Tennessee State Board of Cosmetology: Use the Right License, CORE and Renewal Route
Use this independent Tennessee guide to verify a cosmetology or barber credential, apply or renew through CORE, understand PSI exams, move an out-of-state license, restore an expired credential, register as a hair braider, open a licensed shop or file a complaint.
The official regulator is the Tennessee Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners. Board-of-Cosmetology.org is not a Tennessee government agency, so Verify.TN, CORE, Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance records and official Board decisions control.
Tennessee Cosmetology Board: Fast Answer
Tennessee regulates cosmetologists, aestheticians, manicurists, natural hair stylists, eyelash specialists, master barbers, barber technicians, instructors, registered hair braiders, shops and schools through the Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners.
Use Verify.TN for public license status. Use CORE for applications, renewal, reciprocity, reinstatement and license-management transactions. Use PSI for Tennessee cosmetology and barber examinations after your eligibility has been established.
Tennessee License Task Helper
This helper does not search government records or submit anything. It simply points you toward the correct official starting point.
Tennessee Board Phone Number, Email and Nashville Address
Use the cosmetology and barber contact for licensing questions. PSI handles examination scheduling and candidate support after exam eligibility is established.
615-741-2515
Email: cosmetology.board@tn.gov
Use this contact for license types, CORE issues that require Board help, reciprocity, expired records, shops, schools and Board requirements.
500 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37243
Confirm the correct attention line and submission method before mailing original forms, certificates or payment.
855-340-3710
Use PSI for examination scheduling, candidate bulletins, testing locations, remote-proctoring requirements and exam-support questions.
Official Tennessee Board help · Regulatory Boards contact directory
Tennessee Cosmetology License Lookup: Check the Person and Business Separately
Verify.TN is Tennessee’s public professional-license search. The state says search results are updated daily and can show license status, expiration dates and public disciplinary actions.
Open Verify.TN
Use Tennessee’s public search rather than relying only on a printed wall certificate, screenshot or payment receipt.
Search the legal name or license number
Start with the strongest identifier available and reduce filters if a detailed search returns no result.
Match the license type
Confirm whether the record is cosmetologist, aesthetician, manicurist, natural hair stylist, eyelash specialist, master barber, instructor, shop or school.
Read status and expiration
A genuine certificate may still be expired. Use the current public record before deciding whether the credential can be used.
Search the facility separately
A practitioner license does not automatically license the shop or school where services are provided.
Which Tennessee Cosmetology or Barber Credential Do You Need?
Cosmetologist
Broad cosmetology credential using Tennessee’s 1,500-hour education and examination pathway.
Aesthetician
Skin-care and aesthetics credential with a 750-hour Tennessee education requirement.
Manicurist
Nail-services credential using Tennessee’s 600-hour training pathway.
Natural Hair Stylist
A 300-hour licensed profession. It is different from Tennessee’s registered hair-braider category.
Eyelash Specialist
A 300-hour specialty credential with its own education, examination and application path.
Master Barber
Barber credential generally using 1,500 hours of registered barber-school education.
Barber Technician
A limited barber credential with a 340-hour education requirement and theory and practical examinations.
Instructor
Requires the underlying professional license, experience, instructor preparation, examinations and continuing education at renewal.
Registered Hair Braider
A registration category with its own 16-hour health-and-hygiene training requirement. It is not a Natural Hair Stylist license.
Tennessee Training Hours and Initial License Requirements
| Credential | Training reference | Main licensing path |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmetologist | 1,500 hours | Approved education → theory and practical exams → CORE application. |
| Master Barber | 1,500 hours | Registered barber school → applicable examinations → CORE application. |
| Aesthetician | 750 hours | Approved aesthetics training → examinations → CORE licensing. |
| Manicurist | 600 hours | Approved manicuring program → examinations → CORE application. |
| Natural Hair Stylist | 300 hours | Natural-hair training → applicable exams → license application. |
| Eyelash Specialist | 300 hours | Specialty education → examinations → exact eyelash application. |
| Barber Technician | 340 hours | Registered barber school → theory and practical exams → CORE application. |
| Instructor | Underlying license plus instructor requirements | Required professional history, instructor preparation and examinations. |
Tennessee PSI Exams: Theory, Practical and Current Test Content
PSI administers examinations for the Tennessee Cosmetology and Barber Examiners Board. Tennessee says candidates can use remote proctoring for theory and practical examinations or select a PSI testing center when the required technology is not available.
Your eligibility must be established
Your licensed school or applicable Board route supplies eligibility information. Follow the PSI message connected to your approved eligibility record rather than creating an unrelated exam registration.
Use the correct profession bulletin
Tennessee examinations use profession-specific candidate information. Do not use one generic cosmetology kit list or content outline for aesthetics, manicuring, barbering, eyelash or instructor exams.
Official Tennessee PSI exam information · PSI test-taker portal · Cosmetology state board test guide
Tennessee License Renewal Through CORE
The Board says the renewal option appears in CORE when an eligible credential is within 60 days of its expiration date. Failure to complete renewal requirements by the expiration date can lead to penalties and loss of authority to practice.
Verify the public record first
Check the exact credential, expiration date and status in Verify.TN.
Sign in to the existing CORE account
Use the account linked to the current license rather than creating repeated accounts when a credential is missing.
Confirm the 60-day renewal window
If renewal is not yet available, the credential may simply be outside the Board’s renewal window.
Complete any extra requirement
Instructor renewal requires approved continuing education. Other licensees should also make sure any mandatory training applicable to their record has been completed.
Submit and pay the correct amount
Review the transaction before payment because practitioner, instructor, shop, dual-shop and school fees differ.
Verify the renewed record
Save the receipt, then check Verify.TN to confirm that the public credential reflects the updated status and expiration.
| Renewal type | Current listed fee | Important difference |
|---|---|---|
| Individual cosmetologist, master barber, manicurist, aesthetician, natural hair stylist or eyelash specialist | $60 | Renew through CORE when the transaction becomes available. |
| Instructor | $70 | Requires 16 hours of approved continuing education. |
| Registered Hair Braider | $30 | Renews a registration, not a Natural Hair Stylist license. |
| Regular shop | $75 | Track the business credential separately from individual licenses. |
| Dual shop | $100 | Used for the dually licensed establishment category. |
| School | $150 | School renewal and grace-period rules differ from individual licenses. |
Instructor Continuing Education and Domestic-Violence Training Are Different Requirements
A common Tennessee mistake is applying the instructor continuing-education requirement to every cosmetology license. The Board specifically requires instructors to complete 16 hours of approved continuing education every two years before renewal.
16 hours of approved CE
Cosmetology and barber instructors must complete approved instructor continuing education before the renewal expiration date. Failure to meet the requirement can result in loss of instructor status and a testing route to regain it.
Domestic-violence training
Tennessee’s mandatory domestic-violence training applies under a separate requirement. New and reciprocal applicants must complete it before license issuance, and licensees who never completed the required training may need to satisfy it through the Board process.
Expired Tennessee Cosmetology License: Grace Status, Fees and Reinstatement
A credential in Expired-Grace status cannot be used for practice. Tennessee’s current support guidance separates licenses expired for less than three years from licenses that have become invalid after more than three years.
| Situation | Current guidance | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmetology-side license expired less than 3 years | May remain eligible for renewal through Expired-Grace, subject to renewal requirements and applicable late fees. | Open the CORE record and complete the available renewal transaction before working. |
| More than 3 years expired | The license generally becomes invalid and the reinstatement-examination route applies. | Use the Application to Test process and follow Board instructions. |
| Long-term licensee exception | Current Tennessee support guidance describes a narrow possible examination exception for certain people licensed more than 20 years whose license has not been expired more than 8 years. | Get the Board’s determination before assuming the exception applies. |
| Active license in another jurisdiction | Current support guidance allows reinstatement by reciprocity in some circumstances, with limits on repeated use. | Ask the Board which route applies to the exact record. |
Tennessee Cosmetology and Barber Fee Table
Tennessee publishes separate application, renewal, shop and records charges. Verify the exact transaction in CORE or on the Board fee page before paying because application and examination costs can be separate.
| Transaction | Current listed fee | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| Initial individual cosmetologist, master barber, manicurist, aesthetician, natural hair stylist or eyelash specialist | $60 | Use the exact profession application. |
| Initial instructor | $80 | Instructor eligibility and examination requirements also apply. |
| Hair Braider registration | $30 | This is registration, not a Natural Hair Stylist license. |
| Reciprocity | $100 | Certification, education and work-history documentation may be required. |
| New, relocated or ownership-change regular shop | $150 | Inspection and other business documents also apply. |
| New dual shop | $200 | Use only when the dual-shop category fits. |
| New school | $350 | School licensing has separate review and inspection requirements. |
| School relocation or ownership change | $175 | Do not assume the existing license automatically transfers. |
| Duplicate license | $25 | Request through CORE. |
| Name change | $10 | Prepare matching legal documentation. |
| License certification to another state | $50 | Use the official certification request, not a public-search screenshot. |
| Student certification of hours | $25 | Use the Board’s current certification form. |
Tennessee Cosmetology Reciprocity: Out-of-State License Checklist
Tennessee reciprocity is not an automatic transfer. The Board reviews whether the applicant substantially meets Tennessee licensing qualifications.
Request license certification history
Ask every state where you have held a license to provide the required certification. Tennessee’s main guidance says at least one license generally needs to be current.
Open the correct Out-of-State CORE application
Select the Tennessee credential that matches the license and services you intend to provide.
Attach photo identification
Make sure the legal name matches the state certifications and CORE record.
Provide education records when required
Tennessee may ask for school-hour documentation. Current support guidance notes a Georgia exception for transcript submission.
Add work history if your school hours are lower
Current Tennessee support guidance says qualifying work history can include licensed practice for at least one of the last three years or three of the last five years. Evidence can include tax records, affidavits or employer letters.
Pay the $100 reciprocity fee and wait for review
Tennessee advises allowing roughly three to four weeks after submission, while recognizing that certification delivery or deficiencies can extend the review.
Tennessee Hair Braider Registration Is Not a Natural Hair Stylist License
Tennessee’s Registered Hair Braider category is a registration route for defined hair-braiding services. It should not be represented as a cosmetology or Natural Hair Stylist license.
Registration requirements
Applicants must be at least 14 years old, complete 16 hours of health-and-hygiene training, receive and retain the training certificate, register through CORE and pay the current $30 fee.
Scope limitations matter
Hair-braider registration does not authorize cutting, coloring, relaxing, chemically treating or otherwise altering the hair beyond the statutory braiding scope.
Opening a Tennessee Cosmetology or Barber Shop
Tennessee requires covered cosmetology and barber services to be performed in an appropriately licensed shop. A new shop must complete the correct application, pay the fee and pass inspection before opening.
Apply before the planned opening
Board guidance for shop categories tells applicants to file approximately three weeks before the intended opening date.
Be inspection-ready
Shop applications and fees are valid for 90 days. If the location is not ready for inspection during that period, a new application and fee may be required.
Business license
The Board’s shop checklists require the applicable business license obtained through the local county or city tax authority.
Inspection approval
A new shop or location change must receive the required Board inspection approval before opening for business.
Official cosmetology shop requirements · Official barber shop requirements
Tennessee License Certification, Duplicate License and Address Changes
| Need | Official route | Current fee |
|---|---|---|
| Certification for another state | Request through CORE and submit the required certification form. | $50 |
| Student certification of hours | Submit the Student Hours Certification form using the Board instructions. | $25 |
| Duplicate license | CORE → Update License or Permit → Duplicate. | $25 |
| Address update | Update through CORE. | No fee listed for ordinary address update. |
| Shop ownership change | Submit Change in Ownership through CORE. | $150 regular shop / $200 dual shop |
How to File a Tennessee Cosmetology or Barber Complaint
Tennessee accepts complaints involving suspected licensing violations, unlicensed activity and other alleged violations of applicable law or rules. The complaint process is regulatory; the Board does not provide private legal representation or guarantee refunds.
Verify the respondent first
Search Verify.TN and save the legal name, license number, facility record and public status when available.
Describe the facts clearly
Include dates, location, services, statements and other facts that explain the alleged violation.
Attach supporting records
Upload relevant receipts, contracts, photographs, correspondence or other evidence when it helps document the complaint.
Submit through the official complaint system
Tennessee sends an email confirmation with a complaint number after submission.
Keep expectations realistic
The complaint is reviewed for regulatory action. The Board’s jurisdiction is focused on licensing discipline rather than representing a consumer seeking reimbursement.
Upcoming Tennessee Cosmetology and Barber Board Meetings
As listed by the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance on September 28, 2026, the next scheduled regular Board meetings include the following dates. Check the official meeting page before attending because agendas, rooms and remote-access details can change.
Board Meeting
Davy Crockett Tower, 500 James Robertson Parkway, Room 1A, Nashville, Tennessee.
Board Meeting
Davy Crockett Tower, 500 James Robertson Parkway, Room 1A, Nashville, Tennessee.
Official Tennessee Licensing Links
Related Board-of-Cosmetology.org Guides
Cosmetology license guide explains the wider school-to-license process, while Cosmetology State Board Test covers exam preparation and Board of Barbering and Cosmetology helps explain how board names and licensing structures differ by state.
Tennessee State Board of Cosmetology FAQ
What is the official Tennessee cosmetology licensing board?
The official regulator is the Tennessee Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners within the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance Regulatory Boards Division.
Where do I verify a Tennessee cosmetology license?
Use the official Verify.TN public search. It can show current license status, expiration information and public disciplinary actions for individuals and businesses.
What is the Tennessee cosmetology Board phone number?
The Tennessee Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners lists 615-741-2515 and cosmetology.board@tn.gov for Board licensing help.
Where do I renew a Tennessee cosmetology license?
Renew through your CORE account. The Board says the renewal option becomes available when the license is within 60 days of expiration.
How much is a Tennessee cosmetology license renewal?
The current Board fee page lists $60 for renewal of an individual cosmetologist and several other practitioner licenses. Instructor renewal is $70 and includes a 16-hour approved continuing-education requirement.
How many hours are required for a Tennessee cosmetology license?
The current cosmetologist requirement is 1,500 hours in a registered cosmetology school, followed by the required theory and practical examinations and the licensing application.
Does Tennessee require continuing education for every cosmetologist?
The Board’s 16-hour biennial CE requirement applies to instructors. Ordinary practitioner renewal should not be confused with the instructor CE requirement. Domestic-violence training is a separate requirement.
Can I work while my Tennessee license is expired or pending?
No. Tennessee states that an expired credential cannot be used to practice, and the ability to renew or reinstate an expired license does not itself authorize work.
Does Tennessee accept an out-of-state cosmetology license?
Tennessee uses a reciprocity application reviewed against Tennessee requirements. Applicants generally need license certification history, identification, the correct CORE application and additional education or work-history documentation when required.
How do I become a Tennessee hair braider?
A registered hair braider must be at least 14, complete 16 hours of health-and-hygiene training, register through CORE and pay the current $30 fee. This registration is different from a Natural Hair Stylist license.
Before You Submit, Pay or Start Work
Verify the exact Tennessee credential first, use CORE for the correct transaction, use the profession-specific PSI instructions when testing is required, save every submission record and confirm the final public status in Verify.TN. If the online guidance does not clearly match your license history, ask the Board before paying a nonrefundable fee or assuming you may practice.