Minnesota Board of Cosmetology License Help
Use this guide to verify a Minnesota practitioner, salon or school, renew a license, understand continuing education, apply for a first credential, transfer a license, manage a salon or file a complaint.
The Minnesota Board of Cosmetology is the state regulator. Board-of-Cosmetology.org is an independent information website and does not issue, renew or verify Minnesota licenses.
MN Board of Cosmetology: Quick Answer
The Minnesota Board of Cosmetology regulates individual practitioners, managers, instructors, salons and cosmetology schools. Public users can search license records and salon or school inspection reports, while licensees use Board applications and the official account system for renewals, initial licensing and other transactions.
Minnesota License Task Helper
This helper does not access Board records or submit information. It only points you to the appropriate official starting page.
Minnesota Cosmetology Law Changes in 2026
Minnesota Session Law 2026, Chapter 119 changed several parts of the cosmetology statute. Most of the Board’s highlighted changes became effective August 1, 2026, while some provisions have later effective dates.
Special-event permit repealed
The former special-event permit was repealed. Do not rely on an old application or send the former permit fee based on an outdated article or saved form.
Temporary military license changed
The temporary military-license application fee was removed and the temporary license period was expanded to three years under the 2026 changes.
Registered barber training credit
Beginning January 1, 2027, qualifying Minnesota registered barbers may receive up to 500 hours of credit toward cosmetology or hair-technician training.
Instructor renewal alignment
Future instructor-license changes will coordinate certain instructor and underlying practitioner-license expiration dates. Do not apply this future rule to a 2026 renewal.
Minnesota Board of Cosmetology Contact Information
The Board encourages visitors to contact the office in advance when planning an in-person visit so staff availability can be confirmed.
Use for licensing, application, renewal or Board-process questions.
Use the official state email for Board-related questions.
8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Closed on Minnesota state holidays.
Board office
Minnesota Board of Cosmetology
1000 University Avenue West, Suite 100
St. Paul, MN 55104
Minnesota Cosmetology License Lookup
The Board’s public License Lookup can search for a licensed practitioner, salon or school. The Board specifically warns that this public lookup is not formal license verification.
Choose the correct record type
Search for the individual practitioner, salon or school that you actually need to verify. A practitioner record and a salon record are separate.
Use the strongest identifier available
A license number is useful when available. Otherwise use the legal name or business information shown by the license holder.
Read the full result
Check the license category, status, expiration date and other public details rather than relying only on a matching name.
Request certification when formal proof is required
If another board, employer, attorney or agency requires official verification, use the Board’s Certification of Licensure process rather than a screenshot of the public lookup.
How to Apply for a First Minnesota Cosmetology License
Recent graduates and other first-time applicants should use the current Initial Operator License Application for the correct license category. The Board requires original supporting documents rather than relying only on a school’s informal proof.
Complete the correct application
Use the Board’s current initial operator application for the license type you are seeking.
Include required payment
The current statutory initial practitioner, manager or instructor fee is $195, consisting of a $155 license fee and $40 application fee.
Submit the original course-completion certificate
The Board’s first-license instructions require the original Course Completion Certificate for applicable Minnesota-school graduates.
Include original passing exam results
Required examination results must be included. The Board states that exam results are valid for one year.
The Board currently directs candidates to PSI for written examinations and lists PSI contact number 1-855-834-8746.
Minnesota Cosmetology License Renewal and CE
Minnesota individual practitioner licenses generally run on a three-year cycle and expire on the last day of the license holder’s birth month in the year due. The licensee is responsible for renewing even if a reminder is not received.
Core continuing education
4 hours total: 1 hour on Minnesota laws and rules plus 3 hours on health, safety and infection-control standards.
Professional Practice CE
4 hours total for applicable practitioner and salon-manager renewals. Topics may include product chemistry, machines and instruments, business or human relations, and techniques within the license scope.
Check the exact expiration date
Use the Board record to verify your license category, status and birth-month expiration date.
Complete the required Board-approved CE
Finish the CE that applies to your credential before submitting the renewal application.
Renew online or use the current form
The Board allows eligible renewals online or through the Active License Renewal form by mail or in person.
Pay the correct fee
The current statutory practitioner renewal fee is $115. Manager or instructor renewal is $145.
Verify issuance
Keep your submission and payment records, then check that the renewed license has actually been issued.
Expired Minnesota Cosmetology License: Which Route Applies?
The correct renewal route changes according to how long the license has been expired. Do not assume that every expired credential can be fixed through a normal online renewal.
| Situation | What changes | Practical action |
|---|---|---|
| Expired up to 6 months | The ordinary renewal process may still be available depending on the record and requirements. | Complete applicable renewal requirements and pay the practitioner late fee when due. |
| Expired more than 6 months | The Board says the application can only be submitted by mail or in person. | Use the current Active License Renewal form rather than relying on online renewal. |
| Expired more than 3 years | The normal renewal rule no longer applies. | Use the Board process for long-expired licenses and satisfy the current testing/application requirements. |
| Retired license | A retired license does not authorize cosmetology practice. | Use the appropriate activation or renewal process before returning to practice. |
Minnesota Board of Cosmetology Fees in 2026
The 2026 session retained the core three-year licensing fee structure while changing several other cosmetology-law provisions.
| License or service | Current statutory amount | What the amount includes |
|---|---|---|
| Initial practitioner, manager or instructor | $195 | $155 license fee + $40 application fee |
| Practitioner renewal | $115 | $100 renewal fee + $15 application fee |
| Manager or instructor renewal | $145 | $130 renewal fee + $15 application fee |
| Initial salon license | $350 | $250 license fee + $100 application fee |
| Salon renewal | $225 | $175 renewal fee + $50 application fee |
| Initial school license | $4,000 | $3,000 license fee + $1,000 application fee |
| School renewal | $2,500 | $2,000 renewal fee + $500 application fee |
| Practitioner late-renewal fee | $45 | Added when applicable |
| Salon or school late-renewal fee | $50 | Added when applicable |
| Certification of Licensure | $30 each | Formal certification service |
| Duplicate license | $20 | Administrative fee |
| Name change | $20 | Administrative fee |
| Homebound service permit | $50 | Three-year fee |
| Temporary military license | No application fee | Changed by 2026 legislation |
Check the live form or Board system before paying because another late, expedited, examination or service-provider charge may apply to a specific transaction.
Transfer an Out-of-State or Foreign Cosmetology License to Minnesota
Domestic license transfer
- Complete the Domestic License Transfer Application.
- Ask every state where you have been licensed to send Certification of Licensure directly to the Minnesota Board.
- Include original passing results from required examinations.
Foreign license transfer
Foreign documents must be evaluated through a Board-approved credential-evaluation provider. The applicant then works with a Minnesota cosmetology school for curriculum review and required skills testing before completing the foreign-transfer application process.
Minnesota Salon Licensing and Renewal
A practitioner’s individual license does not replace the salon license. Minnesota regulates salons separately, and salon owners should verify the business credential in addition to the licenses of individual practitioners.
Initial salon application
The Board’s current initial-salon instructions list supporting items including a Certificate of Assumed Name, Certificate of Organization, required insurance certificates and a salon floor plan.
Salon renewal eligibility
If ownership or business structure changes, the salon moves to a different location, or the salon license has been expired more than six months, the Board says a new Salon License Application is required rather than ordinary renewal.
Insurance information for salon renewal
The current renewal process asks the owner to gather professional liability insurance information and workers’ compensation insurance information when applicable.
If the Designated Licensed Salon Manager changed, the Board instructs the salon to use the printed renewal form.
Public License and Inspection Tools
License Lookup
Search for licensed practitioners, salons and schools. Use Certification of Licensure when formal verification is required.
Inspection Report Lookup
The Board publishes a separate tool for Board-conducted inspection reports for licensed salons and schools. Some reports may not be available in the online tool.
If an expected inspection report is unavailable, the Board directs users to contact cosmetology@state.mn.us to request a copy.
How to File a Minnesota Cosmetology Complaint
The Board can investigate matters that fall within Minnesota cosmetology laws and rules, such as unlicensed practice, infection-control or safety violations and services performed outside the scope of a license.
Issues the Board may investigate
- Unlicensed cosmetology practice.
- Health, infection-control or safety violations.
- Services outside the practitioner’s authorized license scope.
- Other potential violations of Minnesota cosmetology statutes or rules.
Issues generally outside Board authority
- Ordinary customer-service disputes.
- Refund or scheduling disagreements by themselves.
- Employment disputes outside cosmetology regulatory jurisdiction.
Identify the respondent
Provide the practitioner, salon or school information and license number when available.
Explain what happened
Give a clear account of who was involved, what occurred, where it happened and when it happened.
Attach useful evidence
Upload relevant documents that support the complaint.
Complete the authorization
The Board says a signed authorization for release of information is important. A complaint without that authorization is likely to be dismissed.
Sign and submit
An investigator may contact you for more information. After investigation, the Complaint Committee determines what regulatory action, if any, is appropriate.
Official Minnesota Cosmetology Resources
Licensing and public services
Salons, laws and complaints
Minnesota Board of Cosmetology FAQs
What is the Minnesota Board of Cosmetology phone number?
The Board lists phone number 651-201-2742 and email cosmetology@state.mn.us.
Where is the Minnesota Board of Cosmetology office?
The office is at 1000 University Avenue West, Suite 100, St. Paul, MN 55104. The Board lists office hours as Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding state holidays.
How much is a Minnesota practitioner license renewal in 2026?
The statutory practitioner renewal fee is $115: $100 for the renewal license plus a $15 application fee. A $45 practitioner late-renewal fee can apply after expiration.
How many CE hours does a Minnesota cosmetologist need?
An ordinary cosmetologist renewal requires 8 hours: a 4-hour Core course and a 4-hour Professional Practice course from approved providers. The Core course includes one hour of laws and rules plus three hours of health, safety and infection control.
When does a Minnesota individual cosmetology license expire?
Individual licenses operate on a three-year cycle and expire on the last day of the license holder’s birth month in the year due.
Is Minnesota’s public License Lookup official verification?
No. The Board states that its public License Lookup is not formal verification. Use a Certification of Licensure when official verification is required.
Can a license expired more than six months be renewed online?
The Board’s current renewal instructions say applications for licenses expired more than six months can only be submitted by mail or in person.
Does a Minnesota salon need its own license?
Yes. The practitioner license and salon license are separate. A licensed practitioner working in a salon does not by itself establish that the salon has the required Board license.
What happened to Minnesota’s special-event permit?
The 2026 legislation repealed the special-event permit. Older pages that still describe the former permit and fee should not be used as current application guidance.
Before You Apply, Renew or Pay
- Confirm the exact Minnesota license type and public record.
- Check your own expiration date rather than assuming a statewide renewal month.
- Complete the CE required for your exact credential.
- Use current Board forms rather than saved older copies.
- Remember that public License Lookup is not formal certification.
- Check practitioner and salon credentials separately when both matter.
- Use the mail or in-person route when a practitioner license has been expired more than six months.
- Do not use the former special-event permit rules after the 2026 repeal.
- Keep payment, application, CE and Board correspondence records.
Independent-site notice: Board-of-Cosmetology.org is not the Minnesota Board of Cosmetology or another Minnesota government agency. Official Board records, current forms, Minnesota statutes and administrative rules control licensing decisions.