Finish the Indiana Board Task Without Following an Outdated Exam or License Guide
The Indiana State Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners works through the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency. Use the current state process to verify a license, apply after school or apprenticeship, complete the written PSI exam, renew or reinstate, apply by reciprocity, or license a salon.
This independent guide translates the current PLA page, MyLicense One instructions, state forms and Board-linked sanitation PDF into step-by-step actions. It also flags older search results that still show age 18, Pearson VUE or a separate Indiana PSI practical licensing exam.
Choose the Indiana Task You Need to Complete
Indiana License Path Helper
Choose your situation. This helper gives directions only and does not collect personal information or submit anything to Indiana.
Indiana Board, PLA, MyLicense One and PSI: Who Does What?
| Organization / system | Main job | Use it for | Do not assume |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners | Regulatory board for Indiana beauty culture licensing and rules. | Eligibility, scope, reciprocity, salon requirements, discipline and Board decisions. | It is the exam-booking website. |
| Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (PLA) | Administers licensing services and public records for the Board. | Official instructions, lookup, customer service and licensing records. | A general customer-service email is the place to send application documents. |
| MyLicense One | Online account for applications, documents and license actions. | Apply, link records, upload documents, renew, reinstate and print a license where available. | A submitted application means an issued license. |
| PSI | Indiana’s outside testing provider for the licensing examination identified by PLA. | Current exam program information and scheduling after the Indiana eligibility step. | Third-party study sites have the current Indiana question count, fee or exam format. |
Indiana Cosmetology Information That Is Easy to Get Wrong in 2026
Indiana Cosmetology License Lookup: Free Real-Time Verification
PLA’s Free Search & Verify is the best first check for one person or facility. Indiana describes it as an original-source service continuously updated in real time.
Open Free Search & Verify
Use the Indiana government search rather than a commercial directory or an old screenshot.
Search by the strongest identifier
Use the complete license number when available. Otherwise search the individual by full first and last name.
Use facility name for a salon
Indiana’s search also supports facility or business names, which lets you check the salon separately from an individual professional.
Open the matching record
Confirm the legal name, license category, license number, status and expiration information shown by the state.
Run the second search when needed
A licensed professional does not prove the salon is licensed, and a licensed salon does not prove every worker has a current personal license.
Save dated proof
Keep a screenshot or printable record when employment, booth rental, salon licensing or a consumer-safety decision depends on the status.
Free Lookup vs. Printable Search vs. $10.60 Digital Certification
| Service | Best use | Current cost | Important detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Search & Verify | Checking one professional or salon. | Free | Original-source status lookup updated in real time. |
| Search, Verify & Print | Additional information in an easily printable state format. | $1.43 by credit card or $1.00 with IN.gov subscriber account | Usually unnecessary for a simple current-status check. |
| PLA Digital Certification | Official proof when applying for a license in another state. | $10.60 total | Indiana does not send it for you; you download the certified PDF and email it to the receiving board. |
| Discipline Search | Checking public disciplinary actions in addition to basic status. | Public PLA service | Use when an employer, salon owner or consumer needs more than the license status. |
Digital certification: the mistake-proof sequence
Use a desktop or laptop
PLA does not recommend mobile devices for this download process.
Search the Indiana license number
Open the matching hyperlinked license number inside the certification service.
Choose the electronic certified copy
Review the displayed purchase option and pay the current total.
Do not close the confirmation page
Continue through the purchase screen until the link to receive the PLA Certified PDF appears.
Download the certified PDF
Allow the download/pop-up if your browser blocks it. The file is designed for Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Email the untouched PDF yourself
Attach the downloaded file directly to an email to the state board requesting verification. Changing the file—even its certified contents—can invalidate the digital certification.
Indiana Cosmetology License Requirements for a First-Time Applicant
17 or older
Current Indiana cosmetologist law sets the minimum age at 17.
10th grade
Complete tenth grade or an accepted equivalent.
1,500 hours
Indiana’s current beauty culture chart lists 1,500 cosmetology education hours.
DOL apprenticeship
A completed U.S. Department of Labor registered apprenticeship can satisfy the training-route requirement.
What to prepare before starting the online application
- Legal name exactly matching your supporting records and identification.
- Mandatory U.S. Social Security number entered only in the official application or state form that requests it.
- Proof of tenth-grade education or equivalent where requested.
- State Form 56857 completed by the Indiana-approved beauty culture school, or DOL apprentice number plus certificate of completion.
- Legal name-change document when your current name differs from school or other records.
- For each positive application response, a written explanation including violation, location, date, cause number and disposition, plus supporting court records.
- $40 nonrefundable application fee.
- PSI written-examination pass notice for completion of the licensing file.
State Form 56857: Beauty Culture School Certification of Education
The current one-page form is State Form 56857 (R1 / 2-25). The PDF says the certification section is completed by the school only.
Verify the education fields
- Student legal name is correct.
- Mandatory SSN field is completed securely.
- Cosmetologist is selected as the education type.
- Beauty culture school name and school license number are correct.
- Transfer-from-another-school question is answered.
- Enrollment date, graduation date and total completed hours are correct.
Check the affidavit and notary
- School director or instructor signed the affidavit.
- Signer’s typed or printed name is present.
- Notary signature is present.
- Notary county of residence and commission-expiration date are complete.
- Notary stamp or seal is legible.
- The scan includes the full page and every field is readable.
Indiana Application-to-License Workflow
Finish the qualifying training route
Complete 1,500 cosmetology school hours or the recognized registered-apprenticeship route.
Submit the $40 online application
Enter the legal identity information carefully and answer every disclosure question accurately.
Upload the required training proof
Use the school-certified State Form 56857 or the apprentice number and completion certificate, depending on your route.
Resolve name or positive-response issues
Upload legal name-change documents and complete explanations/court records instead of waiting for PLA to request obvious missing items.
Complete the written PSI exam
Use the current Indiana PSI program information after eligibility and keep the pass notice.
Upload the pass notice
Return to the submitted MyLicense One application and use the additional-document action when the pass notice still needs to be added.
Watch the requirements checklist
Track which items are pending, received or completed. Do not create a duplicate application because one document is still under review.
Verify the issued license
After approval, run your own name or license number through Free Search & Verify before working.
Graduated before July 1, 2013?
Indiana Cosmetology State Board Exam: Current PSI Guidance
Written examination
Indiana’s current examination-applicant section tells applicants to pass the written examination through PSI and submit the pass notice.
PSI
PSI’s current program list includes the Indiana State Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners.
Old exam numbers
Private pages disagree on question count, time, fee, score and practical testing. Use the current Indiana PSI program guide presented for your exam.
Why reciprocity language causes practical-exam confusion
Indiana’s reciprocity section evaluates whether another jurisdiction has substantially equal requirements and says that jurisdiction must require at least 70% passing on written and practical examinations. That is a reciprocity-equivalency rule about the source jurisdiction. The current Indiana examination-applicant section separately tells a first-time Indiana applicant to pass the written PSI examination.
Safe exam preparation workflow
- Wait for the Indiana eligibility/registration information that applies to your application.
- Find the Indiana State Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners program in PSI’s current test-taker system.
- Use the current PSI guide for the exact fee, scheduling method, identification rules, allowed test format and any current content outline.
- Make the PSI account name match the Indiana application and government identification.
- Do not buy a “100% exact Indiana PSI exam” file or leaked-question package.
- Save the official score/pass notice and upload it to the licensing file when required.
Indiana Cosmetology Practice: 10 Original Warm-Up Questions
These questions are original educational examples based on the public Indiana process and sanitation topics reviewed for this page. They are not copied PSI questions, not a leaked exam and not a guaranteed prediction of the live test.
1. What education-hour minimum does Indiana currently list for a cosmetologist?
Answer: 1,500 beauty culture education hours.
2. What alternative training route does current Indiana law and PLA guidance recognize?
Answer: Completion of a qualifying U.S. Department of Labor registered apprenticeship program to practice cosmetology.
3. What current external exam step does the PLA page identify for a first-time cosmetology examination applicant?
Answer: Pass the written examination through PSI and provide the pass notice.
4. Who completes the certification section of State Form 56857?
Answer: The beauty culture school. The form says the certification section is to be completed by the school only.
5. What must be available on the premises under the Board-linked cosmetology sanitation PDF?
Answer: At least one wet EPA-registered bactericide, viricide and fungicide disinfectant and at least one dry sanitizer.
6. How should combs and brushes be stored after cleaning, immersion disinfection, rinsing and drying?
Answer: In a closed, clean container containing only disinfected items.
7. Is a photocopy of an out-of-state license enough for Indiana reciprocity verification?
Answer: No. Indiana requires certification to come directly from the issuing jurisdiction; a copy of the license does not suffice.
8. Why should a salon wait until the facility is ready before applying?
Answer: A complete application can trigger a temporary permit valid for only three months, so applying early can waste part of the permitted operating period.
9. What additional remediation does Indiana identify for a professional license expired five years or more?
Answer: Taking and passing the written licensing examination, with the exam passed within one year of the reinstatement application.
10. Who sends an Indiana $10.60 digital certification to the receiving state board?
Answer: The licensee downloads the digitally certified PDF and sends it to the receiving board; Indiana says PLA does not send it on the licensee’s behalf.
Indiana Cosmetology License Renewal: $40 and a 90-Day Action Window
Current PLA fee schedule for an individual beauty culture license.
About 90 days before expiration
Indiana emails the notice when a valid email is on file; otherwise it mails it to the address of record.
MyLicense One
Link the existing license before expecting the Renew License action to appear.
Renewal checklist
Verify the existing license
Confirm your name, license number, status and expiration in Free Search & Verify.
Update contact information
Make sure PLA has the email and mailing address where renewal notices should reach you.
Link the correct record
Use your personal MyLicense One account. Do not create a second application because the license tile is missing.
Open the license actions
Select the three dots beside the linked license and choose Renew License when that action is available.
Review the $40 fee and answers
Confirm you are renewing the correct credential before submitting the nonrefundable transaction.
Save confirmation, then re-verify
After processing, return to Free Search & Verify and confirm the status/expiration rather than relying only on a payment receipt.
MyLicense One Troubleshooting for Indiana Cosmetology
| Problem | What Indiana’s guide says | Best next action |
|---|---|---|
| “User profile or person is already linked” | The record may already be linked. | Return to Dashboard, confirm your name and look for the license before doing anything else. |
| Your name is visible but license is missing | The person record exists, but the credential may need agency help. | Contact PLA instead of starting another application. |
| “Unable to match your search criteria” | Use only two search fields at a time and match the state record exactly. | Recheck license letters/digits and disable browser autofill if it overwrites entries. |
| Linking a salon/facility | Facilities use license number plus registration code; SSN/DOB are not used for facility linking. | Use the registration code from the renewal notice or request it from PLA. |
| Duplicate-record application error | An existing record may need to be linked before a new action can finish. | Delete saved “Started” activities, link the existing record, then restart only the necessary application/action. |
| Submitted application needs another document | Use the submitted application’s Actions menu. | Select Upload Additional Documentation, choose the document type, upload and submit. |
| Application has red errors | One or more required sections/items are incomplete. | Open each section with a red dot/error and every list entry such as Education or Verification. |
Expired Indiana Cosmetology License: Renewal vs. Reinstatement
| Situation | Current route | What to prepare |
|---|---|---|
| Renew action still available | Use the MyLicense One renewal action when available for your credential. | Current record, renewal responses and $40 fee. |
| Expired more than 3 years | Professional-license reinstatement. | $80 reinstatement fee plus any remediation/additional training the Board requires. |
| Expired 5 years or more | Reinstatement plus written-exam remediation. | Eligibility letter, PSI scheduling, pass result and completion within one year of the reinstatement application. |
| Old license cannot be verified and you cannot produce the expired license | Complete the appropriate course at an approved Indiana beauty culture school and apply by examination. | School/training and new examination-route documentation. |
| Expired beauty culture facility | Facility reinstatement. | $80 current facility reinstatement fee and an inspection after the online reinstatement is submitted. |
Indiana Cosmetology Reciprocity: Direct Verification and Hour Equivalency
Use reciprocity when you hold a valid beauty culture license from another jurisdiction. If your jurisdiction does not issue the relevant license, review provisional licensing instead.
Valid outside license
The source jurisdiction must license the acts and impose requirements Indiana finds substantially equal.
Current individual beauty culture application fee; nonrefundable.
Direct from jurisdiction
A copy of your wallet card or wall license does not satisfy Indiana’s certification requirement.
How Indiana handles a cosmetology education-hour gap
Reciprocity document sequence
- Submit the online reciprocity application and $40 nonrefundable fee.
- Upload legal name-change records when names differ.
- Provide complete explanations and supporting documents for positive application responses.
- Request certification from every state or country where you hold or have held the relevant license.
- Foreign certification must include required English translation.
- Online certification is acceptable when it includes a field for possible disciplinary action.
- Certification must come directly from the issuing state/country and may be emailed by that jurisdiction to pla12@pla.in.gov.
- Do not upload a photocopy of your license as a substitute for jurisdiction certification.
Indiana Provisional Cosmetology License and State Form 57016
A provisional route is for an applicant from a jurisdiction that does not issue the relevant beauty culture license but who has sufficient training or experience. It is not the default route for someone who already holds a valid equivalent license.
Applicant + Indiana supervisor information
- Select Cosmetologist as the requested provisional type.
- Enter the required identifying information.
- List salon/shop experience, dates and addresses from the source jurisdiction.
- Describe the experience in detail.
- List the Indiana supervising cosmetologist’s name and license number.
- List the Indiana salon/shop name, license number and address.
- Have the Indiana supervisor sign the personal-supervision certification.
Supervisor verifies Indiana experience
- Supervisor enters name and license number.
- Supervisor lists services provided to customers.
- Supervisor answers whether the provisional licensee can practice without supervision.
- Dates of supervised Indiana work are entered.
- Supervisor signs and dates the verification.
Indiana Cosmetology Salon Requirements Before You Apply
The Board’s most important timing instruction is explicit: do not apply until the facility is ready to open.
Current beauty culture salon/mobile salon application fee.
3 months
A temporary permit is issued upon receipt of a complete application and lasts three months.
Licensed professional
The salon must be under personal supervision of a person licensed as a beauty culture professional.
Facility-ready checklist
- Select the final salon site before filing.
- If the salon is in the same building as a residence, provide a substantial floor-to-ceiling partition separating the salon and a separate entry.
- Obtain any required building permit, certificate of occupancy or other approval under the laws cited by PLA.
- Install the furnishings required by current Board rules.
- Obtain the salon equipment required by current Board rules.
- Make the facility physically ready to open before submitting the salon application.
- Verify every beauty culture professional who will practice there.
- Post each current Indiana professional license at that person’s workstation.
- Identify the licensed professional providing personal supervision.
Indiana Salon Sanitation Checklist From the Board-Linked Cosmetology PDF
The Board currently links a three-page cosmetology sanitation PDF from its rules hub. Use these points as a pre-inspection checklist, then confirm the current rule text because the Board announced administrative-rule updates effective July 22, 2026.
| Area | Board-linked PDF requirement | Practical pre-inspection check |
|---|---|---|
| Water | Hot and cold running water must be supplied. | Test both hot and cold water before opening day. |
| Disinfectant / sanitizer | At least one wet EPA-registered bactericide, viricide and fungicide disinfectant plus one dry sanitizer must be on the premises; each workstation needs at least a wet sanitizer/disinfectant or dry sanitizer. | Keep product label and correct mixed/use instructions available. |
| Covered waste | At least one covered waste receptacle for every four workstations, excluding waiting-room chairs. | Count actual service booths/chairs, not lobby seating. |
| General surfaces | Floors, walls and furniture must be clean and sanitary. | Repair damaged/uncleanable surfaces before inspection. |
| Ordinary reusable implements | Completely immerse in bactericidal, viricidal and fungicidal disinfectant mixed/used according to manufacturer directions. | Use a container large enough for full immersion and follow contact time. |
| Blood/body-fluid exposure | Use an EPA-registered bactericidal, viricidal, fungicidal and tuberculocidal disinfectant for applicable implements/spills as specified. | Make sure the product label supports the required claims before an incident occurs. |
| Shampoo bowl / sink | A shampoo bowl or sink is required, may not be in a restroom, and must be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized immediately after use. | Do not count a restroom sink as the shampoo-service sink. |
| Hands | Hands must be washed with soap/fresh water or waterless hand sanitizer before each customer. | Place hand-cleaning supplies where staff can actually use them between clients. |
| Cosmetologist outer garment | Cosmetologists serving customers wear a clean, opaque, washable outer garment. | Keep spare clean garments available. |
| Supply minimum | Adequate supply is at least 12 towels, 8 combs and 3 brushes for a cosmetologist/student. | Keep enough clean/disinfected items to avoid rushed reuse. |
| Combs / brushes after each client | Clean, completely immerse in EPA-registered bactericide/viricide/fungicide, rinse, dry and store in a closed clean container containing only disinfected items. | Separate used items from the closed clean-storage container. |
| Towels | Use a clean towel for each customer; clean towels stay sanitary/closed and soiled towels go into a covered hamper. | Do not mix clean and soiled textile storage. |
| Cape / drape | When a cape/drape is used, place clean protection around the neck so the cape/drape does not touch skin. | Stock enough clean neck protection for every client. |
Indiana Mobile Salon: Two Operating Models
Self-contained mobile facility
A facility may be moved, towed or transported between locations and used for regulated cosmetology/beauty culture services.
Equipment transported to temporary locations
A business may transport regulated equipment to other salons/shops, clients’ homes or nursing homes under the mobile-salon framework described by PLA.
- Current application fee is $40.
- Review the Board rules identified by PLA: 820 IAC 2-1, 3-1 and 3-2.
- The mobile salon must be under personal supervision of a licensed beauty culture professional.
- A personal cosmetologist license does not replace the mobile-salon facility license.
- For a self-contained mobile unit, confirm current sanitation/safety requirements before buying or modifying a vehicle.
Indiana Cosmetology Laws and Regulations: What Changed in 2026?
Title 25, Article 8
Indiana’s Beauty Culture statutes contain the licensing framework for cosmetology and related Board authority.
Title 820
The Board’s administrative rules cover general, licensing, sanitary, school and facility requirements.
LSA #25-328
The Board announced that updated administrative rules became effective July 22, 2026.
July 2026 changes matter even if your question says “2024 rules”
Indiana’s Board home page says a separate statutory change took effect July 1, 2026 expanding the esthetician scope to include specified lash/brow services and microneedling within the statutory definition, and that administrative-rule updates took effect July 22, 2026. That makes a 2024 rules summary a historical snapshot rather than a safe final compliance source.
Four-step rule check before you change a service or salon setup
Check the Board home-page announcements
Look for effective-date notices before relying on an older school handout or saved PDF.
Open current Indiana Code
Use Title 25, Article 8 for the Beauty Culture statutes relevant to the license or business decision.
Check current Title 820 rules
Match the rule to the exact profession/facility instead of applying a barber, esthetics or school provision to a cosmetology salon without checking scope.
Use the July 2026 rulemaking notice
When an old provision conflicts with a current Board announcement or rule, use the newer official source and ask PLA when the application to your facts is unclear.
Indiana Beauty Culture Fees: Application, Renewal and Reinstatement
| Action | Current fee | What to know before paying |
|---|---|---|
| Individual beauty culture application | $40 | Used for current individual application routes; fees are nonrefundable. |
| Salon / mobile salon application | $40 | Do not file until the facility is ready to open. |
| Beauty culture school application | $400 | Separate school documents, floor plan, instructors and fire-marshal requirements apply. |
| Individual beauty culture renewal | $40 | Check the exact license/expiration and use the linked record. |
| Salon / mobile salon renewal | $40 | Facility credential is separate from professional licenses. |
| Individual professional reinstatement | $80 | For the Board’s >3-year expired route; remediation can also apply. |
| Salon / mobile salon reinstatement | $80 | Facility inspection is scheduled after reinstatement submission. |
| Beauty culture school renewal | $400 | School reporting and compliance duties continue separately. |
| Beauty culture school reinstatement | $800 | Use the current PLA action for the exact school record. |
| Official PLA digital certification | $10.60 total | Use for another state’s official verification; you download and send the certified PDF yourself. |
Indiana Cosmetology Board Phone Number, Email and Mailing Address
317-232-2960
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Eastern. PLA recommends calling for immediate assistance.
pla12@pla.in.gov
Use for general customer-service questions, including licensing questions that do not require uploading application documents.
317-234-3031
State Forms 56857 and 57016 still display this Board-form telephone number. For current general support, start with PLA’s 317-232-2960 customer center.
Mailing address
Indiana Government Center South, Room W072
402 West Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Do not email application attachments to the general inbox
PLA’s current contact page says profession email addresses are for general customer-service inquiries. Applicants should upload application documents through MyLicense One instead of emailing them to the group inbox.
Prepare this information before contacting PLA
- Full legal name and Indiana license/application number.
- Exact license type and whether you are applying, renewing, reinstating or using reciprocity.
- Date the application, payment or document was submitted.
- Transaction/reference number.
- Exact MyLicense One checklist wording or error message.
- Name of the missing document, school, PSI notice or outside-state certification involved.
Official Indiana Actions and Verified Related Guides
The explanations above cover the process. Use these official links for live status, final submission, payment, current forms and rules.
Verify a license
Check a professional or salon in Indiana’s real-time original-source search.
Open Free VerificationApply, renew or upload
Use MyLicense One for current licensing actions and application documents.
Open MyLicense OneRead current license instructions
Check examination, reciprocity, provisional, salon, renewal and fee sections.
Open Licensing InformationProvisional verification
Use State Form 57016 for initial provisional or provisional-upgrade verification.
Open Form 57016Current rules / notices
Check 2026 Board announcements and Title 820 rule updates before a compliance decision.
Open Board HomeRelated guides on this website
For the broader school-to-license process, use the U.S. cosmetology license guide. For state-board naming, lookup and renewal differences, use the state cosmetology board and license-lookup guide.
Indiana Cosmetology Board FAQs
What is the official Indiana State Board of Cosmetology name?
The official board is the Indiana State Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners. Licensing services are administered through the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency.
How do I look up an Indiana cosmetology license?
Use Indiana PLA Free Search & Verify. Search by complete license number, full first and last name, or facility name for a salon, then confirm the matching license type, status and expiration. Indiana describes the free service as an original source updated in real time.
What are the age and training requirements for an Indiana cosmetologist?
Current Indiana law requires a cosmetologist applicant to be at least 17 and have completed tenth grade or equivalent. Indiana currently lists 1,500 cosmetology education hours and also recognizes a qualifying U.S. Department of Labor registered apprenticeship route.
Does Indiana require a separate practical cosmetology licensing exam?
The current Indiana PLA examination-applicant instructions specifically require the written examination through PSI and the pass notice. Do not assume a separate current Indiana PSI practical licensing exam from an older private page. Reciprocity separately evaluates another jurisdiction’s written and practical examination standards.
How much are the Indiana cosmetology application and renewal fees?
The current fee schedule lists $40 for an individual beauty culture application and $40 for an individual beauty culture renewal. Application fees are nonrefundable.
How do I renew an Indiana cosmetology license?
Check your live expiration date, link the existing license in MyLicense One, and use the Renew License action when it becomes available. Indiana sends renewal information approximately 90 days before expiration when current contact information is on file.
What happens if my Indiana cosmetology license has been expired for five years?
Indiana’s current reinstatement instructions require the written licensing examination as remediation for a beauty culture professional license expired five years or more. The exam must be passed within one year of the reinstatement application.
How does Indiana cosmetology reciprocity work?
You need a valid license from another jurisdiction with requirements Indiana finds substantially equal. Certification must come directly from each issuing jurisdiction; a photocopy of the license is not enough. For a cosmetologist with at least 1,000 education hours, one year of qualifying licensed practice can equal 100 education hours in the Board’s equivalency review.
What should I check before applying for an Indiana cosmetology salon license?
Make the facility ready to open first, obtain required local/building approvals, install required furnishings and equipment, verify every professional license, provide required residential separation and separate entry when applicable, and identify the licensed professional providing personal supervision. A complete salon application can trigger a three-month temporary permit.
What is the Indiana Cosmetology Board phone number and email?
PLA’s current Customer Contact Center is 317-232-2960, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern. The Cosmetology & Barber customer-service email is pla12@pla.in.gov. Current state cosmetology forms also display 317-234-3031.
Final Indiana License, Exam, Renewal and Salon Checklist
- Use Indiana PLA as the source of truth for current licensing actions.
- Verify every professional and facility through Free Search & Verify.
- Use age 17, tenth-grade education and the current 1,500-hour/DOL apprenticeship routes.
- Have the school complete and notarize State Form 56857 rather than editing it yourself.
- Finish the $40 application within the one-year abandonment window.
- Follow the current written PSI exam instructions and avoid stale practical-exam/question-count claims.
- Keep the pass notice and upload it to the licensing file when required.
- Use the $40 renewal action and your exact live expiration date.
- Use the $80 professional reinstatement route when the license has been expired beyond three years.
- Expect written-exam remediation when the professional license has been expired five years or more.
- For reciprocity, have license certification come directly from every applicable jurisdiction.
- Use State Form 57016 when the provisional route actually applies.
- Do not apply for a salon until the facility is ready for the temporary-permit period.
- Compare sanitation setup with the current Board-linked PDF and July 2026 rule updates.
- Upload application documents in MyLicense One instead of sending them to the general customer-service email.
- Use the $10.60 PLA Digital Certification only when formal out-of-state proof is required, and send the untouched PDF yourself.
Independent-site notice: board-of-cosmetology.org is not the State of Indiana, the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency, PSI or the Indiana State Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners. Official Indiana records, statutes, administrative rules, forms, PSI instructions and Board decisions control.