State Licensing Requirements in Kentucky

Cosmetologists

Licensing Requirements

• The applicant is at least 16 years of age;
• The applicant is of good moral character and temperate habit;
• The applicant must have a 12th grade education or equivalent;
• The applicant shall complete the required hours to be eligible for an apprentice license;
• The applicant must take and pass both a written and practical examination;
• An apprentice cosmetologist must work for at least 6 months under the immediate supervision of a licensed cosmetologist;
  • six-month apprenticeship consists of working in a licensed beauty salon for an average of 20 hours per week for 6 months;
• The applicant may then take the regular cosmetology examination

Exam Requirements

• The applicant has practiced as a licensed cosmetology apprentice for at least six (6) months under the immediate supervision of a licensed cosmetologist;
• The applicant has satisfactorily passed an examination prescribed by the board to determine fitness to practice cosmetology; and
• The applicant has the required fee.

Continuing Education Requirements

Apprenticeship Programs

• The applicant shall complete 1500 hours in a licensed school;
• The applicant must complete a written and practical examination; 
• A six-month apprenticeship consists of working in a licensed beauty salon for an average of 20 hours per week for 6 months;
• An apprentice cosmetologist cannot hold a license for more than 18 months without requesting an extension from the Board.

License Reciprocity Availability and Requirements

• An applicant who provides certification of licensure from a state board or appropriate agency, whose requirements are not comparable to those of Kentucky, who has held a license in good standing for more than two (2) years, shall be issued a Kentucky license after completion of an application, payment of a fee, and passage of the theory and practical examination
• An applicant who provides certification of licensure from a state board or appropriate agency, whose requirements are not comparable to those of Kentucky, who has held a license in good standing for less than two (2) years, shall be able to cure the deficiency of comparability through continuing education or apprenticeship in Kentucky. The board may require completion of an application

Instructors

• Has a high school diploma or equivalent;
• Has been licensed as a cosmetologist for at least 1 year;
• Applicant must complete an instructor apprenticeship;
• Applicant has submitted an application that has been signed by the owners of the school in which the applicant will study;
  • The course of instruction shall be for a period of one 1,000 hours and not less than 6 months;

Once the applicant has fulfilled the requirements of an apprentice, the cosmetologist shall be issued a license to teach cosmetology by the cosmetologist board if:

• The applicant is of good moral character and temperate habit;
• The applicant has a high school diploma, General Educational Development (GED) diploma, or the results from the Test for Adult Basic Education indicating a score equivalent to the twelfth grade of high school;
• The applicant has held an apprentice instructor license for at least six (6) months;
• The applicant has satisfactorily passed the examination for the teaching of cosmetology as prescribed by the board; and
• The applicant has paid the required fees. 

Hair Stylists

Barbers

Licensing Requirements

• The applicant is at least seventeen and one-half (17-1/2) years of age;
• The applicant is of good moral character and temperate habit;
• The applicant has graduated from high school or earned a G.E.D;
• The applicant has completed 1500 hours of school;
• The applicant has graduated from an accredited or licensed school of barbering;
• The applicant has satisfactorily passed the examination prescribed by the barber board.

Applicants who successfully pass the Probationary Barber exam and have a shop to work will begin a six-month probationary period. During the probationary period applicants are required to work six continuous months with no break in service. Upon completion of the six-month probationary period applicants will take the barber exam.

Exam Requirements

• There is not a written exam;
• The practical exam is 1 hour and 10 minutes instead of 1 hour and 20 minutes;
• Applicants must perform one of the following: permanent wave, apply straightener, or coloring.

Continuing Education Requirements

Apprenticeship Programs

License Reciprocity Availability and Requirements

Instructors

• The applicant must have been a licensed barber for 18 months;
• Pass the instructor exam;
• After passing the exam, work in a licensed barber school under a head instructor for twelve full months before becoming a head instructor.

Estheticians

Licensing Requirements

• The applicant is at least (18) years of age
• Possess a high school diploma, General Educational Development (GED) diploma, or the results from the Test for Adult Basic Education indicating a score equivalent to the twelfth grade of high school.

Exam Requirements

• The applicant has satisfactorily completed one thousand (1,000) hours of instruction in a licensed school approved by the board;
• The applicant has received a satisfactory grade on an examination prescribed by the board to determine fitness to practice as an esthetician; and
• The applicant has paid a fee of at least seventy-five dollars ($75) to be adjusted as needed in administrative regulations promulgated by the board.

Continuing Education Requirements

Apprenticeship Programs

License Reciprocity Availability and Requirements

• An applicant who provides certification of licensure from a state board or appropriate agency, whose requirements are not comparable to those of Kentucky, who has held a license in good standing for more than two (2) years, shall be issued a Kentucky license after completion of an application, payment of a fee, and passage of the theory and practical examination
• An applicant who provides certification of licensure from a state board or appropriate agency, whose requirements are not comparable to those of Kentucky, who has held a license in good standing for less than two (2) years, shall be able to cure the deficiency of comparability through continuing education or apprenticeship in Kentucky. The board may require completion of an application, payment of a fee, and passage of the theory and practical examinations. 

Instructors

• The applicant is of good moral character and temperate habit;
• The applicant is at least eighteen (18) years of age;
• The applicant has a high school diploma, General Educational Development (GED) diploma, or the results from the Test for Adult Basic Education indicating a score equivalent to the twelfth grade of high school
• The applicant holds a current cosmetologist and instructor’s license;
• The applicant has completed fifty (50) hours in esthetics training within the last two (2) years;
• The applicant has received a satisfactory grade on the examination for the teaching of esthetics as prescribed by the board; and
• The applicant has paid a fee promulgated by the board in administrative regulations.
• The board may issue a license to teach esthetic practices to an individual with two (2) or more years’ experience in teaching esthetic practices in another jurisdiction who meets the requirements of paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of subsection (3) of this section.

Nail Technicians/Manicurist

Licensing Requirements

• The applicant is of good moral character and temperate habit;
• The applicant has a high school diploma, General Educational Development (GED) diploma, or the results from the Test for Adult Basic Education indicating a score equivalent to the twelfth grade of high school.

Exam Requirements

• The applicant has completed satisfactorily a nail technician course of study of six hundred
• (600) hours in a licensed school of cosmetology within ten (10) years of submitting an application for licensure;
• The applicant has satisfactorily passed an examination prescribed by the board to determine fitness to practice as a nail technician;
• The applicant has paid a fee of twenty-five dollars ($25).

Continuing Education Requirements

(1). Applications for renewal shall comply with the provisions of this chapter and the administrative regulations promulgated by the board. Any license application received or postmarked after July 31 shall be considered expired, and the appropriate restoration fee required by subsection (2) of this section shall apply.

Apprenticeship Programs

License Reciprocity Availability and Requirements

• An applicant who provides certification of licensure from a state board or appropriate agency, whose requirements are not comparable to those of Kentucky, who has held a license in good standing for more than two (2) years, shall be issued a Kentucky license after completion of an application, payment of a fee, and passage of the theory and practical examination
• An applicant who provides certification of licensure from a state board or appropriate agency, whose requirements are not comparable to those of Kentucky, who has held a license in good standing for less than two (2) years, shall be able to cure the deficiency of comparability through continuing education or apprenticeship in Kentucky. The board may require completion of an application, payment of a fee, and passage of the theory and practical examinations.

Instructors

Make-up Artists

Licensing of Mobile Cosmetology Services

High School Cosmetology Programs

Additional Professions Licensed

• Massage Therapist
• Tattoo