Connecticut State Board of Cosmetology
Information verified:About the Connecticut State Board of Cosmetology
Connecticut does not maintain a standalone "Board of Cosmetology." Instead, individual licensure is administered by the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) through its Practitioner Licensing and Investigations Section. Licensees are issued a single combined credential called the Hairdresser/Cosmetician license — the legal terminology used in Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 387.
The Examining Board for Barbers, Hairdressers and Cosmeticians sits within the DPH Public Health Hearing Office and serves an advisory and disciplinary review role; it does not issue licenses directly. The Board currently has five vacancies and is chaired in an acting capacity by public member Mark Anderson, with practitioner members Jeffrey Zapata, Jessica Dudley, and Bridgette Mack.
The licensing office is located at 410 Capitol Avenue, MS # 12 APP, Hartford, CT 06134. The Practitioner Licensing program-specific phone line is (860) 509-7603 and program email is dph.hairdresserteam@ct.gov. All applications are submitted online through the eLicense Connecticut portal.
Connecticut's licensing program has several distinguishing features: a single combined Hairdresser/Cosmetician license rather than separate cosmetologist and barber credentials, a low 9th-grade education minimum, the use of Prometric (rather than NIC or PSI) as the licensing examination vendor, and notably no continuing education requirement for renewal. Esthetics, eyelash, and nail services are licensed separately by DPH and were only added to the regulatory framework between 2020 and 2021.
Licenses Regulated
The Connecticut Department of Public Health licenses the following appearance-services professions under Chapters 386 and 387 of the General Statutes and related Practice Acts:
- Hairdresser/Cosmetician — The flagship credential covering hair, skin, makeup, and basic nail services. Requires 1,500 hours of approved training, completion of at least the 9th grade, and passage of the Prometric Licensing Examination. Initial application fee: $100.
- Barber — A separate license issued under Chapter 386. Like the hairdresser license, the application fee is $100 and the renewal fee is $100. Barbers practice under their own scope of practice and may not perform chemical services unless also licensed as a hairdresser.
- Esthetician — Required for skin care practice in Connecticut on or after July 1, 2020. Requires completion of a 600-hour approved program.
- Eyelash Technician — Required for lash services performed on or after July 1, 2020. A separate practice act governs scope.
- Nail Technician — Required for nail services performed on or after January 1, 2021. Requires 100 hours of approved training and a $100 application fee.
- Combination License — Qualified applicants may apply jointly for esthetician, eyelash technician, and/or nail technician under the "Appearance Enhancement" grouping in eLicense. The combination application fee is $100 for two licenses or $200 for all three; renewal is a flat $100 every two years regardless of how many credentials are held.
Each hairdressing shop, store, or place must be under the management of a registered hairdresser and cosmetician. Salons themselves are inspected through DPH in collaboration with local health directors rather than separately permitted by DPH.
Renew Your Connecticut Cosmetology License
Connecticut Hairdresser/Cosmetician licenses renew on a biennial cycle, expiring on the last day of the licensee's birth month. The renewal fee is $100.00. Connecticut does not require continuing education for hairdresser/cosmetician renewal — there is no CE-hour mandate at any renewal cycle.
Renewal Notices
DPH mails a renewal notice approximately 60 days before expiration, with a final notice 30 days after expiration if the license has not yet been renewed. Notices go to the licensee's address of record, so it is critical to keep your address current with the Practitioner Licensing and Investigations Section.
How to Renew
Renewals are processed through eLicense Connecticut. Hairdresser/Cosmetician is not on the mandatory online-renewal list, so paper renewal by mail is also accepted — but online is faster. If you have not received a renewal notice and prefer paper, email oplc.dph@ct.gov to request a renewal application.
Grace Period and Lapse
Under Connecticut General Statutes §19a-88(e), all DPH-issued licenses have a 90-day grace period following expiration. During those 90 days the licensee may continue to practice and may renew without reinstatement. On the 91st day the license becomes void and the practitioner must apply for reinstatement before resuming work.
Reinstatement of a Lapsed License
The reinstatement application is $100 and is filed through eLicense Connecticut. Applicants who have been out of practice between two and eight years must additionally complete 135 hours of refresher coursework at an approved school or retake the Prometric Licensing Examination. Practitioners out of practice longer than eight years must complete both the Prometric exam and a 245-hour refresher curriculum.
Active-Duty Military Fee Waiver
Connecticut residents on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces may request a renewal-fee waiver each renewal cycle by submitting a commanding officer letter and proof of Connecticut residency to oplc.dph@ct.gov.
File a Complaint
Complaints against Connecticut hairdressers, cosmeticians, barbers, estheticians, eyelash technicians, and nail technicians are handled by the DPH Practitioner Investigations Unit (PIU) within the Health Care Quality and Safety Branch.
To file a complaint, complete the DPH complaint form (English and Spanish PDFs are available) and submit it by mail, email, or fax. Mail: Connecticut Department of Public Health, Practitioner Investigations Unit, MS#12HSR, P.O. Box 340308, Hartford, CT 06134-0308. Email: DPH.PLISComplaints@ct.gov. Fax: 860-707-1916. To request a paper form be mailed to you, call the PIU at (860) 509-7552.
You should receive a written acknowledgment letter — by U.S. Mail or to the email address on the form — within two weeks of submission. If you do not, contact DPH.PLISComplaints@ct.gov directly. Be aware that under Connecticut's Freedom of Information laws, complaints and supporting information you provide may be disclosable.
Disciplinary action by DPH is limited to the practitioner's license — fines, probation, suspension, or revocation. The Department cannot order monetary compensation to a complainant. Final disciplinary actions are published quarterly in the DPH Regulatory Action Report.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does Connecticut have a state board of cosmetology?
- Not in the traditional sense. Connecticut does not have a standalone cosmetology board. Licenses are issued by the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) Practitioner Licensing and Investigations Section. The Examining Board for Barbers, Hairdressers and Cosmeticians is an advisory body within DPH's Public Health Hearing Office.
- Why does Connecticut call it "Hairdresser/Cosmetician" instead of "cosmetologist"?
- That is the legal terminology used in Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 387. The single combined credential covers what most states call cosmetology — hair, skin, makeup, and basic nail services — under one license issued by DPH.
- How much does it cost to renew a Connecticut hairdresser license?
- $100.00 every two years. There is no continuing education fee on top of that because Connecticut does not require CE for hairdresser/cosmetician renewal.
- Does Connecticut require continuing education for hairdressers?
- No. Connecticut does not require any continuing education hours for hairdresser/cosmetician renewal. Renewal is the $100 biennial fee paid through the eLicense portal.
- How do I contact the Connecticut DPH Hairdresser Licensing program?
- Phone (860) 509-7603, email dph.hairdresserteam@ct.gov, fax (860) 707-1930, or write to Connecticut Department of Public Health, Hairdresser Licensing, 410 Capitol Ave., MS # 12 APP, P.O. Box 340308, Hartford, CT 06134.
- How do I look up a Connecticut hairdresser or cosmetician license?
- Use the eLicense Connecticut Lookup tool. You can search by name or license number to verify any active CT-issued health practitioner license.
- What is the grace period if my Connecticut hairdresser license expires?
- 90 days. Under CGS §19a-88(e), you may continue to practice and renew during that 90-day window. On the 91st day the license becomes void and you must apply for reinstatement before resuming work.
- How do I file a complaint against a Connecticut hairdresser?
- Complete the DPH complaint form and submit it by mail to the Practitioner Investigations Unit (MS#12HSR, P.O. Box 340308, Hartford, CT 06134-0308), by email to DPH.PLISComplaints@ct.gov, or by fax to 860-707-1916. Call (860) 509-7552 to request a paper form.