Minnesota State Board of Cosmetology
Information verified:About the Minnesota State Board of Cosmetology
The Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners — branded publicly as the Minnesota Board of Cosmetology — is the state agency that licenses and regulates the cosmetology industry under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 155A, with practitioner and salon rules in Minnesota Rules Chapter 2105 and school rules in Chapter 2110. The Board oversees roughly 33,000 individual practitioners along with thousands of salons and a network of licensed cosmetology schools.
Unlike most states that combine cosmetology and barbering in a single agency, Minnesota's Board only governs cosmetology disciplines. Barbers in Minnesota are licensed by the separate Minnesota Board of Barber Examiners. The Cosmetology Board is a small, dedicated agency staffed by licensing specialists, investigators, and a Complaint Committee that meets regularly to review enforcement matters.
The Board office is located at 1000 University Avenue West, Suite 100, in St. Paul, just off the I-94 Lexington Parkway exit. The main phone line is (651) 201-2742, the fax is (651) 649-5702, and email is cosmetology@state.mn.us. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Central, closed on state holidays. Free parking is available in the lot connected to the main entrance.
Most licensee transactions — renewals, address changes, and account management — run through the Board's GLSuite portal at bcegl.hlb.state.mn.us. The public-facing license lookup, school directory, and inspection report search are also hosted on that domain.
Licenses Regulated
Minnesota Statute 155A.27 establishes nine distinct individual license classifications. The Board treats every classification as a separate credential with its own training, exam, and fee path:
- Cosmetologist — Full-scope practitioner authorized to perform hair, skin, and nail services. Requires 1,550 hours of training in a Minnesota-licensed cosmetology school and a passing score on three PSI written exams (general theory, written practical, and Minnesota laws and rules).
- Esthetician — Skin-care specialist authorized to perform facials, makeup, and related services. Requires 600 hours of training and the same three written exams.
- Advanced Practice Esthetician (AP Esthetician) — A higher-tier esthetics license unique to Minnesota that supersedes the standard esthetician license. AP estheticians may perform additional advanced procedures defined in Rule 2105 and must complete a board-approved AP esthetician course.
- Nail Technician — Manicure, pedicure, and nail-enhancement services. Requires 350 hours of training plus the three PSI written exams.
- Eyelash Technician — Lash-extension and lash-lift services. Minnesota's eyelash technician credential requires only 14 hours of training under Rule 2105.0145, the lowest hour requirement of any Board credential.
- Hair Technician — A separate license category for natural-hair and textured-hair services, with its own application and transfer pathway distinct from the cosmetologist license.
- Salon Manager — A practitioner who has passed the Salon Manager exam and is authorized to be the designated manager of record for a licensed salon. Every Minnesota salon must have a designated salon manager.
- Instructor — Authorized to teach in a licensed cosmetology school. Requires holding an active operator or manager license, documenting at least 2,700 hours of licensed practice within the prior three years, completing a board-approved instructor course, and passing instructor general theory, practical, and laws and rules tests.
- School Manager — The designated manager of record for a licensed cosmetology school. Must hold an active Minnesota cosmetology salon manager license and pass the school manager exam.
The Board also issues salon licenses, school licenses, homebound service permits, special-event permits, and temporary military licenses. A person who provides only hairstyling and makeup services may be exempt from licensure under §155A.27, Subd. 9, after completing a four-hour board-approved health and safety course, and threading is statutorily exempt.
Renew Your Minnesota Cosmetology License
Every Minnesota individual cosmetology license is issued for a three-year cycle under Minnesota Statute 155A.27, Subd. 6. Licenses expire on the last day of the licensee's birth month in the third year of the cycle, so each licensee has their own personal expiration date rather than a statewide fixed date. A license becomes eligible for renewal 10 weeks before the expiration date.
Current Three-Year Renewal Fees
- Operator (Cosmetologist, Esthetician, Nail Technician, Eyelash Technician, Hair Technician) — $115 on-time renewal ($100 license fee + $15 application fee).
- Salon Manager and Instructor — $145 on-time renewal ($130 license fee + $15 application fee).
- Salon — $225 renewal.
- School — $2,500 renewal.
- Late practitioner penalty — additional $45 if a complete and accurate renewal is not received in the Board office by the expiration date.
Fees are codified in Minnesota Statute 155A.25, Subd. 1a. Operator renewals that have lapsed less than three years cost $160; renewals lapsed more than three years require $195 plus retesting.
Continuing Education
Practitioners must complete 8 hours of continuing education within the three years prior to renewal, broken into two specific courses:
- A 4-hour Core course covering 1 hour of laws and rules and 3 hours of health, safety, and infection control.
- A 4-hour Professional Practice course covering product chemistry, proper use of machines and instruments, business management and human relations, or techniques relevant to the licensee's field.
Eyelash technicians are required to complete only the 4-hour Core course. All courses must be completed with a Board-approved provider; current course lists are published on the Board's continuing education page.
How to Renew
On-time renewals can be filed online through the Board's GLSuite licensee portal, or by mail/in-person using the Active License Renewal Application. Applications for licenses that have been expired more than six months can only be submitted by mail or in person — the online system will not accept them. Faxed and emailed applications are not accepted, and renewals are processed within 15 business days of receipt.
File a Complaint
The Minnesota Board of Cosmetology investigates alleged violations of Minnesota Statute Chapter 155A and Minnesota Rules Chapters 2105 and 2110. Complaints are reviewed by an investigator first, then evaluated by the Board's Complaint Committee.
What the Board Can Investigate
- Unlicensed practice of cosmetology services.
- Infection control and sanitation violations in salons or schools.
- Practitioners or salons providing services outside the scope of their license.
- Licensees operating with an expired license.
What the Board Cannot Investigate
- Customer service, refund, or scheduling disputes.
- Employment-related disputes between licensees and salon owners (those go to the Minnesota Department of Labor).
- General consumer protection or wage matters (those go to the Minnesota Attorney General's Office).
The Board does not have authority to refund money, award damages, or compel a salon to compensate a client. Consumers seeking financial recovery are directed to private legal counsel or to the practitioner's liability insurance carrier.
How to File
Complaints are filed online through the Board's electronic complaint form at bcelf.hlb.state.mn.us. The form walks the complainant through previous-complaint disclosure, complainant and respondent information, a written statement of the complaint, supporting documentation upload, and a signed authorization for release of information. Complaints submitted anonymously or without a signed authorization are likely to be dismissed without investigation.
After submission, an investigator contacts the complainant to confirm receipt and may request additional information. Once the investigation is complete the Complaint Committee determines whether action is warranted, and the complainant is notified of the outcome in writing.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How long is a Minnesota cosmetology license valid?
- Three years. Under Minnesota Statute 155A.27, Subd. 6, every individual license is issued for a three-year cycle and expires on the last day of the licensee's birth month in the third year of the cycle.
- How much is the Minnesota cosmetology renewal fee?
- $115 for an on-time operator renewal, or $145 for a salon manager or instructor renewal. A $45 late penalty is added if the renewal is not received by the Board on or before the expiration date. Salon renewals are $225 and school renewals are $2,500.
- How many continuing education hours does Minnesota require?
- 8 hours per three-year cycle: a 4-hour Core course (1 hour laws and rules, 3 hours health, safety, and infection control) plus a 4-hour Professional Practice course. Eyelash technicians complete only the 4-hour Core course.
- Where do I renew my Minnesota cosmetology license online?
- Through the Board's GLSuite licensee portal at bcegl.hlb.state.mn.us. Renewals for licenses expired more than six months must be submitted by mail or in person instead.
- How do I look up a Minnesota cosmetology license?
- Use the Board's public license lookup at bcegl.hlb.state.mn.us, searchable by name or license number.
- How do I file a complaint against a Minnesota salon or practitioner?
- File online through the Board's complaint form at bcelf.hlb.state.mn.us. A signed authorization for release of information is required — anonymous complaints are likely to be dismissed.
- How do I contact the Minnesota Board of Cosmetology?
- Phone (651) 201-2742, fax (651) 649-5702, email cosmetology@state.mn.us, or visit 1000 University Avenue West, Suite 100, St. Paul, MN 55104. Office hours are Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM CT.