(1) All applicants for licensure under this chapter shall meet the following minimum requirements:
(a) Be of good moral character and temperate habit; (b) Be at least eighteen (18) years of age;

Terms Used In Kentucky Statutes 317A.050

  • Beauty salon: means any establishment in which the practice of cosmetology is conducted for the general public or for consideration. See Kentucky Statutes 317A.010
  • Board: means the Kentucky Board of Cosmetology. See Kentucky Statutes 317A.010
  • Cosmetologist: means a person who engages in the practice of cosmetology for the public generally or for consideration, regardless of the name under which the practice is conducted. See Kentucky Statutes 317A.010
  • Cosmetology: means the practice of: (a) Hair styling. See Kentucky Statutes 317A.010
  • Esthetic practices: means one (1) or more of the following acts:
    (a) Beautifying, cleansing, cosmetic preparations, exfoliating, facials, makeup, removal of superfluous hair, stimulation, tinting, tweezing, or waxing. See Kentucky Statutes 317A.010
  • Esthetic salon: means a place where an esthetician performs esthetic practices. See Kentucky Statutes 317A.010
  • Esthetician: means a person who is licensed by the board to engage in esthetic practices in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. See Kentucky Statutes 317A.010
  • Eyelash artistry: means the process of attaching semipermanent lashes or eyelash extensions to natural eyelashes. See Kentucky Statutes 317A.010
  • Instructor: means any individual licensed to teach cosmetology, esthetics, or nail technology who holds a corresponding license in cosmetology, esthetics practice, or nail technology. See Kentucky Statutes 317A.010
  • Limited beauty salon: means any establishment in which the practice of shampoo and style services, makeup artistry, eyelash artistry, or threading are conducted for the general public or for consideration. See Kentucky Statutes 317A.010
  • Makeup artistry: includes :
    1. See Kentucky Statutes 317A.010
  • Nail salon: means any establishment in which the practice of nail technology only is conducted for the general public or for consideration. See Kentucky Statutes 317A.010
  • Owner: when applied to any animal, means any person having a property interest in such animal. See Kentucky Statutes 446.010
  • school of cosmetology: means any operation, place, or establishment in or through which persons are trained or taught the practice of cosmetology, esthetic practices, and nail technology. See Kentucky Statutes 317A.010
  • school of esthetic practices: means any operation, place, or establishment in or through which persons are trained in esthetic practices. See Kentucky Statutes 317A.010
  • school of nail technology: means any operation, place, or establishment in or through which persons are trained in nail technology. See Kentucky Statutes 317A.010
  • Shampoo and style services: means beautifying, cleaning, or arranging the hair of an individual for consideration only at a limited beauty salon. See Kentucky Statutes 317A.010
  • State: when applied to a part of the United States, includes territories, outlying possessions, and the District of Columbia. See Kentucky Statutes 446.010
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
  • Threading: means the process of removing hair from below the eyebrow by use of a thread woven through the hair to be removed. See Kentucky Statutes 317A.010
  • Year: means calendar year. See Kentucky Statutes 446.010

(c) Have a high school diploma, a High School Equivalency Diploma, or results from the Test for Adult Basic Education indicating a score equivalent to the twelfth grade of high school; and
(d) Have submitted the completed application along with the required license fee as set forth in administrative regulation.
(2) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, the board may refuse to grant a license to any applicant who fails to comply with the provisions of this chapter or any administrative regulations promulgated by the board.
(3) The board shall issue a cosmetologist license to any person who:
(a) Has official certification from the state board or agency that certifies cosmetology schools that the applicant has graduated from a licensed school of cosmetology requiring one thousand five hundred (1,500) hours within five (5) years of enrolling within the school; and
(b) Has satisfactorily passed an examination prescribed by the board to determine fitness to practice cosmetology.
(4) The board shall issue an esthetician license to any person who:
(a) Has satisfactorily completed seven hundred fifty (750) hours of instruction in a licensed school approved by the board; and
(b) Has received a satisfactory grade on an examination prescribed by the board to determine fitness to practice as an esthetician.
(5) The board shall issue a license to act as a nail technician to any person who:
(a) Has official certification from the state board or agency that certifies cosmetology schools that the applicant has completed satisfactorily a nail technician course of study of four hundred fifty (450) hours in a licensed school of cosmetology within five (5) years of submitting an application for licensure; and
(b) Has satisfactorily passed an examination prescribed by the board to determine fitness to practice as a nail technician.
(6) The board shall issue a license to operate a salon as follows:
(a) The board shall issue a license to operate a beauty salon to any licensed cosmetologist. An owner who is not a licensed cosmetologist shall have a licensed cosmetologist as manager of the beauty salon at all times. If the owner, manager, or location of a beauty salon changes, the required form and fee shall be submitted to the board.
(b) The board shall issue a license to operate an esthetic salon to any licensed
esthetician. An owner who is not a licensed esthetician shall have a licensed esthetician or cosmetologist as manager of the esthetic salon at all times. If the owner, manager, or location of an esthetic salon changes, the required form and fee shall be submitted to the board.
(c) The board shall issue a license to operate a nail salon to any licensed nail technician. An owner who is not a licensed nail technician shall have a licensed nail technician or cosmetologist as manager of the nail salon at all times. If the owner, manager, or location of a nail salon changes, the required form and fee shall be submitted to the board.
(7) The board shall issue an instructor training certificate to train to be an instructor in cosmetology, esthetic practices, or nail technology to any person who:
(a) Has held a current cosmetologist, esthetician, or nail technician license for at least one (1) year; and
(b) Has submitted an application that has been signed by the owners of the school in which the applicant will study. The course of instruction shall be for a period of seven hundred fifty (750) hours and not less than four and one-half (4.5) months at one (1) school providing this instruction. The school owner shall verify to the board the completion of seven hundred fifty (750) hours. For out-of-state verification, an applicant shall provide official certification from the board or agency that certifies schools in that other state of licensure verifying the applicant has completed a course of instruction consisting of at least seven hundred fifty (750) hours and not less than four and one-half (4.5) months at one (1) school providing the instruction.
(8) The board shall issue a license to teach cosmetology to any person who:
(a) Has held a current cosmetologist license and an instructor training certificate for at least four and one-half (4.5) months; and
(b) Has satisfactorily passed the examination for the teaching of cosmetology as prescribed by the board.
(9) The board shall issue a license to teach esthetic practices to any person who:
(a) Has held a current esthetician license and an instructor training certificate for at least four and one-half (4.5) months;
(b) Has completed fifty (50) hours in esthetics training within the last two (2)
years; and
(c) Has satisfactorily passed the examination for the teaching of esthetic practices as prescribed by the board.
(10) The board shall issue a license to teach nail technology to any person who:
(a) Has held a current nail technician license and an instructor training certificate for at least four and one-half (4.5) months;
(b) Has completed fifty (50) hours in nail technology training within the last two
(2) years; and
(c) Has satisfactorily passed the examination for the teaching of nail technology as prescribed by the board.
(11) (a) If the requirements of KRS § 317A.090 have been satisfied, the board shall issue a license to operate a school of cosmetology or a school of esthetic practices or a school of nail technology to any person who has as manager at all times a person who is:
1. Licensed as an instructor;
2. Charged with the responsibility of ensuring that all applicable statutes and administrative regulations are complied with; and
3. Responsible for having a sufficient number of licensed instructors of cosmetology or esthetic practices or nail technology to conduct the school.
(b) Any student enrolling in the school shall pay the fee set forth in administrative regulation to the board before enrollment in the school shall be allowed.
(c) The transfer of any license to operate a school of cosmetology or esthetic practices or nail technology shall require the board’s approval and shall become effective upon submitting the required form and fee to the board.
(12) (a) The board shall issue a license to provide shampoo and style services to any person who:
1. Has passed an examination prescribed by the board to determine fitness to perform shampoo and style services;
2. Has completed at least three hundred (300) hours of instruction from a licensed school of cosmetology; and
3. Has met any other reasonable criteria established in administrative regulations promulgated by the board.
(b) The board shall issue a license to operate a limited beauty salon to any person:
1. Who is licensed to provide shampoo and style services or who employs at least one (1) person licensed to provide shampoo and style services at the limited beauty salon; and
2. Whose limited beauty salon facility complies with standards established in administrative regulations promulgated by the board.
(13) Licenses established under this chapter shall be valid for a period of time to be established by the board through the promulgation of administrative regulations.
(14) Licenses and permits issued by the board may be renewed beginning July 1 through
July 31 of each year.
(a) Any license shall automatically be renewed by the board:
1. Upon submission and receipt of the application for renewal and the required annual license fee; and
2. If the application for renewal is otherwise in compliance with the provisions of this chapter and the administrative regulations of the board.
(b) Any license application postmarked after July 31 shall be considered expired, and the appropriate restoration fee as required by administrative regulation of
the board shall apply.
(15) The requirements for a new license for any person whose license has expired for a period exceeding five (5) years shall be as follows:
(a) Cosmetologists shall retake and pass both the practical and theory examination;
(b) Estheticians shall retake and pass both the practical and theory examination;
(c) Instructors of cosmetology or esthetic practices shall retake and pass both the practical and theory examination;
(d) Nail technicians shall retake and pass the practical and theory examination;
(e) Providers of shampoo and style services shall retake and pass both the practical and theory examination; and
(f) The appropriate restoration fee as set forth in administrative regulation of the board shall be required.
(16) Guest artists or demonstrators appearing and demonstrating before persons other than licensed cosmetologists, estheticians, nail technicians, and providers of shampoo and style services shall apply for a permit that shall be in effect for ten (10) days. Guest artists performing before a nonprofit, recognized professional cosmetologists’, estheticians’, or cosmetology school or shampoo and style services’ or nail technicians’ group shall apply for a permit, but shall not be required to pay the fee.
(17) The board shall issue a permit for threading and may promulgate administrative regulations that set out requirements for the practice of threading. Threading shall be conducted in a licensed beauty salon or a facility with a permit to engage in threading, and the board may promulgate administrative regulations for facilities and the required sanitation standards. The permit shall be valid for a period of one (1) year.
(18) The board shall issue a permit for eyelash artistry and may promulgate administrative regulations that set out the requirements for the practice of eyelash artistry. Eyelash artistry shall be conducted in a licensed beauty salon or a facility with a permit to engage in eyelash artistry, and the board may promulgate administrative regulations for facilities, education, and the required sanitation standards. The permit shall be valid for a period of one (1) year.
(19) The board shall issue a permit for makeup artistry and may promulgate administrative regulations that set out requirements for the practice of makeup artistry and required sanitation standards. The permit shall be valid for a period of one (1) year.
(20) (a) The board may issue a permit for temporary event services to a Kentucky- licensed cosmetologist, esthetician, limited stylist, or nail technician and shall promulgate administrative regulations that set out requirements for issuance of a temporary event services permit including:
1. Sanitation standards;
2. Criteria for events that qualify;
3. Application requirements and fees; and
4. Any other requirements necessary to protect the public health and safety. (b) The temporary event services permit shall be valid only for the specific dates
and locations requested.
(c) No person other than a Kentucky-licensed cosmetologist, esthetician, limited stylist, or nail technician shall perform services at a temporary event services location, and no licensee shall perform services other than those authorized by his or her respective license pursuant to KRS § 317A.020.
(d) The Kentucky-licensed cosmetologist, esthetician, limited stylist, or nail technician holding a temporary event services permit shall be liable for any violation of KRS Chapter 317A or administrative regulations promulgated under KRS Chapter 317A that occurs at the temporary event services location.
Effective: July 14, 2022
History: Amended 2022 Ky. Acts ch. 235, sec. 6, effective July 14, 2022. — Amended
2018 Ky. Acts ch. 35, sec. 2, effective July 14, 2018; and ch. 46, sec. 16, effective March 30, 2018. — Amended 2017 Ky. Acts ch. 63, sec. 31, effective June 29, 2017; and ch. 99, sec. 1, effective June 29, 2017. — Amended 2012 Ky. Acts ch. 152, sec.
5, effective July 12, 2012. — Amended 2004 Ky. Acts ch. 96, sec. 3, effective July
13, 2004. — Amended 1998 Ky. Acts ch. 91, sec. 1, effective July 15, 1998. — Amended 1996 Ky. Acts ch. 82, sec. 4, effective July 15, 1996. — Amended 1988
Ky. Acts ch. 162, sec. 1, effective March 31, 1988. — Amended 1982 Ky. Acts ch.
435, sec. 1, effective July 15, 1982. — Amended 1980 Ky. Acts ch. 202, sec. 1, effective July 15, 1980. — Created 1974 Ky. Acts ch. 354, sec. 5.
Legislative Research Commission Note (7/14/2018). This statute was amended by 2018
Ky. Acts chs. 35 and 46. Where these Acts are not in conflict, they have been codified together. Where a conflict exists, Acts ch. 46, which was last enacted by the General Assembly, prevails under KRS § 446.250.