State Board of Cosmetology

The Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology is responsible for regulating the practice of cosmetology, esthetics, and nail technology through licensure, registration, certification, and discipline of those engaged in the practice of cosmetology, esthetics, and nail technology in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Board regulates cosmetologists, estheticians, nail technicians, cosmetology teachers, esthetician teachers, nail technology teachers, cosmetology salons, esthetician salons, nail technology salons, and cosmetology schools as well as the unlicensed practice of the profession. Under this authority, it is the role of the Board to determine on a case-by-case basis whether a professional under its jurisdiction violated the Practice Act and Board Regulations by departing from, or failing to conform to, an ethical or quality standard of the profession. All Pennsylvania licensees are reminded to review the requirements of professional licensure as set forth in the Practice Act and Board Regulations to aid in their exercise of good faith professional judgment to provide services to clients that are consistent with the standards of acceptable and prevailing practice.

Important Information: 

• With the passage of Act 100 of 2024, effective 60 days from October 16, 2024, Natural Hair Braiders, Natural Hair Braider Teachers and Natural Hair Braiding Salons in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are no longer required to be licensed.  Accordingly, the State Board of Cosmetology will no longer be accepting applications for initial licensure, renewals, reactivations, or changes for the above license types. Please contact the Board with any questions.
• On November 5, 2018, the State Board of Cosmetology approved a consent agreement (case number 17-45-06196) in which the Respondent acknowledged that the practice of microblading is outside of the scope of cosmetology and that performing microblading within a cosmetology salon is a violation of 49 Pa. Code § 7.77 (use of salon for other purposes prohibited). 
  
• The Board’s regulations allow an applicant to request a variance from the minimum space requirements set forth in 49 Pa. Code § 7.76 (floor space).  All floor space variance requests shall be submitted in the manner set forth in the new salon application or salon change application, whichever is applicable. 
  
• Bureau inspectors will continue to inspect the entirety of your salon for compliance with 49 Pa. Code § 7.77 and all other relevant regulations and provisions of the Cosmetology Act. 
  
• Reminder: The Board staff and Board counsel are unable to give advisory opinions, legal advice or interpretations of the Cosmetology Act and Board regulations. Please consult an attorney of your choice for legal advice or interpretations of the Cosmetology Act and Board regulations. 

Board Laws and Regulations

• Regulations
• Act 86 of 1933
• Act 48 of 1993 - Schedule of Civil Penalties
• Fees

Examination Information

For information regarding an examination, to schedule an examination, or to check the status of your application, please visit http://www.pearsonvue.com/pa/cosmetology/.