Alaska State Board of Cosmetology
Information verified:About the Alaska State Board of Cosmetology
The Alaska Board of Barbers and Hairdressers is a state occupational licensing board established under Alaska Statute AS 08.13. Unlike most states, which maintain a standalone cosmetology board, Alaska consolidates hairdressing, barbering, esthetics, manicuring, body piercing, tattooing, and permanent cosmetic coloring under a single board. The board is staffed and supported by the Division of Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing (DCBPL), a division of the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development (DCCED). DCBPL administers licensing for approximately 40 professions and occupations across Alaska; the Board of Barbers and Hairdressers is one program within that division.
Board membership consists of seven members appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Legislature: one licensed barber; one person licensed to practice body piercing, tattooing, or permanent cosmetic coloring; two persons licensed as hairdressers, one of whom is also licensed as an esthetician; one public member; one person licensed to practice manicuring; and one person licensed in any activity regulated under AS 08.13. Members serve staggered terms to ensure continuity. The board meets three times per year and offers a public comment period at each meeting. Meeting agendas and approved minutes are posted to the board's website.
The board's primary responsibilities include reviewing and approving license applications, establishing minimum training and examination standards, inspecting licensed schools and shops, and taking disciplinary action against individuals or entities that violate Alaska's cosmetology and body art statutes and regulations. The board adopts its operational regulations under 12 AAC 09. Disciplinary authority includes license revocation, suspension, civil fines, and required remedial education.
The board's mailing address is PO Box 110806, Juneau, AK 99811-0806. The physical office is located at 333 W. Willoughby Avenue, 9th Floor, Juneau, AK 99801. The board-specific direct phone is (907) 465-2591; the division's main line is (907) 465-2550. The board email is BoardofBarbersHairdressers@Alaska.Gov. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
All individual licenses issued by this board are renewed on a biennial (two-year) cycle and expire on August 31 of odd-numbered years, regardless of when they were originally issued. There is no grace period — practicing with a lapsed license is illegal under Alaska law. Online renewal is available through the MY LICENSE self-service portal at ProfessionalLicense.Alaska.Gov/MYLICENSE. All license applications must be notarized; faxed or emailed applications are not accepted.
Licenses Regulated
The Alaska Board of Barbers and Hairdressers regulates a broader range of personal service occupations than most state cosmetology boards. In addition to hairdressing, esthetics, and manicuring, the board licenses barbers, body piercers, tattooists, and permanent cosmetic colorists. The following individual license types are issued by the board:
Hairdresser
Authorizes arranging, styling, cutting, coloring, permanent waving, bleaching, conditioning, and similar work on the hair of a living person, as well as beard trimming. Requires 1,650 hours of training in a board-approved school or 2,000 hours in a board-approved apprenticeship program. Holders of a hairdresser license may also perform manicuring and limited esthetics services without a separate license.
Barber
Authorizes shaving, trimming, cutting, styling, permanent waving, bleaching, coloring, and chemically straightening the beard or hair of a living person for cosmetic purposes. Training requirements are established under 12 AAC 09 and completed in a board-approved barber school or apprenticeship.
Non-Chemical Barber
Authorizes haircutting and beard trimming only — no chemical services such as perming, coloring, or relaxing. A separate license category from the full barber license.
Esthetician
Authorizes massaging, cleansing, stimulating, and similar work on the scalp, face, or neck, including skin care, makeup application, and temporary removal of superfluous hair. Requires 350 hours of training in an approved school or an approved apprenticeship program.
Manicurist
Authorizes cutting, trimming, polishing, tinting, and cleansing natural or artificial nails, applying artificial nail materials, and beautifying hands and feet for cosmetic purposes. Requires completion of a 12-hour board-approved course in health, safety, and hygiene — one of the shortest manicurist training requirements in the country.
Manicurist with Advanced Endorsement
An enhanced manicurist license authorizing advanced nail services. Out-of-state manicurists who completed a minimum of 250 training hours and passed a written exam may apply for this endorsement rather than the basic manicurist license.
Hair Braider
Authorizes braiding natural hair, natural and synthetic fibers, and hair extensions, trimming extensions for braiding purposes, and attaching hair by braiding. Requires completion of a 35-hour board-approved hair braiding course.
Body Piercer, Tattooist, and Permanent Cosmetic Colorist
The board also licenses body piercers, tattooists, and permanent cosmetic colorists (tattooing to simulate makeup such as permanent eyeliner, eyebrows, or lip color). Training for these categories is typically completed through a board-approved apprenticeship under a licensed practitioner.
Instructor
Required to teach in any board-licensed school offering barber, hairdresser, esthetician, manicurist with advanced endorsement, or non-chemical barber programs. Instructors must hold a current license in the subject area they intend to teach.
School and Shop Owner
Any school providing board-regulated training must hold a school license. Any shop where board-regulated services are performed for compensation must hold a shop owner license. Mobile unit and temporary shop licenses are also available for qualifying operations.
Renew Your Alaska Cosmetology License
Alaska cosmetology and body art licenses are renewed on a biennial (two-year) basis. All individual licenses issued by the Board of Barbers and Hairdressers expire on August 31 of odd-numbered years, regardless of when they were originally issued. There is no grace period — it is illegal under Alaska law to practice with a lapsed license.
Renewal Fee
- Biennial license renewal (for licenses first issued on or before August 31, 2024): $180.00
- Prorated renewal (for licenses first issued on or after September 1, 2024): $90.00
How to Renew
Renew online through the MY LICENSE self-service portal at ProfessionalLicense.Alaska.Gov/MYLICENSE. Online renewal is fastest — in most cases the license renews immediately after payment. Paper renewal forms are available on the board's Applications & Forms page and may be mailed to DCBPL, PO Box 110806, Juneau, AK 99811. Allow 4–6 weeks for paper renewal processing.
Continuing Education
Alaska does not require continuing education for hairdresser, barber, esthetician, or manicurist license renewals. No CE hours must be reported or documented at the time of renewal.
Lapsed Licenses
Once a license lapses, the licensee may not perform any regulated services. To avoid interruption of practice, submit your renewal well before the August 31 deadline, as paper renewals can take 4–6 weeks during peak periods. Contact the board at (907) 465-2591 or BoardofBarbersHairdressers@Alaska.Gov with renewal questions.
File a Complaint
The Alaska Division of Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing operates an Investigations Unit that handles complaints against licensees regulated by the Board of Barbers and Hairdressers. Any member of the public may file a complaint about a licensed hairdresser, barber, esthetician, manicurist, body piercer, tattooist, or permanent cosmetic colorist, as well as about unlicensed practice of any regulated activity.
How to File a Complaint
To initiate a complaint, visit the DCBPL Investigations page at commerce.alaska.gov/web/cbpl/Investigations and complete the request-for-contact form. The Investigations Unit will determine whether the complaint falls within DCBPL jurisdiction. The Investigations Unit phone is (907) 269-8124; the email is Investigations@Alaska.Gov.
Fraud Alert
DCBPL has issued warnings about fraudulent communications from individuals falsely claiming to be investigators or licensing examiners. These include phishing emails containing document-upload links and calls from fake "investigators" claiming a licensee's name is associated with criminal activity. If you receive such a call, hang up and verify by calling the Investigations Unit directly at (907) 269-8124. DCBPL will never send a link to upload documents via email.
Investigation Process
Once a complaint is received, the Investigations Unit reviews whether the alleged conduct falls within its jurisdiction. Substantiated complaints may result in negotiated settlements, formal disciplinary proceedings, or law enforcement referrals for unlicensed practice. Formal disciplinary outcomes may include license revocation, suspension, civil fines, or mandatory remedial education. All final disciplinary actions are public record.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Alaska Board of Barbers and Hairdressers and where is it located?
- The Alaska Board of Barbers and Hairdressers is the state licensing authority for hairdressers, barbers, estheticians, manicurists, body piercers, tattooists, and permanent cosmetic colorists in Alaska. It operates under the Division of Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing (DCBPL), not as a standalone board. The mailing address is PO Box 110806, Juneau, AK 99811-0806; the physical office is at 333 W. Willoughby Avenue, 9th Floor, Juneau. Phone: (907) 465-2591. Email: BoardofBarbersHairdressers@Alaska.Gov.
- How long is an Alaska hairdresser or esthetician license valid?
- All individual licenses issued by the Board of Barbers and Hairdressers are valid for two years and expire on August 31 of odd-numbered years, regardless of when they were originally issued. There is no grace period — practicing with a lapsed license is illegal. The biennial renewal fee is $180.
- Does Alaska require continuing education for hairdresser or esthetician license renewal?
- No. Alaska does not require continuing education for hairdresser, barber, esthetician, or manicurist license renewals. Licensees pay the $180 biennial renewal fee and update their information through the MY LICENSE portal or a paper renewal form. No CE hours must be reported.
- How many training hours are required for a hairdresser license in Alaska?
- Hairdresser applicants must complete 1,650 hours of training in a board-approved school or 2,000 hours in a board-approved apprenticeship program. Estheticians need 350 hours in school or apprenticeship. Manicurists need only a 12-hour board-approved course in health, safety, and hygiene — one of the shortest manicurist training requirements in the United States.
- Is there a practical examination required for an Alaska hairdresser license?
- No. Alaska requires only the NIC national written theory examination, administered online through Prov (provexam.com). There is no separate practical examination for hairdresser or esthetician applicants. Candidates must submit a complete, approved application before scheduling their exam; the board office and Prov will notify approved candidates when they may register.
- How do I look up an Alaska cosmetology or hairdresser license?
- License verification is available through the DCBPL professional license search at commerce.alaska.gov/cbp/main/Search/Professional. Search by name, license number, or license type to view current license status, expiration date, and any disciplinary history.