State Licensing Requirements in Kansas

Cosmetologists

Any individual wishing to engage in cosmetology, shall obtain a license be in accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the board and shall meet the following qualifications:

• Applicant shall be at least 17 years of age;
• Applicant shall have graduated from high school or equivalent; or
• Applicant was at least 25 years of age and licensed as an apprentice on May 21, 1998;
• Applicant have served as an apprentice at a licensed school for the period of time provided by
• Applicant shall pass the written and practical examinations;
• Applicant shall submit the application with the required documentation;
• Applicant shall pay any required fees.

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

• Applicant shall have completed 1,500 hours of training;
• Applicant shall take the written examination after 1,000 hours of study;
• Applicant shall take and pass the practical examination before licensure;
• To pass, an applicant must receive a 75% or greater;
• Upon passing, Applicant shall pay the required fees.

Cosmetologists are not required to complete continuing education. Licenses expire every 2 years from the last day of the month in which the license was issued. Instructors are expected to complete 20 hours of continuing education each licensing period.

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

• A cosmetology apprenticeship has a term of at least 1,500 hours. If the applicant has attended a licensed school electing to base the course of instruction and practice on credit practiced as an apprentice for not less than those credit hours which are the equivalent of

License Reciprocity Availability and Requirements

A person practicing as a cosmetologist under the laws of another state or jurisdiction and wants to obtain a license in Kansas based on practicing, shall be granted a license entitling the person to practice in this state if:

• The person is not less than 17 years of age;
• They have graduated from high school or equivalent; or
• The person has held a current license in another state or jurisdiction in the area of practice in which the person seeks a license for at least 10 years;
• The person holds a current license;
• The applicant passes a written and a practical examination administered by the board relating to the area of practice in which the person seeks a license; or
• The applicant has the number of hours of training required for licensure in this state and passes the written examination administered for license renewal under subsection of K.S.A.

Any administration, supervision and management of wishing to engage in barbering instruction shall be under the actual personal direction of an administrator or manager who shall be a duly 
registered barber of the state of Kansas and who shall possess all of the qualifications and take and pass such examinations and pay such fees as are hereinafter required for teachers or instructors in barbering.

Hair Stylists

Barbers

Any individual wishing to take the Kansas barber license examination, must be a graduate of a Kansas barber college that has been approved by this Board to provide barber training.

• The applicant must be at least 16 years old;
• Applicant shall be of good moral character;
• Applicant shall have completed the required hours a board approved school; 
• Applicant shall pass the examination;
• Applicant shall pay the required fees.

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

• Applicant shall complete at least 1,200 hours and not more than 1,500 hours of education;
• Applicant shall take and pass all 3 parts of the examination with a score of 80% or greater;
• Applicant must pass a Practical examination, Written NIC Barber Styling Theory exam, and a Written Kansas Rules and Regulations Examination.

There are no education requirements. Every licensed barber shall renew their license annually.

A person practicing as a barber under the laws of another state or jurisdiction and wants to obtain a license in Kansas based on practicing, shall be granted a license entitling the person to practice in this state if:

• Applicants are licensed in a state, territory, or country, which has a reciprocal agreement with Kansas.
• Applicant is actively licensed and practicing barbering for at least 24 months;
• The applicant submits a letter from the current licensing board verifying that the licensee is in good standing;
• The applicant certifies in writing that he or she has read, understands, and will abide by the rules, regulations, and statutes of the state of Kansas;
• The applicant submits an application subject to approval by the board. The reciprocal fee shall accompany the application;
• The reciprocal fee shall be a processing and license fee equal to the examination and barber license fee.

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

• Applicant must be at least 18 years of age;
• Applicant must have graduated from high school education or equivalent;
• Applicant must currently hold a barbering license;
• Applicant must have completed 1000 hours of education at a Beauty Culture School;
• Applicant shall pass a written examination through the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency;
• All applications must be accompanied by the application fee;

Estheticians

Any individual wishing to engage in esthetics shall obtain a license be in accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the board and shall meet the following qualifications:

• Applicant shall be at least 17 years of age;
• Applicant shall have graduated from high school or equivalent; or
• Applicant was at least 25 years of age and licensed as an apprentice on May 21, 1998;
• Applicant have served as an apprentice at a licensed school for the period of time provided by
• Applicant shall pass the written and practical examinations;
• Applicant shall submit the application with the required documentation;
• Applicant shall pay any required fees.

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

• Applicant shall have completed 1,000 hours of training;
• Applicant shall take the written examination;
• Applicant shall take and pass the practical examination before licensure;
• To pass, an applicant must receive a 75% or greater;
• Upon passing, Applicant shall pay the required fees.

Estheticians are not required to complete continuing education. Licenses expire every 2 years from the last day of the month in which the license was issued. Instructors are expected to complete 20 hours of continuing education each licensing period.

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

An esthetics apprenticeship has a term of at least 1,000 hours. If the applicant has attended a licensed school electing to base the course of instruction and practice on credit hours as 
an apprentice for not less than those credit hours which are the equivalent of 1,000 clock hours under the formula for conversion used by the licensed school.

License Reciprocity Availability and Requirements

A person practicing as an esthetician under the laws of another state or jurisdiction and wants to obtain a license in Kansas based on practicing, shall be granted a license entitling the person to practice in this state if:

• The person is not less than 17 years of age;
• They have graduated from high school or equivalent; or
• The person has held a current license in another state or jurisdiction in the area of practice in which the person seeks a license for at least 10 years;
• The person holds a current license;
• The applicant passes a written and a practical examination administered by the board relating to the area of practice in which the person seeks a license; or
• The applicant has the number of hours of training required for licensure in this state and passes the written examination administered for license renewal under subsection of K.S.A.

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

The license shall be granted by the board upon proper and sufficient showing of competency of the applicant and assurance of compliance by the applicant with the requirements of this act, all reasonable rules and regulations adopted by the board for proper conduct of the school and all applicable sanitation standards adopted by the secretary of health and environment, and amendments thereto;

Nail Technicians/Manicurist

Licensing Requirements

Any individual wishing to engage in nail technology shall obtain a license be in accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the board and shall meet the following qualifications:

• Applicant shall be at least 17 years of age;
• Applicant shall have graduated from high school or equivalent; or
• Applicant was at least 25 years of age and licensed as an apprentice on May 21, 1998;
• Applicant have served as an apprentice at a licensed school for the period of time provided by
• Applicant shall pass the written and practical examinations;
• Applicant shall submit the application with the required documentation;
• Applicant shall pay any required fees. 

• Applicant shall have completed 350 hours of training;
• Applicant shall take the written examination;
• Applicant shall take and pass the practical examination before licensure;
• To pass, an applicant must receive a 75% or greater;
• Upon passing, Applicant shall pay the required fees

Nail technologist are not required to complete continuing education. Licenses expire every 2 years from the last day of the month in which the license was issued. Instructors are expected to complete 20 hours of continuing education each licensing period.

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

A nail technology apprenticeship has a term of at least 350 hours. If the applicant has attended a licensed school electing to base the course of instruction and practice on credit
practiced as an apprentice for not less than those credit hours which are the equivalent of
350 clock hours under the formula for conversion

• The person is not less than 17 years of age;
• They have graduated from high school or equivalent; or
• The person has held a current license in another state or jurisdiction in the area of practice in which the person seeks a license for at least 10 years;
• The person holds a current license;
• The applicant passes a written and a practical examination administered by the board relating to the area of practice in which the person seeks a license; or 
• The applicant has the number of hours of training required for licensure in this state and passes the written examination administered for license renewal under subsection of K.S.A.

• The course of instruction and practice shall require not less than 350 clock hours, or a licensed school may elect to base the course of instruction and practice on credit hours;
• The formula for conversion from clock hour to credit hour shall be provided by a recognized accrediting body which is approved by the United States department of education for the accreditation of schools of cosmetology and the licensed school applying the credit hour conversion must be accredited through the accrediting body providing the conversion formula;

Make-up Artists

Licensing of Mobile Cosmetology Services

High School Cosmetology Programs

• Body Art
• Electrology
• Tanning