State Licensing Requirements in Louisiana

Cosmetologists

Licensing Requirements

• Be at least 16 years of age;
• Have satisfactorily completed 10th grade from an approved high school;
• Completed the required hours in an approved cosmetology school;
• Must pass the required State Board examinations;
• Must pay proper fees.

Exam Requirements

• Cosmetology students who have completed 1,500 hours and 36 weeks of cosmetology curriculum;
• Applications for examination must be accompanied by a student registration certificate, a photo of the student, and the $25 initial license fee.

Continuing Education Requirements

Apprenticeship Programs

License Reciprocity Availability and Requirements

Any person who has not taken then NIC exam will need to take both the NIC exam and the state exam in order to receive license through reciprocity. The state exam comes only in English, the NIC exam come in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese. Applicants can see if their state qualifies

Instructors

Any instructor who holds their license for 5 years and has attended 16 hours of continuing education each year shall earn the title Master Cosmetology Instructor.

Hair Stylists

Barbers

Licensing Requirements

• Must be 17 years of age or older;
• Must be of good moral character and temperate habit;
• Must show proof of graduation from high school or equivalent;
• Must have graduated from a course of instruction completing the required hours and completed within 9 months with no more than 8 hours to nay one working day;
• Applicant must successfully pass and examination by the board of Barber Examiners.

Exam Requirements

• Applicants must apply on the forms given by the department;
• Give to the board 2 (3 x 5) inch signed photographs of themselves. (One for the application and one for the exam);
• Complete a course of 1,500 hours at a licensed school.
• Pay to the board the appropriate fee. (Exam: $32 | License: $40);
• Exam will include both a practical demonstration and a written portion. 

Continuing Education Requirements

Apprenticeship Programs

• Must have a high school diploma or GED;
• Must be at least 17 years old;
• Must have a licensed barber to train under;
• Must have a licensed barber shop to work in;
• Must pay the non-refundable registration fee of $500.00.

Program will take two years to complete. Individuals will complete 400 practical hours and 288 theory hours. After applicants take and pass the state board examination they will be awarded licensure.

License Reciprocity Availability and Requirements

• The applicant shall submit an application to the board on a form prescribed by the board;
• A current Louisiana certificate shall be issued to the applicant on compliance with this Subsection and the payment of the applicable certification fee as determined by the board;
• A certificate granted under this Subsection shall allow the holder to engage in the practice of barbering for compensation.

Instructors

• Applicant must file an application with the board in such form as it may prescribe accompanied by the required fee;
• Applicant is of good moral character and temperate habits; 
• Applicant holds a diploma evidencing successful completion of high school or has the equivalent education as determined by an examination conducted by the board and approved by the vocational education office of the Department of Education;
• Applicant has held a valid certificate of registration as a barber in Louisiana and has practiced barbering in Louisiana for at least the last two years before issuance of the instructor’s certificate;
• Applicant has graduated from a barber college in a course embracing all the theory and scientific manipulation taught in barber schools and satisfactorily passes an examination conducted by the board to determine his fitness to be an instructor.

Estheticians

Licensing Requirements

• Be at least 16 years of age;
• Have, at the time of completion of the required schooling, the equivalent training as would be contemplated in the satisfactory completion of the 10th grade from an approved high school;
• Have satisfactorily passed an examination conducted by the board to determine the applicant’s fitness to receive a certificate of registration;
• Have paid the appropriate fee;
• To obtain a certificate as a registered esthetician, a person shall have completed and passed an esthetics course completing the required hours at a registered or licensed school of cosmetology approved by the board;
• Passage of the required examination.

Exam Requirements

• Esthetician examinations shall be conducted at least four times per calendar year;
• Applicants are responsible for all of the costs associated with taking the examination;
• Applicants must have completed a course of 750 hours at a licensed school.
• The examinations shall include practical demonstrations and written and oral tests which shall reflect the subjects normally taught in approved schools in the course required for the appropriate certificate of registration;
• Each applicant for examination shall submit an application containing proof of his qualifications, which shall be certified by the applicant under oath and shall be accompanied by the required fee. 

Continuing Education Requirements

Apprenticeship Programs

License Reciprocity Availability and Requirements

• Has completed and passed the appropriate course of study at a school which is licensed in the state or country which issued the license;
• Has satisfactorily passed the appropriate examination conducted by the board to determine his fitness to receive the certificate of registration;
• Has paid the appropriate fee.

Instructors

• Applicant possesses a high school diploma or its equivalent as determined by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education;
• Applicant has completed and passed the curriculum for the teacher’s training course under the supervision of a licensed teacher for a minimum study of 500 hours in not less than three months or possess a license as an esthetics instructor issued by another state;
• In addition, to obtain a certificate as a registered teacher of esthetics, a person shall possess an esthetics or cosmetology certificate, have been actively engaged in the practice of esthetics for at least 12 months prior to beginning the instructor’s course, and have successfully passed the examination prescribed by the board for certification as a teacher of esthetics. 

Nail Technicians/Manicurist

Licensing Requirements

• Be at least 16 years of age;
• Have, at the time of completion of the required schooling, the equivalent training as would be contemplated in the satisfactory completion of the 10th grade from an approved high school;
• Have satisfactorily passed an examination conducted by the board to determine the applicant’s fitness to receive a certificate of registration;
• Have paid the appropriate fee;
• In addition, one must obtain a certificate as a registered manicurist, a person shall have completed and passed a manicuring course completing the required hours at a registered or licensed school of cosmetology approved by the board;
• Passage of the required examination.

Exam Requirements

• Manicurist examinations shall be conducted at least four times per calendar year;
• Applicants are responsible for all of the costs associated with taking the examination;
• Applicants must complete a course of 500 hours at a licensed school.
• The examinations shall include practical demonstrations and written and oral tests which shall reflect the subjects normally taught in approved schools in the course required for the appropriate certificate of registration;
• Each applicant for examination shall submit an application containing proof of his qualifications, which shall be certified by the applicant under oath and shall be accompanied by the required fee.

Continuing Education Requirements

Apprenticeship Programs

License Reciprocity Availability and Requirements

• Has completed and passed the appropriate course of study at a school which is licensed in the state or country which issued the license;
• Has satisfactorily passed the appropriate examination conducted by the board to determine his fitness to receive the certificate of registration;
• Has paid the appropriate fee.

Instructors

• Applicant possesses a high school diploma or its equivalent as determined by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education;
• Applicant has completed and passed the curriculum for the teacher’s training course under the supervision of a licensed teacher for a minimum study of 500 hours in not less than three months or possess a license as a manicuring instructor issued by another state;
• In addition, in order to obtain a certificate as a registered teacher of manicuring, a person shall possess a manicuring or cosmetology certificate, have been actively engaged in the practice of manicuring for at least 12 months prior to beginning the instructor’s course, and have successfully passed the examination prescribed by the board for certification as a teacher of manicuring.

Make-up Artists

Licensing of Mobile Cosmetology Services

All requirements that apply to a beauty shop or salon either pursuant to this Chapter or by rule shall also apply to mobile salons, except to the extent that the requirements conflict with this Section or with any rules adopted in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act by the board pursuant to the provisions of this Section.

High School Cosmetology Programs

Additional Professions Licensed

• Electrologist
• Massage Therapist
• Tattoo/Body Art must meet some requirements, but no license is needed.