Tennessee Cosmetology License: Apply, Verify, Renew & Transfer
Use the Tennessee Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners for official licensing decisions. This guide covers the 1,500-hour cosmetologist route, PSI exams, CORE applications and renewals, public verification, reciprocity, expired licenses, shop licensing and practical troubleshooting.
Tennessee Cosmetology License: 2026 Quick Answer
For a standard Tennessee cosmetologist license, you must be at least 16 years old, complete 1,500 hours of practice and theory at a cosmetology school, pass both the written/theory and practical examinations administered by PSI, then submit the Initial Cosmetologist Application through CORE. The Board currently lists the initial license fee at $60.
PSI currently lists the cosmetologist theory exam at $67 and the practical exam at $67. That is $134 when both exams are required, not the older $140 total still found on some prior materials.
Independent-site notice: board-of-cosmetology.org is not the Tennessee Board and does not issue licenses. Tennessee government records, CORE, PSI instructions and written Board decisions control your legal status.
Choose the Right Tennessee Cosmetology Route
First Tennessee license
Complete approved education, become eligible for PSI, pass theory and practical exams, then submit the Initial Cosmetologist Application in CORE.
Existing Tennessee license
Use CORE to renew, update records, request duplicates, track transactions or handle reinstatement when available.
Verify a person or shop
Use Tennessee’s public verification search. CORE is for license management; it is not required just to check a public credential.
Out-of-state license
Use the Out of State application and have certification sent directly from every state where you have held a professional license.
School apprenticeship
A participating school may offer the Tennessee apprenticeship path. It is not an informal salon-only alternative that a student can create independently.
Open a cosmetology shop
The business location needs its own shop license and passing inspection. A personal cosmetologist license does not license the shop.
Tennessee License Route Helper
This tool does not search government records or collect personal information. It only sends you to the official route that matches your task.
Tennessee Cosmetologist License Requirements
The Tennessee Board’s current cosmetologist page lists three core requirements: minimum age, education and examinations.
Age
You must be at least 16 years old.
Education
Complete 1,500 hours in cosmetology practice and theory at a school of cosmetology.
Examinations
Pass the required theory/written and practical examinations administered through PSI.
Use the correct credential category
Tennessee regulates several separate beauty credentials. A cosmetologist license is not the same credential as aesthetician, manicurist, natural hair stylist, eyelash specialist, master barber or instructor. Apply for the credential that matches the services you intend to perform.
| Credential | Published training requirement | Initial Board fee |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmetologist | 1,500 hours | $60 |
| Aesthetician | 750 hours | $60 |
| Manicurist | 600 hours | $60 |
| Natural Hair Stylist | 300 hours | $60 |
| Eyelash Specialist | 300 hours | $60 |
| Master Barber | 1,500 hours | $60 |
| Barber Technician | 340 hours | $60 |
Tennessee Cosmetology State Board Exam: PSI
PSI administers examinations for the Tennessee Cosmetology and Barber Examiners Board. Current Board guidance says remote proctoring may be available for theory and practical exams, while PSI testing-center options remain available when a candidate cannot meet the remote technology requirements.
Become eligible through your school or approved route
Your school submits the online PSI application and required eligibility information after you meet Tennessee training requirements.
Use PSI’s instructions to pay and schedule
Do not schedule from an unrelated generic exam page. Use the candidate record created after Tennessee eligibility is approved.
Bring matching identification
PSI requires an admission notice and photo identification. The registration name must match your identification documents.
Check emailed results
The Board’s PSI guidance says results are emailed. If you do not receive the report within two business days, check spam/junk folders and contact PSI.
PSI support: 855-340-3710. Open the current Tennessee PSI exam page.
How to Apply for a Tennessee Cosmetology License in CORE
Finish education and exam eligibility
Complete the required Tennessee education route and follow the PSI eligibility process.
Pass the required exams
Complete the theory and practical testing required for the cosmetologist credential.
Create or use your CORE account
Go to CORE and select the Initial Cosmetologist Application rather than a renewal or out-of-state transaction.
Complete the application and pay $60
Use the same legal identity used by your school and PSI. Upload the documents requested by your current CORE transaction.
Verify final issuance
A payment confirmation is not the same thing as an active license. Use Tennessee’s public verification system to confirm final status and expiration.
Tennessee Cosmetology License Lookup and Verification
Tennessee’s public Verify service is separate from the private CORE account. Consumers, employers and licensees can use it to check an individual or business license, current status, expiration date and available public disciplinary information.
Search the legal name or license number
Start with the strongest identifier. If a name search returns too many or no results, reduce unnecessary search fields.
Confirm the credential category
Make sure the result is cosmetologist rather than another beauty profession or a shop credential.
Read status and expiration
An old wall license, social profile or renewal receipt may not reflect the current government record.
Verify the shop separately
A practitioner license and a cosmetology shop license are separate credentials. Check both when the business location matters.
Open Tennessee Verify or use the dedicated TN cosmetology license lookup guide on this site.
How to Renew a Tennessee Cosmetology License
Tennessee practitioner renewal is handled through CORE. The renewal option appears in the account once you are within 60 days of the expiration date. The current individual cosmetologist renewal fee is $60.
Sign in to the correct CORE account
Use the account associated with the existing Tennessee credential.
Open the license or permit
Select the credential you need to renew. If it is missing, link the license rather than creating another profile.
Confirm the renewal window
If the credential is correctly linked but the Renew option is absent, check whether the expiration date is still more than 60 days away.
Submit the renewal and pay $60
Review your record carefully and save the submission/payment confirmation.
Verify completion
After processing, confirm the final status in the public verification system instead of treating the receipt alone as proof of active status.
Expired Tennessee Cosmetology License and Reinstatement
Do not continue practicing merely because an expired license may still qualify for reinstatement. Tennessee states that continuing to act in the profession without a valid license can lead to disciplinary action.
Expired less than three years
Use CORE and Board guidance to determine the available renewal/reinstatement transaction and late fees. The standard individual late fee is currently $25.
Expired more than three years
The Board says the license becomes invalid and the reinstatement examination route generally applies. Complete the Application to Test when directed.
Tennessee support guidance says Application-to-Test processing generally takes 10–15 business days. Applicants who must test are preregistered for the required reinstatement examinations and then receive further instructions.
Transfer an Out-of-State Cosmetology License to Tennessee
Tennessee describes reciprocity as a case-by-case process. An out-of-state credential does not automatically authorize practice in Tennessee.
Request certification from every licensing state
Ask each state board where you hold or previously held a license to send certification directly to Tennessee. Only one license needs to be current, but Tennessee asks for certification history from each licensing state.
Complete the Out of State application in CORE
Select the application for the specific license type you are transferring.
Attach required identity and education records
Provide photo identification and education documentation requested by the application. Tennessee may request work-history evidence when your school hours are below its minimum.
Pay the $100 reciprocity fee
The current Tennessee fee table lists $100 for reciprocity across license types.
Wait for Tennessee approval
The Board says certification timing from other states varies and recommends allowing roughly three to four weeks for processing after the online application is submitted.
Tennessee Cosmetology Apprenticeship Option
Tennessee has an apprenticeship path, but it must be offered through a participating school. A student cannot create a private apprenticeship directly with a salon.
Start in the apprenticeship track
The school enrolls the student into the apprenticeship program from the beginning. A traditional student cannot simply switch into the path later.
Complete 750 classroom hours first
Current guidance says the student completes 750 classroom hours and passes the theory exam before the salon apprenticeship portion.
The salon and mentor must be approved through the participating school. Current support guidance says the supervising professional must have at least 10 years of licensing experience, keep the license current and provide the apprentice with an individual workspace. A rule change effective December 24, 2025 allows one supervising professional to be responsible for up to three apprenticeship students.
Tennessee Domestic-Violence Training Requirement
Tennessee requires licensed beauty professionals to complete approved domestic-violence awareness training. New and reciprocal applicants are required to complete the training before license issuance, and Tennessee reminded existing licensees that the deadline for the active-licensee transition period was December 31, 2025.
Open Tennessee’s recognized domestic-violence training resources.
Opening a Tennessee Cosmetology Shop
A personal cosmetology license does not authorize a business location to operate as a cosmetology shop. Tennessee requires an appropriate shop license and a passing inspection before a new shop or changed location opens for business.
Before you apply
Tennessee says initial cosmetology-shop applications should be filed through CORE at least three weeks before the planned opening. Common required attachments include the local business license, Eligibility for Entitlements Verification for each owner and owner identity documentation when applicable.
Inspection before opening
The initial inspection is generally targeted within 10 days after the Board receives the online application and required supporting documents. The inspector contacts the applicant directly. New shops and location changes must be inspected and approved before opening.
Military Service Member and Spouse Licensing Route
A service member or spouse stationed in Tennessee may qualify for a temporary military licensure exemption while transitioning to a Tennessee credential. The out-of-state license must be valid, in good standing and reasonably similar to Tennessee’s requirements.
Registration is completed through CORE by choosing the Armed Forces application route. Tennessee requires supporting active-duty orders and a Certificate of Good Standing. Even with the exemption, the person must apply for the Tennessee credential by the earlier of the out-of-state license expiration date or one year after registering for the exemption.
Tennessee Board of Cosmetology Contact Information
| Contact | Current information | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Board | Tennessee Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners | Licensing, renewal, reciprocity, shops, schools and regulatory questions |
| Phone | 615-741-2515 | Cosmetology and Barber Board questions |
| cosmetology.board@tn.gov | Board correspondence and licensing support | |
| Address | 500 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN 37243 | Regulatory Boards Division / Board correspondence |
| PSI | 855-340-3710 | Exam scheduling and testing questions |
For a suspected violation, unlicensed activity or misconduct, use Tennessee’s official File a Complaint process. The Board can investigate regulatory issues, but its complaint office does not provide private legal advice or represent a consumer seeking a refund.
Official Tennessee License Links
Tennessee Cosmetology License FAQs
How do I get a cosmetology license in Tennessee?
How much are the Tennessee cosmetology exams in 2026?
How much does a Tennessee cosmetology license cost?
How do I look up a Tennessee cosmetology license?
When can I renew my Tennessee cosmetology license?
Do Tennessee cosmetologists need 16 hours of continuing education?
Is domestic-violence training required for Tennessee beauty professionals?
What happens if my Tennessee cosmetology license has been expired more than three years?
How do I transfer an out-of-state cosmetology license to Tennessee?
Does Tennessee allow cosmetology apprenticeship?
Tennessee Cosmetology License Checklist
- Confirm that cosmetologist is the correct Tennessee credential for the services you plan to perform.
- Complete the 1,500-hour education route or an approved alternative path that applies to your case.
- Use PSI’s current Tennessee exam instructions and current $67 theory / $67 practical pricing.
- Apply through CORE and pay the current $60 initial cosmetologist license fee.
- Complete mandatory domestic-violence awareness training when required by your licensing status.
- Verify final license issuance in Tennessee’s public search before relying on a receipt or application confirmation.
- Renew through CORE when the renewal option opens within 60 days of expiration.
- Do not apply the 16-hour instructor CE rule to an ordinary practitioner license.
- Use the separate out-of-state reciprocity process if you already hold another state license.
- License the shop separately and obtain inspection approval before a new cosmetology shop opens.
For Board-wide information, see the related Tennessee State Board of Cosmetology guide.