State Licensing Requirements in FLORIDA

Cosmetologists

An applicant shall be eligible for licensure by examination to practice cosmetology if the applicant:

• Is at least 16 years of age or has received a high school diploma;
• Pays the required application fee and required examination fee;
• Is authorized to practice cosmetology in another state or country, has been so authorized for at least 1 year, and does not qualify for licensure by endorsement;
• Has received a minimum of 1,200 hours of training as established by the board.

The school or program may certify that a person is qualified to take the required examination after the completion of a minimum of 1,000 actual school hours. If the person passes the examination, they will have satisfied the requirement.

• Upon receiving a passing grade on the examination and paying the initial licensing fee, the department shall issue a license to practice cosmetology;
• If applicant passes all parts of the examination for licensure as a cosmetologist, he or she may practice in the time between passing the examination and receiving a physical copy of his or her license if he or she practices under the supervision of a licensed cosmetologist in a licensed salon.

The continuing education requirements are to update the training of licensees and registered specialists but should not exceed 16 hours biennially. CE subject courses shall include:

• Human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome;
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations;
• Worker’s compensation issues;
• State and Federal Laws and Rules as they pertain to cosmetologists, cosmetology, salons, specialists, specialty salons, and booth renters;
• Chemical makeup as it pertains to hair, skin, and nails;
• Environmental Issues.

Florida does not accept apprenticeship training hours.

The board shall certify as qualified for licensure by endorsement as a cosmetologist in this state an applicant who holds a current active license to practice cosmetology in another state. Anyone with a license from out of the country must apply through examination

• The board may not require proof of educational hours if the license was issued in a state that requires 1,200 or more hours of pre-licensure education and passage of a written examination;
• This subsection does not apply to applicants who received their license in another state through an apprenticeship program.

Florida does not regulate cosmetology instructors. The schools themselves are responsible to certify their own instructors.

Hair Stylists

Barbers

The board shall certify for licensure any applicant who satisfies the requirements of this Chapter and who passes the required examination, achieving a passing grade as established by the board. To be eligible for licensure by examination, applicant must:

• Be of at least 16 years of age;
• Pay the required application fee;
• Holds an active valid license to practice barbering in another state, has held the license for at least 1 year, and does not qualify for licensure by endorsement;
• Has received the required hours of training as established by the board.

Each applicant for examination shall:

• Make application to the department at least 30 days prior to the examination date on forms prepared and furnished by the department;
• Furnish to the department two signed photographs of the applicant that are of sufficient size to identify the applicant;
• Pay the required fee to the department.
• Must have completed 1,200 hours of training at an approved school.

Florida requires barbers to renew their license biennially. The renewal fee is $75 and barbers must complete a board approved course on HIV and AIDS.

The board shall adopt rules specifying procedures for the licensure by endorsement of practitioners desiring to be licensed in this state who hold a current active license in another state or country and who have met qualifications substantially similar to, equivalent to, or greater than the qualifications required of applicants from this state.

Individual Barbering Schools certify their own instructors. Instructors are not regulated by the Florida Barbers’ Board. However, through the Department of Education, instructors are required to hold a teacher certification for each course they would like to teach.

Estheticians

Any person is qualified for registration as an esthetics specialist within the practice of cosmetology under this chapter who:

• Is at least 16 years of age or has received a high school diploma;
• Has received a certificate of completion no less than 260 hours of education in an esthetics specialty program.
• A person desiring to be registered as a specialist shall apply to the department in writing upon forms prepared by the department;
• Upon paying the initial registration fee, the department shall register the applicant to practice one or more of the specialty practices within the practice of cosmetology

There is no examination required to receive registration as an esthetician. Upon successful submission of an application, the board will grant registration to practice to the applicant.

The continuing education requirements are to update the training of licensees and registered specialists but should not exceed 16 hours biennially. CE subject courses shall include:

• Human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome;
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations;
• Worker’s compensation issues;
• State and Federal Laws and Rules as they pertain to cosmetologists, cosmetology, salons, specialists, specialty salons, and booth renters;
• Chemical makeup as it pertains to hair, skin, and nails;
• Environmental Issues.

Florida does not accept apprenticeship training hours.

You are eligible for a Florida registration by endorsement if you have a current and active registration or license in another state, with the requirements of the other state being equal to or greater than the requirements of Florida applicants. Out-of-country facial specialist, nail specialist and full specialist registrants are not eligible for licensure by endorsement. Any Florida cosmetology school can evaluate your previous school training and grant credit for hours toward fulfilling the Florida school requirements. Schools can grant credit for all, some or none of a person’s previous education.

Florida does not regulate cosmetology instructors. The schools themselves are responsible to certify their own instructors.

Nail Technicians/Manicurist

A person wishing to become a registered nail technician must meet the following requirements:

• Is at least 16 years of age or has received a high school diploma;
• Has received a certificate of completion in a nail technician specialty course at a minimum of 240 hours from a licensed school of cosmetology.
• A person who wishes to be registered as a specialist shall apply to the department in writing upon forms prepared by the department;
• Upon paying the initial registration fee, the department shall register the applicant to practice one or more of the specialty practices within the practice of cosmetology.

There is no examination required to receive registration as a nail technician. Upon successful submission of an application, the board will grant registration to practice to the applicant.

The continuing education requirements are to update the training of licensees and registered specialists but should not exceed 16 hours biennially. CE subject courses shall include:

• Human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome;
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations;
• Worker’s compensation issues;
• State and Federal Laws and Rules as they pertain to cosmetologists, cosmetology, salons, specialists, specialty salons, and booth renters;
• Chemical makeup as it pertains to hair, skin, and nails;
• Environmental Issues.

Florida does not accept apprenticeship training hours.

You are eligible for a Florida registration by endorsement if you have a current and active registration or license in another state, with the requirements of the other state being equal to or greater than the requirements of Florida applicants. Out-of-country facial specialist, nail specialist and full specialist registrants are not eligible for licensure by endorsement. Any Florida cosmetology school can evaluate your previous school training and grant credit for hours toward fulfilling the Florida school requirements. Schools can grant credit for all, some or none of a person’s previous education.

Make-up Artists

Licensing of Mobile Cosmetology Services

• Each mobile salon must comply with all licensure and operating requirements specified in Ch. 477 and Ch. 455 or rules of the board or department that apply to cosmetology salons at fixed locations, unless they conflict with the adopted rules pursuant to mobile salons;
• A mobile cosmetology salon must maintain a permanent business address, located in the inspection area of the local department office, at which records of appointments, itineraries, license numbers of employees, and vehicle identification numbers of the license holder’s mobile salon shall be kept and made available for verification purposes by department personnel, and at which correspondence from the department can be received;
• To facilitate periodic inspections of mobile cosmetology salons, prior to the beginning of each month each mobile salon license holder must file with the board a written monthly itinerary listing the locations where and the dates and hours when the mobile salon will be operating;
• The board shall establish fees for mobile cosmetology salons, not to exceed the fees for cosmetology salons at fixed locations;
• The operation of mobile cosmetology salons must be in compliance with all local laws and ordinances regulating business establishments, with all applicable requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act relating to accommodations for persons with disabilities, and with all applicable OSHA requirements.

High School Cosmetology Programs

• Tattooist
• Body Piercing (no license needed to practice, but a license is needed to open a salon).
• Electrologists
• Pedicuring Specialist
• Massage Therapy
• Unless otherwise licensed, individuals must register with the department in order to perform the following:
• Hair Braiding

– Register with department, pay applicable fee, and take a two-day 16-hour course

• Hair Wrapping

– Register with department, pay applicable fee, and take a one day 6-hour course

• Body Wrapping

– Register with department, pay applicable fee, and take a two-day 12-hour course