Each state has its own agency charged to ensure the health and safety of consumers by promoting ethical standards and by enforcing the laws of the barber and beauty industry. For example, in California it is The California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. The rules, laws, and standards of the barber and beauty industry are dynamic, meaning that they are always changing. Some changes may be minor, while others are major. Your state agency is your best source to keep up with the latest rules, changes, and information.
We recommend you go to your agency’s web page prior to taking your exam(s) to get the latest and greatest Candidate Information Bulletin (CIB) on what will be required of you during your practical or written test.
As a future professional in the barber and beauty industry, we also recommended you get very familiar with your state’s agency website. Not only will their website help you keep up to date with the latest information, but there are links to forms that allow you to do such things as apply for or renew a license or file a change of address with your state.
Below is a list of the different barber and beauty regulatory agencies in the United States.
Alabama | Alaska | Arizona | Arkansas | California | Colorado | Connecticut | Delaware | District of Columbia | Florida | Georgia | Guam | Hawaii | Idaho | Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Kansas | Kentucky | Louisiana | Maine | Maryland | Massachusetts | Michigan | Minnesota | Mississippi | Missouri | Montana | Nebraska | Nevada | New Hampshire | New Jersey | New Mexico | New York | North Carolina | North Dakota | Ohio | Oklahoma | Oregon | Pennsylvania | Puerto Rico | Rhode Island | South Carolina | South Dakota | Tennessee | Texas | Utah | Vermont | Virgin Islands | Virginia | Washington | West Virginia |Wisconsin | Wyoming
Alabama Board of Cosmetology
RSA Union Building
100 North Union Street, Suite 324
PO Box 301750
Montgomery, AL 36130
Phone: 800-815-7453
Fax: 334-242-1926
Website:Â www.aboc.state.al.us/
Email:Â cosmetology@aboc.state.al.us
Alaska Division of Occupational Licensing
PO Box 110806
Juneau, AK 99811-0806
Phone: 907-465-2550
Fax: 907-465-2974
Website:Â www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/cbpl/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardofBarbersHairdressers.aspx
Email:Â cynthia.spencer@alaska.gov
Arizona Board of Cosmetology
1721 East Broadway
Tempe, AZ 85282
Phone: 480-784-4539
Fax: 480-784-4962
Website:Â www.azboc.gov/
Email:Â azboard@azboc.gov
Arkansas State Board of Cosmetology
4815 West Markham, Slot 8
Little Rock, AK 72205
Phone: 501-682-2168
Fax: 501-682-5640
Website:Â www.arkansas.gov/cos/
Email:Â cosmo@arkansas.gov
California State Board of Barbering & Cosmetology
2420 Del Paso Road, Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95834
Phone: 800-952-5210
Fax: 916-575-7281
Website:Â barbercosmo.ca.gov/
Email:Â barbercosmo@dca.ca.gov
Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) of Barber & Cosmetologist Licensing
1560 Broadway, #1340
Denver, CO 80202
Phone: 303-894-7772
Fax: 303-894-7693
Website:Â www.colorado.gov/pacific/dora/Barber_Cosmetology
Email:Â dora_barber-cosmetology@state.co.us
Connecticut Department of Public Health, Barber Licensure
410 Capital Avenue, MS #13PHO
PO Box 340308
Hartford, CT 06134-0308
Phone: 860-509-7603 Opt. 6
Fax: 860-509-8457
Website:Â www.ct.gov/dph/cwp/view.asp?a=3143&q=388878
Email:Â oplc.dph@ct.gov
Delaware State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology
Cannon Building
861 Silver Lake Blvd., #203
Dover, DE 19904
Phone: 302-744-4500
Fax: 302-739-2711
Website:Â dpr.delaware.gov/boards/cosmetology/index.shtml
Email:Â customerservice.dpr@state.de.us
Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs
Occupational & Professional Licensing
1100 4th Street SW, Suite 500 E
Washington, DC 20024
Phone: 202-442-4320
Fax: 202-442-4528
Website:Â www.dcopla.com/bbc/
Email: Cynthia.Briggs@dc.gov, dcra.dcraopla@dc.gov
Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation
Division of Professions
Board of Cosmetology
1940 North Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0783
Phone: 850-487-1395
Fax: 850-921-0038
Website:Â www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/pro/cosmo/index.html
Email:Â call.center@dbpr.state.fl.us
Georgia State Board of Cosmetology
214 State Capitol
Atlanta, GA 30334
Phone: 404-656-2881
Fax: 478-207-1442
Website:Â http://sos.ga.gov/index.php/licensing/plb/16
Email:Â http://sos.ga.gov/cgi-bin/email.asp
Guam Board of Barbering and Cosmetology
123 Chalan Kareta Vietnam Veterans Highway
Mangilao, GU 96923
Phone: 671-735-7406 x8
Fax: 671-735-7413
Website:Â www.dphss.guam.gov/content/guam-board-barbering-and-cosmetology
Email:Â mary.guerrero@dphss.guam.gov
Hawaii Board of Barbering & Cosmetology
DCCA-PVL
Attn: BAR/COS
235 S. Beretania Street, 9th Floor
Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone: 808-587-4274
Website:Â http://cca.hawaii.gov/rico/rico-home/barbering-cosmetology-electrology/
Email:Â barber_cosm@dcca.hawaii.gov
Idaho Board of Cosmetology
700 W. State Street
Boise, ID 83702
Phone: 208-334-3233
Fax: 208-334-3945
Website:Â www.ibol.idaho.gov/ibol/boardpage.aspx?bureau=cos
Email:Â cos@ibol.state.id.us
Illinois Division of Professional Regulation
100 W Randolph, 9th Floor
Springfield, IL 62786
Phone: 888-473-4858
Website: http://www.idfpr.com/profs/cosmo.asp
Email:Â http://www.idfpr.com/profs/Email/prfGrp01.asp
Indiana State Board of Cosmetology Examiners
Professional Licensing Agency
402 West Washington Street, RM W072
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Phone: 317-234-3031
Fax: 317-233-4236
Website:Â www.in.gov/pla/cosmo.htm
Email:Â pla12@pla.in.gov
Iowa Board of Cosmetology Arts & Sciences
Lucas State Office Bldg, 5th Floor
321 East 12th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319
Phone: 515-281-0254
Fax: 515-281-3121
Website:Â http://idph.iowa.gov/licensure/iowa-board-of-cosmetology-arts-and-sciences
Email:Â rosemary.bonanno@idph.iowa.gov
Kansas Board of Cosmetology
714 SW Jackson, Ste 100
Topeka, KS 66603
Phone: 785-296-3155
Fax: 785-296-3002
Website:Â www.accesskansas.org/kboc/Cosmetology.htm
Email:Â kboc@ks.gov
Kentucky State Board of Cosmetology
111 St. James Court, #A
Frankfort, KY 40601-2652
Phone: 502-564-4262
Fax: 502-546-0481
Website:Â www.kbhc.ky.gov/boardinfo/
Email:Â charles.lykins@ky.gov
Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology
11622 Sunbelt Court
Baton Rouge, LA 70809
Phone: 225-756-3404
Fax: 225-756-3410
Website:Â www.lsbc.louisiana.gov
Email:Â steve.young@la.gov
Maine Barbering & Cosmetology Program
35 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0035
Phone: 207-624-8579
Fax: 207-624-8637
Website:Â www.maine.gov/pfr/professionallicensing/professions/barbers/index.html
Email:Â barbercosm.program@maine.gov
Maryland State Board of Cosmetologists
500 North Calvert Street, Room #401
Baltimore, MD 21202-3651
Phone: 410-230-6320
Website:Â www.dllr.state.md.us/license/cos/
Email:Â cos@dllr.state.md.us
Massachusetts Board of Registration of Cosmetologists
1000 Washington Street, Suite 710
Boston, MA 02118
Phone: 617-727-9940
Fax: 617-727-1627
Website:Â www.mass.gov/dpl/boards/hd/index.htm
Email:Â cosmetologyandbarberingboard@state.ma.us
Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA)
Bureau of Professional Licensing, Licensing Division
PO Box 30670
Lansing, MI 48909
Phone: 517-373-8068
Fax: 517-373-1044
Website:Â www.michigan.gov/lara/0,4601,7-154-72600_72602_72731_72864—,00.html
Email:Â CosBarber@michigan.gov
Minnesota Department of Commerce
2829 University Avenue Southeast, Ste 710
Minneapolis, MN 55414
Phone: 651-201-2742
Fax: 612-617-2601
Website:Â www.bceboard.state.mn.us/
Email:Â bce.board@state.mn.us
Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology
239 North Lamar, Suite 301
PO Box 55689
Jackson, MS 39296-5689
Phone: 601-359-1820
Fax: 601-354-6639
Website:Â www.msbc.state.ms.us
Email:Â nluckett@msbc.state.ms.us
Missouri State Board of Cosmetology
3605 Missouri Blvd
PO Box 1062
Jefferson City, MO 65102-1062
Phone: 866-762-9432
Fax: 573-751-8167
Website:Â pr.mo.gov/cosbar.asp
Email:Â cosbar@pr.mo.gov
Montana Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists
301 South Park, 4th Floor
PO Box 200513
Helena, MT 59620
Phone: 406-841-2202
Fax: 406-841-2305
Website:Â www.cosmetology.mt.gov
Email:Â dlibsdcos@mt.gov
Nebraska Department of HHS Regulation and Licensure
301 Centennial Mall South
Lincoln, NE 68509
Phone: 402-471-2117
Fax: 402-471-3577
Website:Â www.hhs.state.ne.us/crl/mhcs/cosindex.htm
Email:Â Kris.Chiles@nebraska.gov
Nevada State Board of Cosmetology
1785 East Sahara Avenue, #255
Las Vegas, NV 89104
Phone: 702-486-6542
Fax: 702-369-8064
Website:Â cosmetology.nv.gov
Email:Â info@nvcosmo.com
New Hampshire Board of Barbering, Cosmetology, and Esthetics
121 S Fruit Street
Concord, NH 03301
Phone: 603-271-3608
Fax: 603-271-3950
Website:Â www.nh.gov/cosmet
New Jersey Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling
124 Halsey St
Newark, NJ 07102
Phone: 973-504-6200
Fax: 973-273-8035
Website:Â www.state.nj.us/lps/ca/nonmedical/coshair.htm
Email:Â askconsumeraffairs@dca.lps.state.nj.us
New Mexico Board of Barbers & Cosmetologists
2550 Cerrillos Road, 2nd Floor
Tony Anaya Building
PO Box 25101
Santa Fe, NM 87505
Phone: 505-476-4690
Fax: 505-476-4665
Website:Â www.rld.state.nm.us/BarbersCosmetologists/index.html
Email:Â barber&cosmoboard@state.nm.us
New York Department of State
One Commerce Plaza
99 Washington Ave
PO Box 22001
Albany, NY 12231
Phone: 518-474-4429
Fax: 518-473-6648
Website:Â www.dos.ny.gov/licensing/esthetics/esthetics.html
Email:Â licensing@dos.state.ny.us
North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners
1201 Front Street, #110
Raleigh, NC 27609
Phone: 919-733-4117
Fax: 919-733-4127
Website:Â www.nccosmeticarts.com
Email:Â nccosmo@nccosmeticarts.com
North Dakota State Board of Cosmetology
PO Box 2177
1102 S Washington Street, Ste 200
Bismarck, ND 58502-2177
Phone: 701-224-9800
Fax: 701-222-8756
Website:Â www.ndcosmetology.com/home/
Email:Â info@nscosmetology.com
Ohio State Board of Cosmetology
1929 Gateway Circle
Grove City, OH 43123
Phone: 614-466-3834 or 866-642-6723
Fax: 614-644-6880
Website:Â www.cos.ohio.gov
Email:Â sue.gatwood@cos.state.oh.us
Oklahoma State Board of Cosmetology
2401 Northwest 23rd Street, #84
Oklahoma City, OK 73107
Phone: 405-521-2441
Fax: 405-521-2440
Website:Â www.ok.gov/cosmo
Email:Â slewelling@cosmo.state.ok.us
Oregon Health Licensing Office
700 Summer Street Northeast, #320
Salem, OR 97301-1287
Phone: 503-378-8667
Fax: 503-370-9004
Website:Â www.oregon.gov/HLO/COS/index.shtml
Email:Â ohla.info@state.or.us
Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology
Department of State Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs
One Penn Center
2601 North 3rd Street
Harrisburg, PA 17110
Phone: 717-787-8503
Fax: 717-705-5540
Website:Â www.dos.state.pa.us/bpoa/cwp/view.asp?a=1104&q=432561
Email:Â st-cosmetology@PA.gov
Puerto Rico Board of Examiners of Beauty Specialists
Calle Fortaleza #151, Tercer Piso
San Juan, PR 305
Phone: 787-722-2122
Fax: 787-722-4818
Website:Â www.estado.gobierno.pr
Email:Â belleza@estado.gobierno.pr
Rhode Island Department of Health
3 Capital Hill
Providence, RI 02908
Phone: 401-222-5960
Fax: 401-222-6548
Website:Â www.health.ri.gov/hsr/professions/hair_barb.php
South Carolina State Board of Cosmetology
110 Centerville Drive #116
Columbia, SC 29210
Phone: 803-896-4588
Fax: 803-896-4525
Website:Â www.llr.state.sc.us/POL/Cosmetology
Email:Â boardinfo@llr.sc.gov
South Dakota Cosmetology Commission
500 East Capital Avenue
Pierre, SD 57501-5070
Phone: 605-773-7175
Fax: 605-224-7175
Website:Â http://dol.sd.gov/bdcomm/cosmet/
Email:Â cosmetology@state.sd.us
Tennessee State Board of Cosmetology
500 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37243
Phone: 800-480-9285
Fax: 615-741-1310
Website:Â www.tn.gov/commerce/section/cosmetology-and-barber-examiners
Email:Â Cosmetology.Board@TN.Gov
Texas TDLR Cosmetology Program
PO Box 12157
Austin, TX 78711
Phone: 512-463-6599
Fax: 512-463-9498
Website:Â www.tdlr.texas.gov/cosmet/cosmet.htm
Email:Â cs.cosmetologists@license.state.tx.us
Utah Division of Occupational & Professional Licensing
160 East 300 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Phone: 801-530-6628
Fax: 801-530-6511
Website:Â www.dopl.utah.gov/licensing/cosmetology_barbering.html
Email:Â doplweb@utah.gov
Vermont Secretary of State, Office of Professional Regulation
Board of Barbers & Cosmetologists
89 Main St, 3rd Floor
Montpelier, VT 05620
Phone: 802-828-1134
Fax: 802-828-2465
Website:Â www.sec.state.vt.us/professional-regulation/list-of-professions/barbers-cosmetologists.aspx
Email:Â kara.shangraw@sec.state.vt.us
Boards and Commissions, Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs
Golden Rock Shopping Center, Suite #9
Christiansted, VI 00820-4311
Phone: 340-773-2226
Fax: 340-773-6982
Website:Â dlca.vi.gov/boardcertifications/steps/barbers/
Email:Â nathalie.hodge@dlca.vi.gov
Virginia DPOR Board for Barbers and Cosmetologists
9960 Mayland Drive, Ste 400
Richmond, VA 23233-1463
Phone: 804-367-8509
Fax: 866-245-9693
Website:Â www.dpor.virginia.gov/Boards/BarberCosmo/
Email:Â barbercosmo@dpor.virginia.gov
Washington State Department of Licensing
Cosmetology Program
Business and Professions Division
405 Black Lake Boulevard SW
Olympia, WA 98502
Phone: 360-664-6626
Fax: 360-664-2550
Website:Â www.dol.wa.gov/business/cosmetology/
Email:Â plssunit@dol.wa.gov
West Virginia State Board of Barbers & Cosmetologists
1201 Dunbar Ave
Dunbar, WV 25064
Phone: 304-558-2924
Fax: 304-558-3450
Website:Â www.wvbbc.org/
Email:Â amanda.d.smith@wv.gov
Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services
Cosmetology Examining Board
PO Box 8935
1400 East Washington Avenue, Room 112
Madison, WI 53703
Phone: 608-266-2112 or 877-617-1565
Fax: 608-261-7083
Website:Â http://dsps.wi.gov/Boards-Councils/Board-Pages/Cosmetology-Examining-Board-Main-Page/
Email:Â dsps@wisconsin.gov
Wyoming Board of Cosmetology
2515 Warren Avenue, #302
Cheyenne, WY 82002
Phone: 307-777-3534
Fax: 307-777-3681
Website:Â http://cosmetology.state.wy.us
Email:Â betty.abernethy@wyo.gov