The Department of Licensing (DOL) regulates a number of businesses and professions, including cosmetology, hair design, barbering, esthetics, manicuring, and their instructors.  For regulated professions, the DOL issues licenses and ensures compliance with professional standards and laws.

A license to instruct or engage in the commercial practices of cosmetology, hair design, barbering, esthetics, or manicuring expires two years after issuance.  Failure to renew a license before it expires subjects a licensee to a penalty fee and payment of renewal fees.  Generally, a license that is not renewed within one year after its expiration date is canceled.  Before a license may be reinstated a person must submit an application, pay a license fee, and meet current licensing requirements, including passing applicable examinations.

Licensed cosmetologists, hair designers, barbers, manicurists, estheticians, master estheticians, and instructors whose license was canceled or expired, on or after March 1, 2020, may renew the license before June 30, 2023.