Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers: Use the Right 2026 Licensing Route
Use this independent Georgia guide to verify a license, renew through GOALS, handle CE Broker, apply after PSI exams, request endorsement, reinstate an expired credential, file a complaint or contact the Professional Licensing Boards Division.
The official regulator is the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers. Board-of-Cosmetology.org is not a government agency, so use Georgia Secretary of State and GOALS records for legal status, payments, approvals and final instructions.
Georgia Cosmetology Board: Fast Answer
Georgia licenses cosmetologists, hair designers, estheticians, nail technicians, barbers, instructors, apprentices, salons, shops and schools through the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers. The Professional Licensing Boards Division administers licensing services, and the current online system is GOALS — Georgia Online Application Licensing System.
For a public status check, use GOALS License Search. For your own application, renewal, reinstatement, printing or account changes, use your GOALS account. For continuing education completed on or after January 1, 2026, covered licensees must record required CE and proof in CE Broker.
Georgia License Task Helper
This helper does not access government records. It identifies the safest official starting point for your task.
Georgia Cosmetology License Lookup: Verify the Person and Facility
Use Georgia’s public license search before relying on a wall certificate, business card or renewal receipt. The state record is designed as primary-source verification for licenses issued by the Professional Licensing Boards.
Open the public GOALS License Search
Use the state search rather than another person’s private GOALS account.
Choose the correct person or facility route
Search an individual practitioner separately from a salon, shop, school or other facility.
Use the strongest identifier
A complete license number is ideal. If you search by name, use the legal or registered business name and avoid unnecessary filters at first.
Read the state record, not just the name
Confirm the license number, profession, license type, status, issue information, expiration date and any public Board orders shown on the record.
Open Georgia GOALS License Search · Read the Georgia Cosmetology License Lookup guide
GOALS Login, Existing Account and PIN Help
GOALS uses your email address as the user ID, and the Georgia Secretary of State warns that the email login is case-sensitive. Existing licensees should verify or consolidate their existing account rather than creating duplicate profiles.
Check the newest email first
Look in spam or junk folders and use the PIN from the most recent email. If no PIN arrives, the PLB call center can help after identity verification.
Use License Search
Georgia’s GOALS FAQ directs users who forgot a license number to public License Search before trying to complete account verification.
Check browser settings
The official troubleshooting steps include allowing required cookies, clearing cache and cookies, trying another browser and retrying without a VPN.
Do not leave it incomplete
GOALS states that incomplete applications saved in the system are canceled after 30 days if they are not completed for submission.
Georgia Cosmetology License Renewal Dates: Use the Exact Credential
Georgia beauty licenses do not all renew on the same calendar. Search your public record first and confirm the exact category and expiration before paying. A late-renewal window or reinstatement eligibility does not itself authorize practice.
| Georgia credential | Regular expiration | Listed late period | September 28, 2026 position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Cosmetologist | March 31, even years | April 1–30 | 2026 regular and late periods have passed; use the applicable reinstatement route if not renewed. |
| Hair Designer | September 30, even years | October 1–31 | Regular 2026 deadline is September 30. |
| Master Barber / Barber II | December 31, even years | January 1–31 following | Regular 2026 deadline is December 31. |
| Esthetician / Nail Technician | August 31, odd years | September 1–30 | Next regular cycle is 2027. |
| Most instructor licenses | June 30, odd years | Check exact instructor category | Next regular cycle is 2027; underlying practitioner license must also remain in good standing. |
| Salon / Shop | June 30, odd years | July 1–31 | Next regular cycle is 2027. |
How to renew a Georgia cosmetology or barber license
Verify the current license record
Confirm the exact type, current status and expiration in GOALS License Search.
Check the correct renewal window
Do not use the deadline for another beauty credential. Hair Designer, Master Cosmetologist, barber, esthetics, nail, instructor and facility dates differ.
Complete applicable continuing education
Most practitioners need the five-hour requirement after the first renewal unless a valid exemption applies. Instructor requirements differ.
Update CE Broker
Record required coursework and upload completion evidence before renewal when applicable.
Use your existing GOALS account
Review the legal name, email, mailing information and linked licenses before submitting.
Submit, pay and save proof
Use the amount shown by the official system and keep the confirmation, receipt and uploaded-document record.
Confirm active status afterward
Recheck the public record after processing. Do not rely only on a receipt or pending submission before practicing.
Georgia CE Broker Requirement for 2026
Beginning January 1, 2026, Georgia requires covered cosmetology and barber licensees to register with CE Broker, report continuing education coursework and submit proof of completed continuing education used for renewal. The Board says a no-cost Basic Limited Access account is sufficient for this reporting requirement.
5 hours
After the first renewal, most practitioner licenses require five CE hours every two years: three hours of approved health and safety and two hours in approved elective subjects.
General CE exemption
The current rule exempts a practitioner renewing the license for the first time from the ordinary five-hour CE requirement.
Different requirement
Instructor licensing has separate CE requirements. Do not use the ordinary practitioner five-hour rule as a substitute for instructor requirements.
Read Georgia’s official CE requirements · Read Chapter 240-3
First Georgia License: School or Apprenticeship, PSI Exams, Then Application
For Master Cosmetologist and related examination-based licenses, Georgia’s current how-to guides tell candidates who recently finished school or apprenticeship not to submit the license application until they have passed the required state Board examinations. The application must then include the applicable score reports and required documents.
Typical application documents
Depending on the route, the Board may require a completed application, fee, passed practical and written exam proof, secure and verifiable document, affidavit of citizenship, immigration documents when applicable, and records for any disclosed disciplinary action or sanctions.
PSI examination route
Georgia’s Board FAQ identifies PSI as the testing provider for cosmetology and barber examinations. Use PSI for exam scheduling, fees, dates, locations, candidate bulletins and grade notifications.
Open the official Master Cosmetologist guide · Read the official Board FAQ · Cosmetology state board test guide
Moving a License to Georgia: Use Endorsement, Not an Automatic “Transfer”
Georgia’s current cosmetology and barber how-to guides use licensure by endorsement for applicants already licensed in another state. Do not assume your existing license automatically transfers or that Georgia uses a simple reciprocity agreement for every credential.
The endorsement checklist can require verification of original licensure, verification of current licenses, education information, Georgia written or practical examination when applicable, secure and verifiable documents, citizenship or immigration documentation, and records related to professional discipline when applicable.
Georgia Cosmetology or Barber Apprentice Licensing
Apprentice applicants use the Board’s apprentice route and must connect the training to an appropriately licensed salon or shop and supervisor. The application checklist includes verification of the facility and supervisor licenses, secure and verifiable documentation, citizenship affidavit and any applicable disciplinary or immigration records.
Georgia’s current FAQ says apprentice training hours should be recorded daily and maintained at the salon or shop for inspection. When changing a master or salon/shop, the apprentice should submit the required change through GOALS and keep the training record current.
Georgia Cosmetology Fees: Plan With the Published Schedule, Confirm in GOALS
The Board-linked fee PDF remains useful for planning but is marked Rev. 03/22. Georgia’s current GOALS FAQ also states that online application and license processing fees are $10. Because fees can change, use GOALS or the current official application screen as the final amount before paying.
| License action | Published amount | Important note |
|---|---|---|
| Individual application by examination | $30 | Separate PSI examination charges can apply. |
| Master Cosmetologist renewal | $50 | Published fee PDF lists $100 late and $200 reinstatement. |
| Esthetician / Nail Technician renewal | $45 | Published fee PDF lists $90 late and $200 reinstatement. |
| Hair Designer / Master Barber / Barber II renewal | $50 | Published fee PDF lists $100 late and $200 reinstatement. |
| Licensure by endorsement | $75 | Instructor endorsement is separately listed at $100. |
| Apprentice license | $90 | Use the current apprentice application route. |
| Salon / Shop application | $75 | Current application also shows a separate processing fee. |
| Formal license verification | $35 | Use when another authority requires official verification. |
Georgia Salon and Shop Licensing: State License Is Not the Local Business License
The Georgia Board licenses salons and barber shops, but the Board specifically warns that a salon/shop license is not the same as a local business license or occupational tax certificate. A business may need both the professional facility license and the city or county business authorization that applies to its location.
New facility or ownership change
A new salon/shop or a change of ownership requires the applicable Board application and supporting records. The Board no longer issues new BRSH barber-shop identifiers; new facilities receive the current COSA identifier.
Name or location change
Use the specific change route for an existing active license. A change of ownership is not handled as a simple name or address amendment and requires a new application.
Application Status, Deficiency Letters and Delays
Georgia processes licensing applications in the order received. Current Board guides say completed applications are initially reviewed by staff and some cases may require Board review. Applications intended for a Board meeting generally must be complete and received at least 15 days before that meeting to be placed on that meeting’s agenda.
| Problem | What it can mean | Best next action |
|---|---|---|
| Application still shows incomplete before submission | A required document or answer is missing from the GOALS draft. | Finish all required items before the 30-day draft-cancellation window. |
| Deficiency letter received after submission | Board staff needs additional records or corrections. | Submit all requested items together as soon as possible. Board guides warn unresolved deficiencies can lead to withdrawal. |
| Paid but no active license | Payment does not equal issuance. | Check application status and public License Search before practicing. |
| License appears publicly but not in your GOALS account | Existing-account verification or consolidation may be incomplete. | Use the existing-account verification route and newest PIN rather than creating a duplicate profile. |
How to File a Georgia Cosmetology or Barber Licensing Complaint
Georgia accepts Professional Licensing complaints online through GOALS. A complaint should identify the person or facility, explain the alleged violation clearly and include useful supporting records rather than only a conclusion.
Identify the person or facility
Use License Search when possible and save the license number, legal name and address tied to the complaint.
Prepare your contact details
The state complaint process asks for the complainant’s name, address, telephone number and email address.
Describe the issue precisely
Include dates, services, statements and other facts that help the Board understand what happened.
Attach supporting evidence
Examples from the state guidance include business records, cancelled checks, billing statements, proposals, contracts and invoices when relevant.
Submit through GOALS
The Board may refer a complaint for investigation when appropriate. A referral does not by itself establish that a licensing violation occurred.
Georgia State Board of Cosmetology Macon Contact Help
404-424-9966
Useful for GOALS PIN issues, identity verification, missing application numbers and general Professional Licensing Boards Division assistance.
3920 Arkwright Road, Suite 195
Macon, GA 31210. Confirm delivery or in-person instructions with the current state page before traveling or mailing documents.
Upcoming Georgia Cosmetology and Barber Board Events
As listed by the Georgia Secretary of State on September 28, 2026, the following Board events are scheduled at 3920 Arkwright Road, Suite 195, Macon, GA 31210. Check the official event page before attending because meeting details can change.
Board Hearings
Macon Professional Licensing location.
Board Meeting
Macon Professional Licensing location.
Board Hearings
Macon Professional Licensing location.
Georgia Cosmetology and Barber Rules: Use Current Department 240
The combined Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers is governed through current Department 240 rules. Older Chapter 130 cosmetology material can still appear in search results and legacy forms, so use current Department 240 and applicable Joint Secretary rules when they supersede older language.
| Rule area | Main subject | Useful for |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter 240-1 | Board organization and licensing administration | Board authority, applications, fees and reinstatement framework. |
| Chapter 240-2 | Violations and fines | Inspections, citations, salon/shop and school compliance. |
| Chapter 240-3 | Continuing education | CE hours, accepted courses, exemptions and reinstatement CE. |
| Chapter 240-4 | Facility requirements | Salon/shop operation, postings, health and safety. |
| Chapter 240-5 | Apprentices | Apprentice licensing and training requirements. |
| Chapter 240-6 | Licensure by examination | Exam-based license routes. |
| Chapter 240-11 | Application by endorsement | Out-of-state applicants. |
| Chapter 240-12 | Salon/shop application | Facility licensing. |
Official Georgia Licensing Action Links
Related guides on Board-of-Cosmetology.org
Georgia cosmetology license lookup explains public verification in more detail. Cosmetology license guide covers the broader school-to-license process, and cosmetology state board test focuses on exam preparation. Use Board of Barbering and Cosmetology when comparing agency names and state systems.
Georgia State Board of Cosmetology FAQ
What is the official Georgia cosmetology licensing board?
The official regulator is the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers. Licensing administration is handled through the Georgia Secretary of State Professional Licensing Boards Division.
Where do I look up a Georgia cosmetology license?
Use Georgia’s official GOALS License Search. Search the individual practitioner and, when relevant, the salon, shop or school as a separate facility record. Confirm license type, status and expiration before relying on the record.
What is the Georgia Professional Licensing phone number?
The Professional Licensing Boards Division call center is 404-424-9966.
Where is the current Georgia Professional Licensing office in Macon?
Current Georgia Secretary of State licensing information lists 3920 Arkwright Road, Suite 195, Macon, GA 31210. Older Board documents may still show 237 Coliseum Drive, so verify the destination before mailing anything.
Do Georgia cosmetology and barber licensees use CE Broker in 2026?
Yes. Beginning January 1, 2026, covered licensees must record continuing education used for licensure and renewal in CE Broker and submit proof of completion.
How many CE hours are required for Georgia cosmetology renewal?
Most practitioner licenses require five CE hours for renewals after the first renewal: three approved health-and-safety hours and two approved elective hours. Valid exemptions can apply, and instructor requirements are different.
Does Georgia use reciprocity for an out-of-state cosmetology license?
Georgia’s current guides use the term licensure by endorsement. Use the endorsement checklist for the exact credential rather than assuming another state’s license automatically transfers.
Can I work while a Georgia license application or reinstatement is pending?
Georgia’s Board guides state that applicants may not legally perform services until they hold an active license. A submitted application, payment receipt or pending review does not replace active-license status.
Before You Submit, Pay or Work
Verify the exact Georgia license type in GOALS, use the deadline for that credential, complete and report required CE, save every confirmation and recheck the public license after processing. For address, fee or document questions, use the current Georgia Secretary of State page rather than relying on an older PDF alone.