State Licensing Requirements in MISSOURI
Cosmetologists
Licensing Requirements
Any individual wishing to engage in cosmetology shall obtain a license in compliance with the Missouri Statutes and shall meet the following qualifications:
- Applicant shall be at least 17 years of age;
- Applicant must be of good moral character
- Applicant shall have completed the 10th grade or equivalent;
- Applicant shall complete the required hours of instruction;
- Applicant shall take the Board approved examinations through the Professional Credential Services (PCS);
- Applicant shall submit the application with the required documentation;
- Applicant shall pay any required fees.
Exam Requirements
Each individual who seeks admission to an examination shall complete the following:
- Applicants shall have completed the 1,500 hours of training; or
- Applicant shall have completed 1,220 hours of training at a vocational-technical school; or
- Applicant shall have completed 3,000 hours of apprenticeship;
- Applicant shall pass a written examination and a practical examination;
- The minimum passing examination scores required for licensure are 75 on each examination;
- Upon passing, Applicant shall pay the required fees.
Continuing Education Requirements
There are no continuing education requirements for Cosmetology licenses. Cosmetology instructors are required to complete 8 hours of education through Board approved seminars before renewing their licenses. All licenses expire September 30th of every odd year.
Apprenticeship Programs
All persons desiring to enter a program of apprenticeship training in Missouri shall satisfy all general student requirements that are applicable to the license. To be an apprentice the following requirements must be met:
- Applicant shall complete the minimum requirement for apprentice training of 3,000 hours within 5 years since the enrollment application had been received;
- All Apprentices shall be under the supervision of the approved apprentice supervisor or an acting supervisor as provided by the rules of the Board;
- Apprentices shall receive no less than 1 hour of combined lectures and demonstrations each business day, excluding Saturday.
License Reciprocity Availability and Requirements
Reciprocity is offered in Missouri. To obtain a license, based on holding a current valid license in another state or jurisdiction of the United States, an Applicant must submit an Application to the Board. The previous license must have been received through substantially equivalent means.
Requirements for Eligibility:
- Applicant has practiced cosmetology for at least 2 years; or
- Applicant holds a current license that was obtained through requirements equal or superior to those in Missouri.
Otherwise the Applicant will need to complete a certain number of hours of training specified by the Board and the examinations in order to receive a license.
Instructors
Any individual wishing to engage in cosmetology instruction shall meet the following qualifications:
- Applicant shall have completed the 12th grade or equivalent;
- Applicant shall be in good physical and mental health;
- Applicant is currently licensed as a cosmetologist;
- Applicant shall complete 600 hours of instructor training; or
- Applicant shall be an instructor trainee for 3 or more years and complete 300 hours of instructor training;
- Applicant shall take the required written and oral examinations.
Hair Stylists
Hairdressers are licensed in Missouri as a Class CH license. This is licensed under Cosmetology. There are no rules regarding hairdressing education and licensing requirements. To obtain a hairdressing license one must get a cosmetology license.
Barbers
Licensing Requirements
Any individual wishing to engage in barbering shall obtain a license in compliance with the Missouri Statutes and shall meet the following qualifications:
- The Applicant is 17 years of age or older;
- The Applicant is free of contagious and infectious diseases;
- Applicant shall complete the required hours of instruction;
- Applicant shall take the Board approved examinations through the Professional Credential Services (PCS);
- Applicant shall submit the application with the required documentation;
- Applicant shall pay any required fees.
Exam Requirements
Each individual who seeks admission to an examination shall complete the following:
- Applicant shall have completed 1,000 hours of training in licensed school; or
- Applicant shall complete 2,000 hours of apprenticeship;
- Applicant shall pass both a practical and theoretical examination;
- The minimum passing examination score required for licensure is 75 on each examination;
- Upon passing, Applicant shall pay the required fees.
Continuing Education Requirements
There are no continuing education requirements. All licenses expire September 30th, of every odd year.
Apprenticeship Programs
All persons desiring to enter a program of apprenticeship training in Missouri shall satisfy all general student requirements that are applicable to the license. To be an apprentice the following requirements must be met:
- Applicant shall complete the minimum requirement for apprentice training of 2,000 hours within 5 years since the enrollment application had been received;
- All Apprentices shall be under the supervision of the approved apprentice supervisor or an acting supervisor as provided by the rules of the Board;
- Apprentices shall receive no less than 1 hour of combined lectures and demonstrations each business day, excluding Saturday
License Reciprocity Availability and Requirements
Reciprocity is offered in Missouri. To obtain a license, based on holding a current valid license in another state, territory or jurisdiction of the United States, an Applicant must submit an Application to the Board. The previous license must have been received through substantially equivalent means.
Requirements for Eligibility:
- Applicant has practiced barbering for at least 2 years; or
- Applicant holds a current license that was obtained through requirements equal or superior to those in Missouri.
Otherwise, the Applicant can apply through the Board for licensure through examination.
Instructors
Any individual wishing to engage in barbering instruction shall meet the following qualifications:
- Applicant shall hold a current Missouri barber license;
- Applicant shall take and pass all three parts of the examination. These include one written evaluation, one practical evaluation, and one presentation of a lesson plan;
- Upon passing Applicant pays the required license fee.
Estheticians
Licensing Requirements
Any individual wishing to engage in esthetics shall obtain a license in compliance with the Missouri Statutes and shall meet the following qualifications:
- Applicant shall be at least 17 years of age;
- Applicant must be of good moral character
- Applicant shall have completed the 10th grade or equivalent;
- Applicant shall complete the required hours of instruction;
- Applicant shall take the Board approved examinations through the Professional Credential Services (PCS);
- Applicant shall submit the application with the required documentation;
- Applicant shall pay any required fees.
Exam Requirements
Each individual who seeks admission to an examination shall submit the following:
- Applicants shall have completed the 750 hours of training; or
- Applicant shall have completed 1,500 hours of apprenticeship;
- Applicant shall pass a written examination and a practical examination;
- The minimum passing examination scores required for licensure are 75 on each examination;
- Upon passing, Applicant shall pay the required fees.
Continuing Education Requirements
There are no continuing education requirements for Esthetician licenses. Esthetics instructors are required to complete 8 hours of education through Board approved seminars before renewing their licenses. All licenses expire September 30th of every odd year.
Apprenticeship Programs
All persons desiring to enter a program of apprenticeship training in Missouri shall satisfy all general student requirements that are applicable to the license. To be an apprentice the following requirements must be met:
- Applicant shall complete the minimum requirement for apprentice training of 1,500 hours within 5 years since the enrollment application had been received;
- All Apprentices shall be under the supervision of the approved apprentice supervisor or an acting supervisor as provided by the rules of the Board;
- Apprentices shall receive no less than 1 hour of combined lectures and demonstrations each business day, excluding Saturday.
License Reciprocity Availability and Requirements
Reciprocity is offered in Missouri. To obtain a license, based on holding a current valid license in another state or jurisdiction of the United States, an Applicant must submit an Application to the Board. The previous license must have been received through substantially equivalent means.
Requirements for Eligibility:
- Applicant has practiced esthetics for at least 2 years; or
- Applicant holds a current license that was obtained through requirements equal or superior to those in Missouri.
Otherwise the Applicant will need to complete a certain number of hours of training specified by the Board and the examinations in order to receive a license.
Instructors
Any individual wishing to engage in esthetics instruction shall meet the following qualifications:
- Applicant shall have completed the 12th grade or equivalent;
- Applicant shall be in good physical and mental health;
- Applicant is currently licensed as an esthetician;
- Applicant shall complete 600 hours of instructor training; or
- Applicant shall be an instructor trainee for 3 or more years and complete 300 hours of instructor training;
- Applicant shall take the required written and oral examinations.
Nail Technicians/Manicurist
Licensing Requirements
Any individual wishing to engage in manicuring shall obtain a license in compliance with the Missouri Statutes and shall meet the following qualifications:
- Applicant shall be at least 17 years of age;
- Applicant must be of good moral character
- Applicant shall have completed the 10th grade or equivalent;
- Applicant shall complete the required hours of instruction;
- Applicant shall take the Board approved examinations through the Professional Credential Services (PCS);
- Applicant shall submit the application with the required documentation;
- Applicant shall pay any required fees.
Exam Requirements
Each individual who seeks admission to an examination shall complete the following:
- Applicants shall have completed the 400 hours of training; or
- Applicant shall have completed 800 hours of apprenticeship;
- Applicant shall pass a written examination and a practical examination;
- The minimum passing examination scores required for licensure are 75 on each examination;
- Upon passing, Applicant shall pay the required fees.
Continuing Education Requirements
There are no continuing education requirements for Cosmetology licenses. Cosmetology instructors are required to complete 8 hours of education through Board approved seminars before renewing their licenses. All licenses expire September 30th of every odd year.
Apprenticeship Programs
All persons desiring to enter a program of apprenticeship training in Missouri shall satisfy all general student requirements that are applicable to the license. To be an apprentice the following requirements must be met:
- Applicant shall complete the minimum requirement for apprentice training of 800 hours within 5 years since the enrollment application had been received;
- All Apprentices shall be under the supervision of the approved apprentice supervisor or an acting supervisor as provided by the rules of the Board;
- Apprentices shall receive no less than 1 hour of combined lectures and demonstrations each business day, excluding Saturday.
License Reciprocity Availability and Requirements
Reciprocity is offered in Missouri. To obtain a license, based on holding a current valid license in another state or jurisdiction of the United States, an Applicant must submit an Application to the Board. The previous license must have been received through substantially equivalent means.
Requirements for Eligibility:
- Applicant has practiced manicuring for at least 2 years; or
- Applicant holds a current license that was obtained through requirements equal or superior to those in Missouri.
Otherwise the Applicant will need to complete a certain number of hours of training specified by the Board and the examinations in order to receive a license.
Instructors
Any individual wishing to engage in manicuring instruction shall meet the following qualifications:
- Applicant shall be in good physical and mental health;
- Applicant is currently licensed as a manicurist;
- Applicant shall complete 600 hours of instructor training; or
- Applicant shall be an instructor trainee for 3 or more years and complete 300 hours of instructor training;
- Applicant shall take the required written and oral examinations.
Make-up Artists
Make-up Artists are licensed under Cosmetology and Estheticians.
Licensing of Mobile Cosmetology Services
There are no rules governing Mobile Cosmetology salons in Missouri.
High School Cosmetology Programs
As long as high schoolers meet the age and education requirements they may enroll in a cosmetology school. Vocational/Technical schools require only 1250 hours of instruction.
Additional Professions Licensed
- Body Piercing
- Branding
- Tattooing
- Therapeutic Massage