State Licensing Requirements in DELAWARE

Cosmetologists

Any individual wishing to engage in cosmetology shall obtain a license in compliance with the Delaware Administrative Code and shall meet the following qualifications:

• Applicants must be at least 16 years of age;
• Each applicant must provide proof of any required general or professional education in the form of a certified transcript, proof of a G.E.D. or any other document evidencing completion of at least the 10th grade or equivalent education to the Board’s satisfaction;
• Applicants must complete required hours before applying for licensure;
• Applicants can also receive their cosmetology license by completing the required hours in an apprenticeship;
• Applicant must pass the required examinations to receive licensure;
• All applications for licensure must be submitted on forms approved by the Division of Professional Regulation and be accompanied by the appropriate fees.

Each Individual who seeks admission to an examination shall complete the following:

• Applicant must complete 1,500 class hours to qualify for examination;
• Applicants must pass the PCS theory and practical examinations;
• The minimum score required to pass both the theory and practical examination is 75;
• Upon passing examinations, Applicants shall pay any required fees to receive licensure.

There are no continuing education requirements. Licenses expire on October 31st of each even year.

All persons desiring to enter a program of apprenticeship training in Delaware shall satisfy all general student requirements that are applicable to the license. To be an apprentice the following requirements must be met:

• Applicants must complete 3,000 hours as a cosmetology apprentice to be eligible for licensure;
• A person applying for licensure by apprenticeship shall be supervised by a practitioner licensed in the profession that the apprentice is studying;
• An apprenticeship shall be completed only in a licensed shop;
• Any person applying for licensure as a cosmetologist or barber through apprenticeship must complete the necessary apprentice hours in not less than 18 months and not more than 36 months;
• On written application to the Board prior to completion of the apprenticeship, the Board may grant extensions to these time frames for good cause shown. The extension granted shall not exceed one year;
• The apprentice shall submit a new application to the Board upon any change in supervisor or location of the apprenticeship.

Requirements for Eligibility:

• Any applicant from a state with less stringent requirements than those of Delaware, shall submit a notarized statement(s) from current or previous employer(s) testifying to work experience in the field for which the applicant is seeking a license in Delaware;
• Such experience shall have been obtained in the State where the applicant is currently licensed for a period of 3 of the 5 years immediately preceding the making of application;
• Unlicensed practice within the State of Delaware shall not qualify as valid work experience;
• If the applicant cannot obtain a notarized statement(s), the applicant shall submit a letter of explanation and alternative documentation of experience, such as tax records.

Any individual wishing to engage in cosmetology instruction shall meet the following qualifications:

• An instructor applicant shall submit an official transcript showing completion of the teacher training course of 500 classroom hours;
• Where an instructor applicant states that he or she has obtained 2 years’ experience, such experience shall be documented by a notarized statement(s) from current or previous employers;
• If the required statement(s) cannot be obtained, the applicant must submit an explanation, with any other available documentation, such as W-2 forms;
• The Board may accept or reject such explanation, at its discretion;
• A cosmetology instructor may teach cosmetology, nail technology and aesthetics;
• A cosmetology instructor may teach barbering only if he or she has completed at least 35 hours of instruction in shaving as documented to the satisfaction of the Board.

Hair Stylists

Barbers

Any individual wishing to engage in barbering shall obtain a license in compliance with the Delaware Administrative Code and shall meet the following qualifications:

• Applicants must be at least 16 years of age;
• Each applicant must provide proof of any required general or professional education in the form of a certified transcript, proof of a G.E.D. or any other document evidencing completion of at least the 10th grade or equivalent education to the Board’s satisfaction;
• Applicants must complete required classroom hours before applying for licensure;
• Applicants can also receive their barber license by completing the required hours in an apprenticeship.
• All applications for licensure must be submitted on forms approved by the Division of Professional Regulation and be accompanied by the appropriate fees.

Each Individual who seeks admission to an examination shall complete the following:

• Applicant must complete 1,500 class hours to qualify for examination;
• Applicants must pass the PCS theory and practical examinations;
• The minimum score required to pass both the theory and practical examination is 75;
• Upon passing, Applicants shall pay the required fees to receive licensure.

There are no continuing education requirements. Licenses expire March 31st of each even year.

• Applicants must complete 3,000 hours as barber apprentice to be eligible for licensure;
• A person applying for licensure by apprenticeship shall be supervised by a practitioner licensed in the profession that the apprentice is studying;
• An apprenticeship shall be completed only in a licensed shop;
• Any person applying for licensure as a cosmetologist or barber through apprenticeship must complete the necessary apprentice hours in not less than 18 months and not more than 36 months;
• On written application to the Board prior to completion of the apprenticeship, the Board may grant extensions to these time frames for good cause shown. The extension granted shall not exceed one year;
• The apprentice shall submit a new application to the Board upon any change in supervisor or location of the apprenticeship.

Requirements for Eligibility:

• Any applicant from a state with less stringent requirements than those of Delaware, shall submit a notarized statement(s) from current or previous employer(s) testifying to work experience in the field for which the applicant is seeking a license in Delaware;
• Such experience shall have been obtained in the State where the applicant is currently licensed for a period of 3 of the 5 years immediately preceding the making of application;
• Unlicensed practice within the State of Delaware shall not qualify as valid work experience;
• If the applicant cannot obtain a notarized statement(s), the applicant shall submit a letter of explanation and alternative documentation of experience, such as tax records.

Any individual wishing to engage in barbering instruction shall meet the following qualifications:

• An instructor applicant shall submit an official transcript showing completion of the teacher training course of 500 classroom hours;
• Where an instructor applicant states that he or she has obtained 2 years’ experience, such experience shall be documented by a notarized statement(s) from current or previous employers;
• If the required statement(s) cannot be obtained, the applicant must submit an explanation, with any other available documentation, such as W-2 forms;
• The Board may accept or reject such explanation, at its discretion.

Estheticians

Any individual wishing to engage in esthetics shall obtain a license in compliance with the Delaware Administrative Code and shall meet the following qualifications:

• Applicants must be at least 16 years of age;
• Each applicant must provide proof of any required general or professional education in the form of a certified transcript, proof of a G.E.D. or any other document evidencing completion of at least the 10th grade or equivalent education to the Board’s satisfaction;
• Applicants must complete the required classroom hours before applying for licensure;
• Applicants can also receive their Aesthetician license by completing the required hours in an apprenticeship;
• All applications for licensure must be submitted on forms approved by the Division of Professional Regulation and be accompanied by the appropriate fee.

Each Individual who seeks admission to an examination shall complete the following:

• Applicant must complete 600 class hours to qualify for examination;
• Applicants must pass the PCS theory and practical examinations;
• Both exams must be scheduled online and taken at an examination site;
• The minimum score required to pass both the theory and practical examination is 75;
• Upon passing, Applicant shall pay the required fees to receive licensure.

There are no continuing education requirements. Licenses expire March 31st of each even year.

All persons desiring to enter a program of apprenticeship training in Delaware shall satisfy all general student requirements that are applicable to the license. To be an apprentice the following requirements must be met:

• Applicants must complete 1,200 hours as aesthetician apprentice to be eligible for licensure.
• A person applying for licensure by apprenticeship shall be supervised by a practitioner licensed in the profession that the apprentice is studying;
• An apprenticeship shall be completed only in a licensed shop;
• Any person applying for licensure as an aesthetician through apprenticeship must complete the necessary apprentice hours in not less than 30 weeks and not more than 24 months;
• On written application to the Board prior to completion of the apprenticeship, the Board may grant extensions to these time frames for good cause shown. The extension granted shall not exceed one year;
• The apprentice shall submit a new application to the Board upon any change in supervisor or location of the apprenticeship.

There is no reciprocity offered in Colorado. To obtain a license in Colorado, based on holding a current valid license in another state or foreign country, an applicant must submit and Endorsement Application.

Requirements for Eligibility:

• Applicant must possess an active estheticians license in good standing;
• Applicant must submit verification of licensure directly to the Office of Barbering and Cosmetology Licensure;
• Applicant’s previous license must have been obtained through substantially equivalent requirements;
• Applicant must pay any required fees.

Any individual wishing to engage in esthetics instruction shall meet the following qualifications:

• An instructor applicant shall submit an official transcript showing completion of the teacher training course of 500 classroom hours;
• Where an instructor applicant states that he or she has obtained 2 years’ experience, such experience shall be documented by a notarized statement(s) from current or previous employers;
• If the required statement(s) cannot be obtained, the applicant must submit an explanation, with any other available documentation, such as W-2 forms;
• The Board may accept or reject such explanation, at its discretion.

Nail Technicians/Manicurist

Any individual wishing to engage in nail technology (or manicuring) shall obtain a license in compliance with the Delaware Administrative Code and shall meet the following qualifications:

• Applicants must be at least 16 years of age;
• Each applicant must provide proof of any required general or professional education in the
  form of a certified transcript, proof of a G.E.D. or any other document evidencing completion
  of at least the 10th grade or equivalent education to the Board’s satisfaction;
• Applicants must complete the required classroom hours before applying for licensure;
• Applicants can also receive their Nail Technician license by completing the required hours in an apprenticeship;
• All applications for licensure must be submitted on forms approved by the Division of Professional Regulation and be accompanied by the appropriate fee.

Each Individual who seeks admission to an examination shall complete the following:

• Applicant must complete 300 class hours to qualify for examination;
• Applicants must pass the PCS theory and practical examinations;
• Both exams must be scheduled online and taken at an examination site;
• The minimum score required to pass both the theory and practical examination is 75;
• Upon passing, Applicant must pay the required fees.

There are no continuing education requirements. Licenses expire March 31st of each even year.

All persons desiring to enter a program of apprenticeship training in Delaware shall satisfy all general student requirements that are applicable to the license. To be an apprentice the following requirements must be met:

• Applicants must complete 600 hours as a nail technician apprentice to be eligible for licensure;
• A person applying for licensure by apprenticeship shall be supervised by a practitioner licensed in the profession that the apprentice is studying;
• An apprenticeship shall be completed only in a licensed shop;
• Any person applying for licensure as a nail technician through apprenticeship must complete the necessary apprentice hours in not less than 6 weeks and not more than 12 months;
• On written application to the Board prior to completion of the apprenticeship, the Board may grant extensions to these time frames for good cause shown. The extension granted shall not exceed one year;
• The apprentice shall submit a new application to the Board upon any change in supervisor or location of the apprenticeship.

Requirements for Eligibility:

• Any applicant from a state with less stringent requirements than those of Delaware, shall submit a notarized statement(s) from current or previous employer(s) testifying to work experience in the field for which the applicant is seeking a license in Delaware;
• Such experience shall have been obtained in the State where the applicant is currently licensed for a period of 3 of the 5 years immediately preceding the making of application;
• Unlicensed practice within the State of Delaware shall not qualify as valid work experience;
• If the applicant cannot obtain a notarized statement(s), the applicant shall submit a letter of explanation and alternative documentation of experience, such as tax records.

• An instructor applicant shall submit an official transcript showing completion of the teacher training course of 500 classroom hours;
• Where an instructor applicant states that he or she has obtained 2 years’ experience, such experience shall be documented by a notarized statement(s) from current or previous employers;
• If the required statement(s) cannot be obtained, the applicant must submit an explanation, with any other available documentation, such as W-2 forms;
• The Board may accept or reject such explanation, at its discretion.

Make-up Artists

Licensing of Mobile Cosmetology Services

• Permanent business address; or
• A permanent physical address from which the mobile unit is dispatched and to which the mobile unit is returned when not in use;
• The mobile salon’s telephone number;
• All motor vehicles’ identification numbers.

High School Cosmetology Programs

• Electrology
• Massage and Bodywork