Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology: Start With the Right Board Action
The Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology (LSBC) regulates cosmetology, esthetics, manicuring, salons, schools, instructors and related permits across Louisiana. Use this independent guide to find the correct official route for licensing, renewal, exams, salon or booth requirements, out-of-state applications and Board contact.
Baton Rouge, LA 70809 Local: 225-756-3404
Toll free: 866-257-7901
Fax: 225-756-3410 Email: lsbc@la.gov Official regulator: Louisiana
Quick Answer: What Does the Louisiana Board Handle?
LSBC is the state regulator for Louisiana cosmetology licensing and compliance. Its official site provides or routes users to license renewal, new salon applications, cosmetology laws and rules, school/testing information, temporary permits, booth-renter information and reciprocity forms for cosmetology, manicuring, esthetics and instructors.
board-of-cosmetology.org is an independent informational website. It is not LSBC or another Louisiana government agency. Official Board records, current Louisiana law and Board decisions control.
Choose the Louisiana Cosmetology Task You Need
Renew a personal license
Cosmetologists, estheticians, manicurists and registered teachers generally renew on or before their birthday. Use the Board’s current online renewal route.
Get a first Louisiana credential
Start with the exact profession. Louisiana separates cosmetologist, esthetician, manicurist, instructor, manager, salon, booth and other permit categories.
Use an out-of-state or foreign license
Do not assume automatic transfer. Louisiana law requires the appropriate prior license, qualifying education, Board examination and applicable fee for the statutory out-of-state route.
Open a salon or rent a booth
A practitioner credential does not replace a salon certificate or booth rental permit. New facilities and booth arrangements have separate Board requirements.
Prepare for examinations
Louisiana requires examinations for covered practitioner credentials. Eligibility and timing depend on the credential and completed training.
Resolve a status or application problem
Have the exact credential type, legal name, license or application number and any payment reference ready before contacting the Board.
What the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology Regulates
Louisiana law creates the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology and places it in East Baton Rouge Parish. The Board regulates cosmetology practice statewide, issues certificates and permits, establishes and enforces licensing rules, conducts or contracts for examinations, regulates registered schools and salons, and handles enforcement under the Louisiana Cosmetology Act.
People and professional credentials
- Cosmetologists
- Estheticians
- Manicurists
- Registered teachers/instructors
- Managers and other Board-regulated permits
- Qualified out-of-state and foreign applicants
Businesses and training settings
- Beauty shops and salons
- Mobile salons
- Booth rental arrangements
- Cosmetology schools
- Facility inspections and sanitary compliance
- Education, testing and student records
How to Get a Louisiana Cosmetology, Esthetics or Manicuring License
R.S. 37:582 establishes the statutory starting requirements for a registered cosmetologist, esthetician or manicurist. An applicant must be at least 16, meet the specified education floor at the time required schooling is completed, complete the appropriate Board-approved course, pass the required examination and pay the applicable fee.
Choose the exact credential
Decide whether your intended scope is cosmetology, esthetics or manicuring. Do not enroll based only on a school marketing term such as “beauty program” or “skin program.”
Confirm the school and curriculum are Board-approved
Louisiana law requires completion of the appropriate course at a registered or licensed school approved by the Board. Confirm approval before paying tuition or transferring hours.
Complete the required training
The current Louisiana Administrative Code sets 1,500 hours for cosmetology, 750 hours for esthetics and 500 hours for manicuring.
Meet examination eligibility
School and Board clearances matter. Current rules permit some cosmetology testing before the full 1,500 hours are complete, but the final license still depends on satisfying all licensing requirements.
Pass the required examinations
R.S. 37:586 authorizes practical, written and oral testing reflecting the subjects normally taught for the credential. Follow current LSBC testing instructions because scheduling and contracted testing arrangements can change.
Pay the correct current fee and verify issuance
The current statutory initial certificate fee for a cosmetologist, esthetician or manicurist is $35. A school completion record or exam pass is not itself a license; confirm that the Board has actually issued the credential.
Louisiana Cosmetology Training Hours
| Credential | Current minimum curriculum | Important note |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmetologist | 1,500 hours | Includes scientific concepts, physical and chemical services, hair design/styling and Louisiana cosmetology law/rules. |
| Esthetician | 750 hours | Uses the separate esthetics curriculum; scope and examination requirements remain distinct from cosmetology. |
| Manicurist | 500 hours | Uses the separate manicuring curriculum including nail procedures, safety and infection control. |
| Instructor training | 500-hour curriculum | Teacher certification also requires the underlying professional credential, experience and teacher examination conditions in R.S. 37:583. |
Training hours are only one licensing element. Age, prior education, school approval, examinations, fees and the Board’s final issuance decision also matter.
Louisiana Cosmetology Examination Rules
Louisiana law authorizes the Board’s examination team and contracted testing service to examine applicants for cosmetology, esthetics, manicuring, teacher and qualifying special-permit credentials. The statute requires practical cosmetologist, Louisiana state theory and national theory examinations at least twice monthly, while esthetician, manicurist and teacher examinations must be conducted at least four times per calendar year.
Cosmetology students
Current administrative rules state that a cosmetology student may become eligible for the practical exam after 1,400 curriculum hours and the written examination after 1,000 hours, subject to school and Board clearance.
Esthetics, manicuring and instructor students
The current rule lists exam eligibility after 750 hours for esthetics and 500 hours for manicuring or instructor training, again subject to the required clearances.
Louisiana Cosmetology Fees: Current Statutory Amounts
Louisiana Act 355 of 2025 amended R.S. 37:599. That matters because older Board material and older web pages may still show the previous $25 personal licensing fee.
| Credential or service | Current statutory amount | What the amount applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Theory examination | $25 | Each theory examination given by the examination team. |
| Practical examination | $25 | Each practical examination given by the examination team. |
| Retake | $25 | Each examination retake. |
| Cosmetologist / esthetician / manicurist / teacher-instructor / manager | $35 | Initial certificate and annual renewal. |
| Beauty shop / salon / mobile salon / home care | $55 | Initial certificate and annual renewal. |
| Initial salon, mobile salon or booth inspection | $50 | Initial inspection fee. |
| Booth rental / special / temporary permit | $50 | Permit fee category in R.S. 37:599. |
| Duplicate license | $25 | Replacement credential, not renewal. |
| Certification of records | $15 | Official certification service. |
Online payment systems may disclose separate processing charges. Review the live official transaction before submitting payment.
Louisiana Renewal Deadlines Are Not the Same for Every Credential
Birthday renewal
R.S. 37:590 says actively practicing cosmetologists, estheticians, manicurists and registered teachers renew on or before the individual’s birthday. If not renewed, the certificate expires 30 days after the birthday.
January 31 renewal
Beauty shop owners, mobile salon owners, booth renters, beauty shop managers and schools renew on or before January 31. An untimely certificate in this group expires March 1.
Do not confuse an expiration point with the normal renewal deadline. For a personal credential, the birthday is the renewal deadline; the extra 30 days describe when the unrenewed certificate expires.
See the detailed Louisiana cosmetology license renewal guide for restoration, instructor CE, payment troubleshooting and credential-specific deadlines.
Moving to Louisiana With an Out-of-State Cosmetology License
Louisiana’s statute does not make an out-of-state cosmetology license automatically valid for practice in Louisiana. R.S. 37:582 provides a route for a person already licensed in another state or foreign country when the person completed and passed the appropriate course at a school licensed where the credential was issued, passes the appropriate Louisiana Board examination and pays the applicable fee.
Use the correct LSBC reciprocity form
The official Board site currently separates reciprocity forms for cosmetology, manicuring, esthetics, instructors, retakes, military applicants and foreign applicants. Choose the form that matches your actual credential and situation.
Do not surrender proof too early
Keep copies of your current license, school records, exam records and any verification sent by the prior licensing authority. Follow the current Board form for what must be sent directly by another authority.
Louisiana Salon, Booth Rental and Facility Licensing
A professional license covers the individual’s practice. It does not automatically license the premises or create an independent-contractor booth arrangement.
Beauty shop or salon
Louisiana requires separate certification for a beauty shop or salon. The Board’s official site publishes a New Shop/Salon application route.
Booth rental
R.S. 37:593 requires a Board-issued booth rental permit, a qualifying written agreement, the applicable fee and an approved inspection report.
Mobile salon
Louisiana law separately authorizes mobile-salon registration. General salon requirements apply except where they conflict with mobile-salon-specific law or rules.
R.S. 37:592 also addresses the independent-contractor relationship: a written agreement must identify the independent-contractor status, lack of salon control over methodology and the rent arrangement, and the cosmetologist must hold the required booth rental permit.
Louisiana Instructor License and Continuing Education
A person may not teach cosmetology, esthetics or manicuring without the Board-issued teacher registration required by R.S. 37:583. The statute requires the applicable professional credential, prior active practice, teacher training and the teacher examination for the specific discipline.
Teacher training
The statute requires at least 500 hours in the teacher-training course in not less than three months unless the applicant qualifies through an instructor license issued by another state.
Continuing education
A registered teacher must attend a Board-approved continuing-education seminar at least every two years consisting of at least 16 hours in the discipline the person is certified to teach.
Common Louisiana Board Problems and the Safest Next Step
| Problem | What to check first | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Old page shows a $25 personal renewal fee | Check the source date. | Use current R.S. 37:599, which lists $35 after the 2025 amendment. |
| Renewal deadline is unclear | Identify whether the credential is personal, instructor, salon, booth, manager or school. | Use R.S. 37:590 and the Board’s current renewal route. |
| You paid but status still looks wrong | Check the exact credential number, payment date and receipt. | Do not submit another payment blindly; contact LSBC with the transaction details. |
| You are licensed in another state | Identify the exact existing credential and school history. | Use the matching LSBC reciprocity/out-of-state form and current Board instructions. |
| You are opening a salon | Separate personal licensure from facility registration. | Use the Board’s New Shop/Salon route and complete required inspection steps. |
| An “inspector” calls demanding payment | Do not provide payment details. | End the call and independently contact LSBC using its published official information. |
Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology Contact Information
Board office
Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology11622 Sunbelt Court
Baton Rouge, LA 70809
Phone, email and fax
Local: 225-756-3404
Toll free: 866-257-7901
Fax: 225-756-3410
Email: lsbc@la.gov
Before you contact the Board
- Have your legal name and exact credential or application type.
- Have the license, permit or application number if one has been assigned.
- For payment problems, keep the date, amount and transaction reference.
- For out-of-state licensing, have the issuing state/country and exact license type.
- For salon or booth questions, have the facility address and ownership or rental details relevant to the application.
Official Louisiana Sources to Use for Final Verification
Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology FAQs
What is the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology phone number?
LSBC lists 225-756-3404 as its local phone number and 866-257-7901 as its toll-free number. The Board office is at 11622 Sunbelt Court, Baton Rouge, LA 70809.
How much is a Louisiana cosmetology license or renewal in 2026?
Current R.S. 37:599 lists $35 for the initial certificate and annual renewal of a cosmetologist, esthetician, manicurist, teacher/instructor or manager. Older sources may still show the previous $25 amount.
How many hours are required for cosmetology school in Louisiana?
The current Louisiana Administrative Code requires at least 1,500 hours for the cosmetology curriculum. Esthetics uses 750 hours and manicuring uses 500 hours.
When does a Louisiana cosmetology license renew?
An actively practicing cosmetologist, esthetician, manicurist or registered teacher renews on or before the individual’s birthday. If not renewed, the certificate expires 30 days after the birthday.
Does a Louisiana salon use the same renewal deadline as a cosmetologist?
No. Beauty shop owners, mobile salon owners, booth renters, beauty shop managers and schools use the January 31 renewal deadline under R.S. 37:590. Their untimely certificates expire March 1.
Can an out-of-state cosmetologist automatically work in Louisiana?
No. An out-of-state credential does not automatically become Louisiana authority to practice. Louisiana law provides an application path that includes qualifying education, the appropriate Board examination and the applicable fee.
Does every Louisiana cosmetologist need 16 hours of continuing education?
No. The statutory 16-hour continuing-education requirement in R.S. 37:583 applies to registered teachers and is required at least every two years in the discipline the person is certified to teach.
Does a Louisiana booth renter need a separate permit?
Yes. R.S. 37:593 requires a Board-issued booth rental permit along with the qualifying written agreement, applicable fee and an approved inspection report.
Will LSBC inspectors ask for payment by phone?
LSBC currently warns about scammers posing as State Board inspectors and states that it will never request payment by phone. Independently verify any payment request through the official Board website or published Board contact information.
Louisiana Licensing Checklist
- Identify the exact credential or facility action before choosing a form.
- Use LSBC’s official website for live applications, forms, testing and payments.
- Use current Louisiana law for fees and deadlines when older materials conflict.
- For a first practitioner license, confirm age, school approval, curriculum, examinations and issuance requirements.
- For renewal, separate birthday-based personal credentials from January 31 business-side credentials.
- For an out-of-state license, use the correct LSBC reciprocity/transfer form rather than assuming automatic recognition.
- For a salon or booth, keep the facility credential separate from every personal practitioner credential.
- Never make a phone payment to someone claiming to be an LSBC inspector.
This page is an independent guide. Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology records, current statutes, administrative rules and written Board decisions control licensing status and eligibility.