Find the Right Minnesota License Action
Use this guide to verify a practitioner or salon, log in to the Board portal, apply for a first license, prepare for PSI exams, renew, correct an expired record, transfer a license, manage a salon or prepare a complaint.
This is an independent guide and not the Minnesota government or licensing Board. Official Minnesota records, forms, laws and Board decisions control every application, payment and legal work-status decision.
Fast Minnesota Board Answer
The Minnesota Board of Cosmetology regulates individual practitioners, managers, instructors, salons and schools. A personal practitioner license and a salon license are separate records. Before working, hiring, renting space or booking a regulated service, check the practitioner and establishment separately.
The safest sequence is: identify the correct license type → check the public record → complete training, examination or CE requirements → submit the correct application → save proof → verify issued or renewed status before practice.
Minnesota License Task Helper
This static helper does not search Board records or submit an application. It points you to the correct official starting route.
Minnesota Cosmetology Changes for 2026 and Beyond
Several older search results became inaccurate on August 1, 2026. Separate changes have future effective dates.
Special-event permit repealed
The old permit statute and $75 annual fee were removed. Do not submit an old form or payment. Location, salon, scope, health and local requirements may still apply to the service.
Military-license rules changed
The old blanket description of a $100 one-year temporary license is obsolete. The amended law provides a three-year temporary licensing period, expands categories and limits an applicant to one temporary license.
Minnesota barber training credit
An actively registered Minnesota barber may receive up to 500 hours of school-determined credit toward Minnesota cosmetology or hair-technology training.
Minnesota Board Phone Number, Address and Visit Planning
Contact the Board for licensing decisions, missing records, unclear application requirements or instructions that cannot be resolved through the official pages.
Minnesota Board of Cosmetology
Phone: 651-201-2742
Email: cosmetology@state.mn.us
Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; closed on Minnesota state holidays.
St. Paul Board Office
1000 University Avenue West, Suite 100
St. Paul, MN 55104
The Board encourages visitors to contact the office first and make an appointment to ensure staff availability.
Prepare before calling
Minnesota Cosmetology License Lookup: Search and Verify Correctly
The public search can locate practitioners, salons, schools and course providers. It is useful for a quick check but is explicitly not formal verification of licensure.
Choose the correct record type
Search a person by name or license number. Search the salon or school separately because an active practitioner license does not prove that the business location is licensed.
Use fewer search fields
Start with the legal last name or complete license number. The portal supports an asterisk wildcard: entering Ander* can return Anderson or Andersen.
Use ZIP search for salons
The public tool includes salon search by ZIP code. This helps when the business name has changed or is spelled differently in Board records.
Review the complete result
Check license category, number, status, expiration date and business details. Save a dated printout or screenshot when hiring, renting space or documenting a complaint.
Use public lookup when
- Checking a practitioner before booking or hiring.
- Checking whether a salon or school appears in public records.
- Confirming license type and expiration date.
- Finding a school or listed course provider.
Request certification when
- Another state board requires formal verification.
- An employer, attorney or agency requires an official document.
- You are transferring your Minnesota license elsewhere.
- A public-search screenshot is not accepted as proof.
Minnesota Cosmetology Login: License Number and Password Help
The licensee portal uses the license number and a category-specific password format. Use only the official secure portal and never send your full Social Security number by ordinary email.
| User | Login field | Password format | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual practitioner | Minnesota license number | Last four digits of SSN or ITIN | Adding a trailing space after the license number |
| Salon or school | Business license number | Tax ID supplied to the Board, entered without dashes | Using an owner’s personal last-four digits |
Login troubleshooting ladder
- Retype the license number manually and remove spaces before or after it.
- Confirm you are using the Minnesota Board portal, not the public lookup form.
- For a salon or school, enter the tax ID without punctuation or dashes.
- Confirm the record’s legal owner or tax information has not changed.
- Take a screenshot of the error without exposing SSN, ITIN or tax-ID details.
- Call the Board when the license exists publicly but the private account will not open.
Minnesota License Types and Correct Training Hours
Choose the exact category before enrolling. Cosmetology, esthetics, advanced practice esthetics, nails, eyelashes and hair technology have different training and scope requirements.
| License path | Training requirement | Practical decision |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmetologist | 1,550 hours | Broad Minnesota cosmetology path including required hair, nail and esthetician curriculum. |
| Esthetician | 600 hours | Basic esthetics scope; not the same as advanced practice esthetics. |
| Advanced Practice Esthetician | 500-hour advanced curriculum | Requires recent qualifying esthetician/cosmetology training or an active Minnesota cosmetologist or esthetician license. |
| Nail Technician | 350 hours | Separate nail-services path; confirm the salon is licensed for services offered. |
| Eyelash Technician | 14 hours | Eight theoretical and six clinical hours; does not authorize broader esthetician services. |
| Hair Technician | 900 hours | Requires Minnesota school training, practical skills testing and three written examinations. |
Credit toward another Minnesota license
| Existing qualifying training | Possible credit | New license path |
|---|---|---|
| Esthetician or AP esthetician | Up to 550 hours | Cosmetologist |
| Nail technician | Up to 300 hours | Cosmetologist |
| Nail technician | Up to 200 hours | Esthetician |
| Esthetician or AP esthetician | Up to 100 hours | Nail technician |
| Eyelash technician | 14 hours | Cosmetologist or esthetician |
The existing Minnesota license must be current and active both when the school awards credit and when the applicant applies for the later license.
First Minnesota Cosmetology License: Documents and Application Steps
A first-time license requires more than finishing school. The Board must receive the correct application, training proof, examination results and payment.
Confirm age and category
First-time applicants in the standard operator categories must be at least 17 and apply under the exact category matching completed training.
Complete approved training
Finish the Minnesota-licensed school course or another Board-accepted route. Obtain the original Course Completion Certificate.
Pass the required examinations
Standard first-time categories require general theory, written practical and Minnesota laws-and-rules examinations. Keep the original score reports.
Check the one-year deadline
Passing examination results submitted with the application must be no more than one year old.
Submit the correct application
Use the Initial Operator License Application or the separate AP-esthetician, manager, instructor, school-manager, military or homebound form that fits your situation.
Verify issuance before practice
Passing examinations, mailing an application or paying a fee does not by itself prove that the Minnesota license has been issued.
Application packet checklist
- Correct application for the exact license category.
- Legal name matching government ID, school and PSI records.
- Original Course Completion Certificate where required.
- Original passing examination results no more than one year old.
- Salon-manager examination result when also applying for that credential.
- Payment in the form accepted by the application instructions.
- Copy of the complete packet and proof of submission.
Minnesota Cosmetology Exams: PSI, Test Types and Score Records
PSI is Minnesota’s contracted written-testing vendor. Use the current Candidate Information Bulletin for the exact category, price, test location, identification rules and content outline.
General theory
Covers professional knowledge appropriate to the license category.
Written practical
Tests practical-service knowledge through the Board-approved written format.
Minnesota laws and rules
Uses Minnesota Statutes Chapter 155A and Rules Chapters 2105 and 2110.
Before scheduling
- Confirm the precise license and examination category.
- Read the current PSI Candidate Information Bulletin.
- Match your legal name to your accepted identification.
- Check current examination fees, testing locations and rescheduling deadlines.
- Study the official content outline rather than memorizing unofficial “actual questions.”
- Save every scheduling confirmation and score report.
After passing
- Do not lose the original results required for the Board application.
- Do not allow the one-year result-validity period to expire.
- Do not assume the test vendor issues the professional license.
- Do not use an outdated Candidate Information Bulletin from another category.
Minnesota Cosmetology License Renewal: CE, Fees and Final Verification
Individual Minnesota licenses generally use a three-year cycle and expire on the last day of the license holder’s birth month in the year due. The license holder is responsible for renewing even without a reminder.
8 total hours
4-hour core: one hour laws/rules plus three hours health, safety and infection control.
4-hour professional practice: approved topics such as product chemistry, machines, business/human relations or techniques relevant to the license.
45 total hours
30 hours: teaching methodology.
15 hours: clinical practice. Courses generally require Board approval unless an official exception applies.
Check the exact expiration
Use the public lookup or account portal and confirm the license type, number and last day of the birth month in the due year.
Complete the correct CE
Use qualifying education for the current license category and save the completion certificates.
Renew online or use the form
Normal active renewals may be completed through the portal. Special, retired, instructor or older expired situations may require a printed application.
Save proof
Keep CE certificates, application copy, payment receipt, mailing proof and portal confirmation.
Verify the renewed license
If the renewed license has not been issued by the end of the expiration date, Minnesota rules do not authorize continued practice after expiration.
Expired Minnesota Cosmetology License: Choose the Correct Time Path
The correct process changes after six months and again after three years. Do not submit an ordinary online renewal without checking how long the license has been expired.
| Expired period | Application route | Main requirements | Work status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 6 months | Online renewal may remain available depending on record status. | Renewal requirements, applicable CE, renewal fee and $45 practitioner late fee. | Do not work after expiration until the renewed license is issued. |
| More than 6 months, under 3 years | Mail or in-person application only. | Appropriate renewal requirements plus renewal and late fees. | No practice until an active license is issued. |
| 3 years or more | Special expired-license process. | For operators/managers, current laws-and-rules and written-practical results no more than one year old, plus initial-license fees and application requirements. | No practice until the new license cycle is issued. |
Retired license is different
A retired practitioner license does not allow cosmetology practice. Returning to active practice requires activation or renewal under the applicable expired-license requirements.
Minnesota Board of Cosmetology Fees After August 1, 2026
Use these statutory amounts for planning. Verify the current form or portal total before paying because another application, late, expedited or testing-vendor fee may apply.
| Action | Current statutory amount | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Initial practitioner, manager or instructor | $195 | $155 license fee plus $40 application fee. |
| Practitioner renewal | $115 | $100 renewal fee plus $15 application fee. |
| Manager or instructor renewal | $145 | $130 renewal fee plus $15 application fee. |
| Initial salon license | $350 | $250 license fee plus $100 application fee. |
| Salon renewal | $225 | $175 renewal fee plus $50 application fee. |
| Initial school license | $4,000 | $3,000 license fee plus $1,000 application fee. |
| School renewal | $2,500 | $2,000 renewal fee plus $500 application fee. |
| Practitioner late renewal | $45 | Added to applicable renewal amounts. |
| Salon or school late renewal | $50 | Separate from the renewal fee. |
| Certification of licensure | $30 each | Often used for transfer or formal proof. |
| Name change | $20 | Legal documentation may be required. |
| Duplicate license | $20 | Replacement credential request. |
| Homebound service permit | $50 | Three-year permit fee. |
| Expedited initial individual | $150 additional | Initial application only; not ordinary renewal. |
| Expedited initial salon | $300 additional | Initial salon expedited review. |
| Special-event permit | Repealed | The old $75 annual fee was removed effective August 1, 2026. |
Standard processing target
For a complete ordinary individual or salon application, the statute provides a 15-working-day issue, denial or additional-review notice timeline.
Expedited or military target
For a complete qualifying expedited or temporary military application, the statutory response target is five business days. Additional review can still be required.
Transfer a Cosmetology License to Minnesota
Minnesota separates domestic transfer, foreign transfer and hair-technician transfer. A wallet card, screenshot or ordinary lookup result usually does not replace official certification.
Domestic transfer checklist
- Complete the Domestic License Transfer Application.
- Contact every state where you have held a license.
- Ask each state to send Certification of Licensure directly to Minnesota.
- Include original passing examination results required by the application.
- Use the special hair-technician transfer route when applicable.
Foreign transfer checklist
- Obtain a report from a Board-approved foreign credential evaluator.
- Take the evaluation to a Minnesota cosmetology school.
- Complete additional training when the school identifies a gap.
- Take the Practical Skills Test with that same school.
- Pass all three required PSI written tests.
- Submit the Foreign License Transfer Application and required originals.
Common transfer delays
- Certification sent by the applicant instead of directly by the issuing state.
- Leaving out a state where a license was previously held.
- Sending a public lookup printout instead of formal certification.
- Using expired examination results or copies where originals are required.
- Name differences across license, passport, school and examination records.
- Choosing the standard transfer form for the unique hair-technician process.
Minnesota Salon License and DLSM Responsibilities
A personal operator or manager license does not replace the salon’s establishment license. The owner and Designated Licensed Salon Manager share continuing compliance responsibilities.
Before signing a lease
Confirm the address, salon type, local zoning, ownership, services, water and sanitation setup, and whether a suite or separate space needs its own license.
Before applying
Prepare the legal business name, tax information, ownership records, salon category, location details and the manager who will serve as DLSM.
Before opening
Wait for license issuance, verify every practitioner’s current category, prepare required safety systems and retain records for inspection.
What the DLSM rule means
| DLSM issue | Minnesota requirement | Owner action |
|---|---|---|
| Appointment | The owner appoints and registers a Designated Licensed Salon Manager. | Use the current Board form and retain proof of registration. |
| Responsibility | The DLSM is responsible for salon and practitioner compliance even when away. | Create written compliance, license-check and inspection procedures. |
| Multiple salons | Generally limited to one salon unless salons are not open concurrently and written business hours are attested to the Board. | Do not assume one manager can cover simultaneous locations. |
| Resignation | The departing DLSM must notify the Board in writing by email or mail. | File the change promptly; responsibility can continue until notice is received. |
| Practitioners | The owner and DLSM must ensure each practitioner is currently licensed for services provided. | Check licenses at hiring and regularly before expiration. |
Check Salon Inspections and Disciplinary Actions
License status is only one part of a public-safety check. Minnesota also provides separate inspection-report and disciplinary-action tools.
Inspection Report Lookup
Use this tool to find Board-conducted inspection reports for licensed salons and schools. A missing online report does not prove that no inspection exists; request a copy when necessary.
Check Inspection ReportsDisciplinary Action Lookup
Use this tool to find Board-issued disciplinary actions. The Board warns that some records may not appear because of a case-management-system transition.
Check Disciplinary ActionsFile a Minnesota Cosmetology Complaint With Useful Evidence
The Board investigates possible violations of cosmetology laws and rules. It does not serve as a general refund, scheduling, employment or customer-service department.
Issues the Board may investigate
- Unlicensed cosmetology practice.
- Infection-control or safety violations.
- Services outside the license holder’s scope.
- Practitioner, salon or school violations of Board rules.
Issues the Board generally cannot resolve
- Ordinary customer-service disagreements.
- Appointment or scheduling disputes.
- Employment-related disputes.
- A demand that the Board order a refund or compensation.
Complaint preparation checklist
Identify the respondent
Search the practitioner, salon or school first and record the license number. The complaint form also allows you to state that no license number could be found.
Write a chronological statement
Explain who was involved, what happened, where it happened and the exact date or date range.
Attach evidence
Include receipts, appointment records, photos, messages, advertisements and other records that directly support the alleged violation.
Sign the authorization
The Board warns that anonymous complaints or complaints without signed authorization are likely to be dismissed without investigation.
Costly Minnesota Licensing Mistakes to Avoid
Using 38 eyelash hours
The current curriculum is 14 hours. Verify the school and course category before payment.
Paying an old permit fee
The special-event permit and $75 fee were repealed effective August 1, 2026.
Adding a login space
The portal tells users not to include a trailing space after the license number.
Working from a receipt
Submission or payment is not the same as an issued active license.
Using public lookup as certification
Formal transfer or legal proof may require the $30 Certification of Licensure.
Ignoring the six-month mark
Licenses expired more than six months must use mail or in-person renewal submission.
Missing the three-year rule
After three years, additional testing and initial-fee requirements can apply.
Licensing only the worker
A licensed practitioner does not automatically make the salon location licensed.
Leaving a DLSM change unreported
Responsibility can continue until written notice reaches the Board.
Official Minnesota Action Links
The explanations above help you choose the correct route. Use these official pages for live searches, applications, forms, payments and legal confirmation.
Board home
Find official notices, public resources, laws and current Board navigation.
Open Board HomeFirst license
Find operator, AP-esthetician, manager, instructor and special application forms.
Open First-License FormsTesting
Open PSI scheduling and category-specific Candidate Information Bulletins.
Open Testing GuideRelated guides on this website
Read the general cosmetology licensing guide for a state-by-state process overview. The state cosmetology board guide explains how licensing agencies, lookup systems and salon requirements differ across the United States.
Minnesota Board of Cosmetology FAQs
What is the Minnesota Board of Cosmetology phone number and address?
The Board lists phone number 651-201-2742, email cosmetology@state.mn.us, and address 1000 University Avenue West, Suite 100, St. Paul, MN 55104. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding state holidays.
Is Minnesota license lookup official verification?
No. The public lookup is useful for checking a practitioner, salon or school, but the Board states that it is not formal verification. Request a Certification of Licensure when another board, employer, attorney or government agency needs official proof.
How do I log in to the Minnesota cosmetology portal?
Enter the license number without a trailing space. Individuals use the last four digits of their SSN or ITIN as the password. Salons and schools use the tax ID previously supplied to the Board, without dashes.
What continuing education is required for Minnesota renewal?
Operators and salon managers generally need eight hours: a four-hour core course containing one hour of laws and rules plus three hours of health, safety and infection control, and a four-hour professional-practice course. Instructor renewal requires 45 hours: 30 teaching-methodology and 15 clinical-practice hours.
What happens if my Minnesota cosmetology license expired?
A license expired more than six months must be renewed by mail or in person. If it has been expired less than three years, ordinary renewal requirements plus renewal and late fees generally apply. At three years or more, operators and managers face additional examination and initial-fee requirements.
How many training hours does Minnesota require?
Minnesota requires 1,550 hours for cosmetology, 600 for esthetics, 500 additional advanced-practice-esthetician hours, 350 for nail technology, 14 for eyelash technology and 900 for hair technology.
What documents are required for a first Minnesota operator license?
Use the correct Initial Operator License Application, include payment, submit the original Course Completion Certificate and provide original passing examination results. Standard examination results must be no more than one year old.
How do I transfer an out-of-state license to Minnesota?
Complete the Domestic License Transfer Application, ask every state where you held a license to send official certification directly to Minnesota, and provide required original examination results. Hair-technician transfer uses a separate route.
Does a Minnesota salon need a DLSM?
Yes. The salon owner must appoint and register a Designated Licensed Salon Manager. The DLSM remains responsible for salon and practitioner compliance even when not physically present and must report resignation to the Board in writing.
Can the Minnesota Board order a salon to refund my money?
No. The Board states that it cannot refund money or award compensation. It may investigate unlicensed practice, safety or infection-control violations, out-of-scope services and other violations of cosmetology laws or rules.
Final Minnesota License Checklist
- Identify the exact practitioner, manager, instructor, salon or school category.
- Use the public lookup but request certification when formal proof is needed.
- Use 14—not 38—hours for the eyelash-technician training path.
- Do not pay the repealed special-event permit fee.
- Match legal names across school, PSI, ID and Board records.
- Complete the correct CE before renewal.
- Use mail or in-person submission after six months of expiration.
- Check the additional requirements after three years of expiration.
- Verify practitioner and salon licenses separately.
- Confirm issued active status before working.
Independent-site notice: board-of-cosmetology.org is not affiliated with the Minnesota Board of Cosmetology or the State of Minnesota. Official Minnesota records, laws, forms and Board decisions control.