Arkansas State Board of Cosmetology
Information verified:About the Arkansas State Board of Cosmetology
Cosmetology in Arkansas is regulated not by a standalone board but by the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) — Cosmetology Section, a structure that distinguishes Arkansas from most other states. The Cosmetology Section operates under ADH authority and is advised on licensing policy by the Cosmetology Technical Advisory Committee (CTAC), which meets periodically at the Freeway Medical Building, 5800 West 10th Street, Room 906, Little Rock, Arkansas. Meeting schedules and agendas are published in advance to allow public comment on submitted topics.
The section's statutory authority derives from the Arkansas Cosmetology Law, codified at A.C.A. §§17-26-101 et seq., and its administrative rules are published as the Cosmetology and Body Art Rule. The section licenses and regulates cosmetologists, aestheticians, manicurists, electrologists, instructors, registered hairstylists, cosmetology establishments, and cosmetology schools throughout the state. Body art licensing operates as a separate program under the same ADH umbrella, with a distinct staff, phone number, and email address.
The Cosmetology Section maintains its offices at 4815 W. Markham Street, Slot #8, in Little Rock. The section can be reached by telephone at (501) 682-2168, by fax at (501) 682-5640, or by email at Cosmo@arkansas.gov. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Central Time. The section is closed on all published state holidays.
License applications, renewals, and related transactions are managed through the CLIPS system (Cosmetology License and Information Processing System) at adhcosmo.arkansas.gov. Through CLIPS, practitioners can renew licenses, verify license status, submit salon applications, and request certifications. Printed licenses are typically mailed within 10 to 14 days of an approved transaction.
The section enforces compliance through cosmetology inspectors who conduct routine and complaint-driven inspections of licensed establishments. Violations may result in fines, license suspension, or referral to the CTAC for formal disciplinary proceedings. The committee reviews license applications, complaints, and proposed rule changes, and its decisions are subject to appeal under Arkansas administrative law.
Recent legislative changes affecting Arkansas cosmetologists include Act 114 of 2023, which temporarily reduced cosmetology renewal fees for the 2024–2025 calendar years. Effective January 1, 2026, renewal fees were restored to the standard amounts set by A.C.A. §17-26-209. Act 964 of 2025 additionally imposed warning-label requirements on hair relaxer products sold in Arkansas that contain carcinogens or reproductive toxicants — a public safety measure of direct relevance to Arkansas cosmetology establishments and the professionals who work in them.
Licenses Regulated
The Arkansas Department of Health Cosmetology Section issues the following license categories:
- Cosmetologist — Full-service license covering hair cutting, styling, coloring, chemical wave and relaxer services, skin care, facial services, and nail services. Requires 1,500 hours of approved school training and a minimum 10th-grade education.
- Aesthetician — Authorizes facial treatments, skin analysis, makeup application, waxing, laser services using only Class 1 or Class 2 devices within a licensed establishment, and microneedling that does not penetrate beyond the epidermis. Requires 600 hours of training. Microblading and higher-class laser services are not within scope.
- Manicurist — Covers nail services including manicures, pedicures, and artificial nail application. Requires 600 hours of approved training.
- Electrologist — Authorizes permanent hair removal by electrolysis only. Laser hair removal is outside this scope. Requires 600 hours of training and a 12th-grade education or equivalent — the highest education prerequisite for any Arkansas cosmetology license.
- Registered Hairstylist — An Arkansas-specific license category for hairstyling services. A Registered Hairstylist Application is available through CLIPS or by mail to the section office. This is a distinct and separate license from the full cosmetologist.
- Instructor — Authorizes teaching cosmetology, aesthetics, or nail technology at a licensed Arkansas cosmetology school. Applicants must first hold the applicable practitioner license and pass an instructor examination administered by Prov, Inc.
- Establishment (Salon) — Required for any business offering cosmetology services to the public. New establishment fee: $100.00. Annual renewal: $50.00. A letter of authorization allows the salon to open before inspection, but a permanent license is not issued until a Cosmetology Inspector approves the location.
- School — Cosmetology schools must be licensed by the section. New school fee: $1,500.00; annual renewal: $250.00. Prospective schools must obtain the New School Application Packet from the section.
Renew Your Arkansas Cosmetology License
Arkansas cosmetology practitioner licenses renew on a biennial (two-year) cycle. The renewal fee is $50.00, effective January 1, 2026, following the restoration of the standard fee schedule under A.C.A. §17-26-209. There is no continuing education (CE) requirement for Arkansas cosmetology license renewal — renewal requires only payment of the applicable fee before the license expiration date.
Three renewal methods are available:
- Online via CLIPS — Log into the CLIPS system at adhcosmo.arkansas.gov. Licenses processed online are mailed within 10 to 14 days.
- By mail — Complete a renewal form and mail it with a check or money order for $50.00 payable to the Arkansas Department of Health to: 4815 W. Markham Street, Slot #8, Little Rock, AR 72205.
- In person — Visit the office at 4815 W. Markham Street, Slot #8, Little Rock, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM CT.
If your license expires, you may not legally practice cosmetology in Arkansas. A Cosmetology Inspector may issue a violation if you are found practicing with an expired license. Expired licenses may be reinstated for up to five years past the expiration date by paying the renewal fee plus a reinstatement fee equal to 50% of the renewal fee. After five years without renewal, the license is classified as a Lapsed License and requires a separate Lapsed License Form.
Establishment (salon) licenses renew annually at $50.00. School licenses also renew annually at $250.00. Ownership or location changes for establishments require separate applications and fees before the change may take effect.
File a Complaint
Complaints against cosmetology practitioners, establishments, instructors, or schools in Arkansas are submitted through the online Complaint and Feedback Form on the Arkansas Department of Health website. The form accepts complaints about cosmetology practitioners, cosmetology establishments, body art artists, and body art establishments.
To file a complaint, visit the complaint form at healthy.arkansas.gov and provide your contact information, the name and address of the establishment or practitioner involved, the date and time of the incident, and a description of the alleged violation. All required fields must be completed before the form can be submitted.
Once a complaint is received, the Cosmetology Section reviews it and may forward the matter to the section's legal counsel to assess what information is releasable. If you filed a complaint and later request a copy under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), personal identifiers such as names, phone numbers, and email addresses are typically redacted before disclosure.
For questions about the complaint process, contact the Cosmetology Section at Cosmo@arkansas.gov or by calling (501) 682-2168 during office hours (Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM CT).
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who regulates cosmetology licensing in Arkansas?
- Cosmetology in Arkansas is regulated by the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) — Cosmetology Section, advised by the Cosmetology Technical Advisory Committee (CTAC). Unlike most states, Arkansas does not have a standalone cosmetology board. Contact the section at (501) 682-2168 or Cosmo@arkansas.gov.
- How do I renew my Arkansas cosmetology license?
- Renew online through the CLIPS system at adhcosmo.arkansas.gov, by mailing your renewal form and $50.00 fee to 4815 W. Markham Street, Slot #8, Little Rock, AR 72205, or by visiting the office in person during business hours (Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM CT).
- How long can I renew an expired Arkansas cosmetology license?
- You may renew an expired license for up to five years after the expiration date, though you may not legally practice with an expired license. After five years, you must submit a Lapsed License Form. A reinstatement fee equal to 50% of the renewal fee applies to expired licenses.
- Does Arkansas require continuing education to renew a cosmetology license?
- No continuing education (CE) hours are required to renew an Arkansas cosmetology practitioner license. Renewal requires only payment of the $50.00 biennial renewal fee.
- How do I verify an Arkansas cosmetology license?
- Use the online license lookup tool in the CLIPS system at adhcosmo.arkansas.gov/Public/OnlineLicenseLookup.aspx to verify that a practitioner or establishment holds an active Arkansas cosmetology license.
- Can an Arkansas cosmetologist perform laser services?
- Yes, but only using Class 1 or Class 2 laser devices within a licensed cosmetology establishment. No higher class of laser may be used by cosmetologists or aestheticians under cosmetology licensure. Microblading requires a separate Body Art license and is outside the scope of cosmetology or aesthetics practice.