Search a Minnesota Cosmetology License Before You Rely on It
Use the Minnesota Board of Cosmetology public search to look for an individual practitioner, salon, school or other listed provider. You can search by first name, last name, business name, license number, or use the separate ZIP-code search for licensed salons.
Minnesota makes an important distinction: the public search is useful for checking a record, but the Board says it is not official verification of a license. When another state, employer, attorney or agency requires formal proof, use the Board’s Certification of Licensure process instead.
Minnesota Cosmetology License Lookup: Quick Answer
The official Minnesota Board of Cosmetology License Search Service is the correct starting point for checking a Minnesota practitioner, business, salon or school record. The search page accepts a person’s name, business name or license number and also includes a dedicated salon ZIP-code field. You do not need to sign in to a licensee account to use the public search.
Do not confuse a public lookup with formal certification. Minnesota’s own search page says the public service is not official verification. If a regulator or other organization specifically requests certification of your Minnesota license history, use the Certification of Licensure form.
What Can You Search in the Minnesota License Lookup?
Minnesota’s public License Search Service gives you several ways to find the record you need. Start with the strongest information you already have. A license number is usually the cleanest identifier, while a legal name or business name is useful when the number is unavailable.
| Search field | Use it when | Practical tip |
|---|---|---|
| First Name | You are checking an individual practitioner. | Pair it with the last name when the name is common. |
| Last Name | You know the practitioner’s legal surname. | Try a partial spelling with the wildcard if needed. |
| Business Name | You are checking a salon or other business record. | Try the registered name rather than only a marketing nickname. |
| License Number | You have the number shown by the practitioner or business. | Use this first when available. |
| ZIP Code | You want to find a licensed salon in a particular area. | Use the dedicated salon ZIP search on the official page. |
How to Search a Minnesota Cosmetology License
Use a narrow search first, then broaden it only when necessary. This reduces unrelated matches and makes it easier to compare the returned record with the person or business you intended to check.
Open the Minnesota Board lookup
Use the Minnesota Board of Cosmetology public License Search Service rather than relying on a private directory, screenshot or old printed license.
Choose the strongest search field
Search by first name, last name, business name or license number. If you are specifically looking for a licensed salon near a Minnesota ZIP code, use the separate ZIP field.
Use the wildcard if spelling is uncertain
The official search accepts an asterisk. Minnesota gives the example Ander* to broaden a search for names such as Anderson or Andersen.
Open the matching record
Make sure the returned person, business or school is the entity you actually intended to verify. Do not rely only on a similar name when multiple records are returned.
Use certification when formal proof is required
If another regulator or organization requires official verification of Minnesota license history, use the Board’s Certification of Licensure process instead of submitting only a public-search screenshot.
Search the Practitioner and Salon Separately
A practitioner’s personal credential and a salon’s establishment license are different records. Finding one does not automatically prove the other is current. If you are checking a professional before booking, hiring, renting space or documenting compliance, search the relevant individual and the salon separately.
Practitioner Search
Use first name, last name or license number when you are checking an individual Minnesota cosmetology professional.
Salon Search
Use the business-name field or the dedicated ZIP-code search when you need to find a licensed salon.
School or Provider
Minnesota’s public service also provides access to cosmetology school and other course-provider listings.
Consumer check: if a person says they work at a licensed salon, verify both records when that distinction matters to your decision.
Use Minnesota’s Wildcard and Salon ZIP Search
The Minnesota database supports an asterisk wildcard in its search fields. This is helpful when you are unsure about the ending of a name or the record uses a slightly different spelling than the name you were given.
Wildcard example
Entering Ander* can broaden the search to names beginning with those letters. Use it only when the exact spelling is uncertain; an exact license number remains more precise.
Salon ZIP search
The lookup provides a separate ZIP-code field specifically for licensed salon searches. This can help when you know the area but not the exact registered business name.
How to Read a Minnesota License Result Safely
A search result is useful only when you confirm that it belongs to the correct person or business. Compare the identifying details shown in the state record with the professional, salon or school you intended to check.
- Confirm the name matches the person or business you are checking.
- Compare the license number when you have one.
- Confirm you are viewing the correct practitioner, salon or school record.
- Review the current record instead of relying on a printed certificate alone.
- For formal interstate or regulatory proof, use Certification of Licensure.
High-stakes decision? If a public record conflicts with information provided by a practitioner, employer or salon, contact the Minnesota Board of Cosmetology before treating either version as definitive.
Public Lookup vs Official Certification of Licensure
Minnesota expressly states that its public License Search Service is not official verification of a license. That distinction matters when you are transferring a credential to another jurisdiction or when an agency specifically asks the Minnesota Board to certify your license history.
| Need | Correct Minnesota route | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Quick public check | License Search Service | Useful for finding a practitioner, salon or school record. |
| Formal license history | Certification of Licensure | The Board directs users here when official verification is required. |
| Current certification fee | $30 | Minnesota’s 2026 fee schedule lists a $30 certification-of-licensure fee. |
The Board’s certification form says certifications are sent directly to other regulatory agencies and identifies a processing target of up to 15 business days for complete requests. Check the current form before mailing payment because forms and procedures can change.
Why Can’t I Find a Minnesota Cosmetology License?
A missing result does not automatically tell you why a record is absent. Start with simple search corrections before drawing a conclusion about the person’s or business’s licensing status.
Try a simpler search
- Search the exact license number if you have it.
- Remove unnecessary search fields.
- Try the legal first and last name.
- Use the asterisk wildcard for uncertain spelling.
Check the record type
- Do not search a salon only as an individual.
- Try the registered business name.
- Use salon ZIP search when the business name is uncertain.
- Use the school/provider listing for education-related records.
If you still cannot resolve the record and the decision involves employment, practice authority, licensing transfer or a complaint, contact the Minnesota Board directly instead of guessing.
License Status, Discipline and Inspection Records Are Different Checks
The general license search is not the only public-safety tool offered by the Minnesota Board. Separate Board tools are available for disciplinary actions and for inspection reports involving licensed salons and schools.
Disciplinary Action Lookup
Use the Board’s separate disciplinary database when you need to check Board-issued disciplinary actions.
The Board currently warns that some disciplinary records may not appear in the online search because of a transition to a new case-management system.
Check Disciplinary ActionsInspection Report Lookup
Use the inspection-report tool to look for Board-conducted inspection reports for licensed salons and schools.
The Board says some circumstances may prevent a report from appearing online and provides a contact route for requesting a copy when you believe a report should exist.
Check Inspection ReportsIf the Minnesota License Is Near Expiration
License lookup and license renewal are different tasks. For an ordinary Minnesota operator or salon manager renewal, the Board requires continuing education before renewal, and individual licenses expire on the last day of the license holder’s birth month in the year due.
8 total hours
Operators and salon managers generally complete a 4-hour Core course plus a 4-hour Professional Practice course before renewal.
$115 practitioner renewal
The current statutory three-year practitioner renewal fee is $115. A practitioner late-renewal fee is $45.
Online route changes
The Board says practitioner applications expired more than six months may be submitted only by mail or in person.
Pending is not the same as renewed. Minnesota rules state that a licensee whose renewed license has not been issued by the end of the business day on the expiration date is not authorized to practice after expiration until the renewed license is issued.
One Minnesota 2026 Change That Can Affect Your Search
Minnesota changed several cosmetology laws in 2026. One particularly relevant lookup issue is the repeal of the former special-event permit requirement. The Board states that special-event permits are no longer issued, with the 2026 changes generally effective August 1, 2026 unless otherwise noted.
If you are trying to locate or apply for an old Minnesota special-event permit in late 2026, do not assume a missing current permit record is a lookup failure. Check the Board’s current legislation guidance because that permit category was repealed.
For a broader explanation of Minnesota licensing, 2026 law changes, fees, exams, transfers and Board procedures, use the site’s main Minnesota Board guide instead of turning this lookup page into a duplicate licensing article.
Minnesota Board of Cosmetology 2026 GuideMinnesota Board of Cosmetology Contact Information
Contact the Board when a public-search result cannot resolve a licensing question, when information conflicts, or when you need instructions for a formal licensing action.
Phone and Email
Phone: 651-201-2742
Email: cosmetology@state.mn.us
Office hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed on Minnesota state holidays.
St. Paul Address
Minnesota Board of Cosmetology
1000 University Avenue West, Suite 100
St. Paul, MN 55104
The Board encourages visitors to contact the office in advance to help ensure staff availability.
View Official Contact PageOfficial Minnesota License and Verification Links
Use these government resources for live searches and official actions. This website is an independent informational guide and does not issue, renew, suspend or certify Minnesota cosmetology licenses.
Minnesota Cosmetology License Lookup FAQs
Is the Minnesota cosmetology license lookup free?
Yes. The Minnesota Board of Cosmetology provides a public License Search Service that can be used without a licensee account.
Can I search a Minnesota cosmetology license by name?
Yes. The official search provides First Name and Last Name fields. It also supports Business Name and License Number searches.
Can I search for a Minnesota salon by ZIP code?
Yes. The official lookup includes a separate ZIP Code field for licensed salon searches.
Does the Minnesota public lookup count as official verification?
No. The Minnesota Board states that the public lookup is not official verification of a license. When formal verification is required, use the Certification of Licensure process.
What if I cannot find a Minnesota cosmetology license?
Check the spelling, try fewer fields, use the license number when available, try the asterisk wildcard for a partial name, and make sure you are searching the correct person or business. Contact the Board when a high-stakes decision cannot be resolved from the public record.
Where can I check Minnesota cosmetology disciplinary actions?
Use the Minnesota Board of Cosmetology Disciplinary Action Lookup. The Board currently warns that some records may not appear because of its transition to a new case-management system.
What is the Minnesota Board of Cosmetology phone number?
The Board lists 651-201-2742 as its main phone number and cosmetology@state.mn.us as its email address.
Verify the Minnesota Record Before Your Next Step
Start with the Board’s public search, identify the correct person, salon or school, and use the separate certification process when official license history is required. If the search cannot resolve an important licensing question, contact the Minnesota Board directly rather than relying on an old certificate or third-party directory.