2026 Minnesota Statutes

155A.27 PRACTITIONER.

Subdivision 1.Licensing.

A person must hold an individual license to practice in the state as a cosmetologist, esthetician, hair technician, nail technician, eyelash technician, advanced practice esthetician, manager, or instructor.

Subd. 2.Qualifications.

(a) Qualifications for licensing in each classification shall be determined by the board and established by rule, and shall include educational and experiential prerequisites.

(b) The rules shall require a demonstrated knowledge of procedures necessary to protect the health and safety of the practitioner and the consumer of cosmetology services, including but not limited to infection control, use of implements, apparatuses and other appliances, and the use of chemicals.

Subd. 3.

MS 2012 [Repealed, 2014 c 162 s 15]

Subd. 4.Testing.

All theory, practical, and Minnesota law and rule testing must be done by a board-approved provider. Appropriate standardized tests shall be used and shall include subject matter relative to the application of Minnesota law. In every case, the primary consideration shall be to safeguard the health and safety of consumers by determining the competency of the applicants to provide the services indicated.

Subd. 5.Licensing without test.

Licensing of persons without testing may be allowed as determined by rule.

Subd. 5a.Temporary military license.

The board must establish temporary licenses for a cosmetologist, a hair technician, a nail technician, an eyelash technician, an esthetician, and an advanced practice esthetician in accordance with section 197.4552, subdivision 2. A temporary license issued under section 197.4552, subdivision 2, is valid for a three-year licensing period. The board must only issue one temporary license per applicant.

Subd. 6.Duration of license.

Licensing in each classification shall be for a period of three years.

Subd. 6a.Instructor license renewal.

(a) When issuing an instructor license to an individual who holds an operator or a salon manager license in the same classification, the board must extend the expiration date of the operator or salon manager license so that both licenses in the same classification expire on the same date.

(b) When an individual simultaneously renews an instructor license and an operator or a salon manager license in the same classification, the board must charge the individual only the instructor renewal license and renewal application fee according to section 155A.25, subdivision 1a, paragraph (b), clause (3), and must not charge a fee for renewing the operator or salon manager license.

[See Note.]

Subd. 7.Renewals.

Renewal of license shall be for a period of three years under conditions and process established by rule and subject to continuing education requirements of section 155A.271.

Subd. 8.Fees.

Examination and licensing fees shall be in the amounts specified in section 155A.25.

Subd. 9.Exemptions.

(a) Persons licensed to provide cosmetology services in other states visiting this state for cosmetology demonstrations shall be exempted from the licensing provisions of sections 155A.21 to 155A.36 if services to consumers are in the physical presence of a licensed cosmetologist.

(b) A person who performs threading shall be exempt from the licensing provisions of sections 155A.21 to 155A.36.

(c) A person who performs only hairstyling and makeup services shall be exempt from the licensing provisions of sections 155A.21 to 155A.36 if the person has completed a four-hour course in health, safety, and infection-control matters and state law online or in person under section 155A.271, subdivision 1, paragraph (a), from a board-approved continuing education provider, and carries proof of completion of the course when providing these services.

Subd. 10.Nonresident licenses.

(a) A nonresident cosmetologist, a hair technician, an advanced practice esthetician, a nail technician, an esthetician, or an eyelash technician may be licensed in Minnesota if the individual has completed cosmetology school in a state or country with the same or greater school hour requirements, has an active license in that state or country, has passed a board-approved theory and practice-based examination, and has passed the Minnesota-specific written operator examination. If a test is used to verify the qualifications, the test must be translated into the nonresident's native language within the limits of available resources. Licenses must not be issued under this subdivision for managers or instructors.

(b) If an individual has less than the required number of school hours, the individual must have had a current active license in another state or country for at least three years and have passed a board-approved theory and practice-based examination and the Minnesota-specific written operator examination. If a test is used to verify the qualifications, the test must be translated into the nonresident's native language within the limits of available resources. Licenses must not be issued under this subdivision for managers or instructors.

(c) Applicants claiming training and experience in a foreign country must supply official English-language translations of all required documents from a board-approved source.

Subd. 11.Reciprocity for barbers.

A person who is a registered barber under chapter 154 may be granted credit up to 500 hours, as determined by a Minnesota-licensed cosmetology school, toward the required hours of study for a license in cosmetology or hair technology if the person:

(1) provides the cosmetology school with a verification of registration issued from the Minnesota Board of Barber Examiners verifying that the person has an active Minnesota barber registration; and

(2) holds an active Minnesota barber registration at the time that the person applies for a license in cosmetology or hair technology.

History:

1981 c 357 s 37; 1983 c 289 s 114 subd 1; 1983 c 293 s 64; 1984 c 655 art 1 s 92; 1993 c 204 s 12-15; 2002 c 387 s 14; 2004 c 269 art 3 s 31-33; 2005 c 27 s 9; 2006 c 260 art 3 s 5; 2009 c 78 art 6 s 26; 2013 c 85 art 5 s 25-27,49; 2014 c 162 s 4; 2014 c 169 s 2; 2014 c 312 art 4 s 17; 2015 c 77 art 2 s 42-44; 2016 c 127 s 5; 2020 c 106 s 3; 2023 c 62 art 2 s 99-101; 2024 c 120 art 3 s 1; 2025 c 39 art 4 s 2; 2026 c 119 art 4 s 13-16

NOTE: Subdivision 6a, as added by Laws 2026, chapter 119, article 4, section 14, is effective January 1, 2028. Laws 2026, chapter 119, article 4, section 14, the effective date.