity, evidenced by a certified copy of the license and an affidavit from the other state or by such other evidence as the department may require.
- Applicant shall have passed an examination comparable to the examination given in this state.
- Applicant shall pass an Arkansas law examination under this chapter.
Each person employed in a school to instruct students in the school shall be a licensed nail
technician who:
- • Applicant shall be at least 21 years of age or older.
- Applicant shall have 600 hours of teacher training in a school of cosmetology over a period of no less than 4 months.
- Applicant shall have passed an instructors’ examination given by the Department of Health and has received an instructor’s license.
- Applicant shall agree not to teach outside the profession in which the license to practice allows.
Electrologists
The Department of Health shall admit to examination for a license as an electrologist a person who
has made application to the department in proper form, has paid the fee required, and who:
- Applicant shall not be less than 18 years of age.
- Applicant shall have completed the 12th grade or an accredited senior high school in the public schools of this state or its equivalent.
- Applicant shall have completed one of the following:
- A course of 350 hours of practical training as a student in conjunction with a course of 1500 hours in cosmetology or for a licensed cosmetologist.
- A course of 600 hours of practical training as a student, when not in conjunction with a regular course in cosmetology or for a licensed cosmetologist, extending over a period of not less than 4 months under the immediate supervision of a licensed electrologist instructor in a school of cosmetology.
- The prescribed course of study in electrology under the laws of another state whose licensing requirements are equal to or stricter than those in Arkansas.
- Training and practice in electrology for a period as shall be specified by rules of the State Board of Health.
Each application for admission to examination and each application for a license as an electrologist or any branch of cosmetology shall be in writing on blanks prepared and furnished by the Department of Health. In addition, each application shall be accompanied by the required fee and shall contain proof of the qualifications of the applicant for examination for registration and license. The application shall be verified by the oath of the applicant. The examination of applicants for a license in any of the branches or practices of cosmetology shall include both a practical demonstration and written test and shall embrace the subjects concerning the particular branch or branches, practice, or practices for which a license is applied.
There are no continuing education requirements in Alabama.
Arkansas does not accept apprenticeship credit.
Arkansas does allow reciprocity as long as the following requirements are met:
- Applicant shall be no less than 21 years of age.
- Applicant shall hold a current valid license upon application for reciprocity, evidenced by a certified copy of the license and an affidavit from the other state or by such other evidence as the department may require.
- Applicant shall have passed an examination comparable to the examination given in this state.
- Applicant shall pass an Arkansas law examination under this chapter.
The Department of Health shall admit to examination for license as an electrology instructor any person who has made application to the department in proper form, has paid the fee required, and who:
- Applicant shall be no less than 21 years of age.
- Applicant shall have had 600 hours of teacher training in a school of cosmetology over a period of not less than 4 months.
- Applicant shall hold a valid Arkansas license as an electrologist.
- Applicant shall have had 3 years of practical experience as an electrologist in the State of
Arkansas within the past 5 years.
Make-up Artists
The Department of Health shall admit to examination for a license as a makeup artist a person who has made application to the department in proper form, has paid the fee required, and who:
- Applicant shall no less than 16 years of age.
- Applicant shall have completed 2 years of high school in the public schools of Arkansas or its equivalent.
- Applicant shall have completed training of at least 480 hours.
Each application for admission to examination and each application for a license as a makeup artist or any branch of cosmetology shall be in writing on blanks prepared and furnished by the Department of Health. In addition, each application shall be accompanied by the required fee and shall contain proof of the qualifications of the applicant for examination for registration and license. The application shall be verified by the oath of the applicant.
The examination of applicants for a license in any of the branches or practices of cosmetology shall include both a practical demonstration and written test and shall embrace the subjects concerning the particular branch or branches, practice, or practices for which a license is applied.
There are no continuing education requirements.
Arkansas does not accept apprenticeship credit.
Arkansas does allow reciprocity as long as the following requirements are met:
- Applicant shall be no less than 18 years of age.
- Applicant shall hold a current valid license upon application for reciprocity, evidenced by a certified copy of the license and an affidavit from the other state or by such other evidence as the department may require.
- Applicant shall have passed an examination comparable to the examination given in this state.
- Applicant shall pass an Arkansas law examination under this chapter.
Each person employed in a school to instruct students in the school shall be a licensed makeup artist who meets the following requirements:
- Applicant shall be at least 21 years of age or older
- Applicant shall have completed 600 hours of teacher training in a school of cosmetology over a period of no less than 4 months.
- Applicant shall have passed an instructors’ examination given by the Department of Health and has received an instructor’s license.
- Applicant shall agree not to teach outside the profession in which the license to practice allows.
Licensing of Mobile Cosmetology Services
High School Cosmetology Programs
- Tattooist
- Body Art
- Piercing