Hawaii State Board of Cosmetology
Information verified:About the Hawaii State Board of Cosmetology
The Hawaii Board of Barbering and Cosmetology is a state regulatory board within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), administered by the Professional and Vocational Licensing (PVL) Division. The board derives its authority from HRS Chapter 436B (Professional and Vocational Licensing Act), Act 073 SLH 2022 (the Barbering and Cosmetology Licensing Act), HAR Chapter 16-73 (Barber Rules), and HAR Chapter 16-79 (Cosmetology Rules). It regulates barbers, beauty operators (cosmetologists, hairdressers, estheticians, and nail technicians), beauty instructors, barber shops, beauty shops, and beauty schools throughout all islands of Hawaii.
The board is composed of seven members appointed by the Governor: two licensed barbers, two licensed beauty operators, and three public members. The board meets monthly to ratify licensing decisions made by the Licensing Branch, consider rule changes, and hear disciplinary matters.
All licensing services — new applications, renewals, address changes, and verification requests — are handled by the DCCA PVL Licensing Branch. Applications may be mailed to P.O. Box 3469, Honolulu, HI 96801, or hand-delivered to the King Kalakaua Building, 335 Merchant Street, Room 301, Honolulu, HI 96813. The Licensing Branch can be reached by phone at (808) 586-3000 or by email at barber_cosm@dcca.hawaii.gov.
Online license management, renewals, and license lookups are available through the MyPVL portal at mypvl.dcca.hawaii.gov. Complaints against licensed or unlicensed practitioners are handled by the Regulated Industries Complaints Office (RICO), a separate DCCA agency, at cca.hawaii.gov/rico or (808) 587-4272.
Licenses Regulated
The Hawaii Board of Barbering and Cosmetology issues the following individual and business license types under Act 073 SLH 2022, HAR Chapter 16-73, and HAR Chapter 16-79:
Individual Practitioner Licenses:
- Beauty Operator — Cosmetologist — Full scope of hair, skin, and nail services. Requires 1,800 beauty school hours or 3,600 apprenticeship hours and a passing score on the PSI theory examination. Biennial renewal by December 31 of every odd year; $146.00 active.
- Beauty Operator — Hairdresser — All aspects of hair services. Requires 1,250 beauty school hours or 2,500 apprenticeship hours and a passing score on the PSI theory examination. Biennial renewal; $146.00 active.
- Beauty Operator — Esthetician — Skin care services. Requires 600 beauty school hours or 1,200 apprenticeship hours and a passing score on the PSI theory examination. Biennial renewal; $146.00 active.
- Beauty Operator — Nail Technician — Manicure and pedicure services. Requires 350 beauty school hours or 700 apprenticeship hours and a passing score on the PSI theory examination. Biennial renewal; $146.00 active.
- Barber — Haircutting, shaving, and scalp treatments. Requires 1,500 barber school hours or 3,000 apprenticeship hours and a passing score on the PSI theory examination. Biennial renewal by December 31 of every odd year; $146.00 active.
- Beauty Instructor — Authorizes teaching at a board-licensed beauty school, in the category the instructor holds as a beauty operator license. Requires holding a beauty operator license for at least one year and completing 600 hours of instructor training. Biennial renewal; $146.00 active.
Business Licenses:
- Beauty Shop — Required for any establishment providing beauty operator services to the public. Biennial renewal by December 31 of every odd year; $176.00 active.
- Barber Shop — Required for any barbering establishment. Biennial renewal; $176.00 active.
- Beauty School — Required for any school offering board-approved cosmetology or barbering training programs. Annual renewal by December 31; $380.00 active.
- Barber/Beauty Apprentice Registration — Available for individuals training under a licensed barber or beauty operator. One apprentice per licensed supervisor at any given time.
A chair or booth renter operating as an independent contractor is considered the owner of their own shop and must hold both an individual practitioner license and a separate beauty shop or barber shop license. Inactive status is available for any license type at $12.00 renewal.
Renew Your Hawaii Cosmetology License
Hawaii barbering and cosmetology licenses renew biennially — all barber, beauty operator, beauty instructor, barber shop, and beauty shop licenses expire on December 31 of every odd-numbered year. Beauty school licenses expire December 31 of each calendar year (annual renewal). There is no continuing education requirement for renewal of any license type in Hawaii.
Current Renewal Fees
- Barber (BAR) — active: $146.00
- Beauty Operator (BEO) — active: $146.00
- Beauty Instructor (I) — active: $146.00
- Barber Shop (BAS) — active: $176.00
- Beauty Shop (BSH) — active: $176.00
- Beauty School (BSC) — active: $380.00 (annually)
- Any license — inactive status: $12.00
Renew online through MyPVL at mypvl.dcca.hawaii.gov. Paper renewal forms are mailed to the address of record approximately 1.5 months before expiration. If no renewal form is received by the end of November of an odd-numbered year, contact the Licensing Branch at (808) 586-3000.
Forfeited licenses may be restored within three years after the expiration date. Restoration fees are higher than standard renewal fees. Barbers may restore online through MyPVL; all other license types must restore by hardcopy. Failure to restore within three years requires submitting a written explanation and supporting documentation for Board review.
File a Complaint
Complaints against Hawaii barbers, beauty operators, beauty instructors, barber shops, beauty shops, or beauty schools — whether licensed or unlicensed — are handled by the Regulated Industries Complaints Office (RICO), a statewide DCCA agency that is separate from the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. File a complaint online at cca.hawaii.gov/rico or call the DCCA Consumer Resource Center at (808) 587-4272.
Neighbor island residents may reach RICO through the following statewide numbers: Kauai — 274-3141; Maui — 984-2400; Big Island — 974-4000; Molokai or Lanai — 1-800-468-4644, then press 74272#.
RICO investigates allegations of unlicensed practice, sanitation violations, unprofessional conduct, and other violations of state barbering and cosmetology laws and rules. Following an investigation, RICO may refer substantiated matters to the Board for formal disciplinary action, which can include license suspension, revocation, civil penalties, or other sanctions under HRS Chapter 436B.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who regulates cosmetology licensing in Hawaii?
- The Hawaii Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, administered by the DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing (PVL) Division, regulates barbers, beauty operators (cosmetologists, hairdressers, estheticians, nail technicians), beauty instructors, and all licensed shops and schools. Contact the PVL Licensing Branch at (808) 586-3000 or barber_cosm@dcca.hawaii.gov.
- How do I renew my Hawaii beauty operator license?
- Hawaii beauty operator licenses renew biennially — all expire December 31 of every odd-numbered year. The renewal fee is $146.00 for active status. Renew online at mypvl.dcca.hawaii.gov or by hardcopy form. No continuing education is required for renewal.
- Does Hawaii require continuing education for cosmetology renewal?
- No. Hawaii does not require continuing education for renewal of barber, beauty operator, or beauty instructor licenses. This applies to all practitioner license categories — cosmetologist, hairdresser, esthetician, nail technician, barber, and beauty instructor.
- Does Hawaii offer cosmetology license reciprocity?
- No. Hawaii has no reciprocal licensing arrangements with any other state or jurisdiction for barbering or cosmetology. All applicants — including those licensed in other states — must meet Hawaii's training and examination requirements. However, holding an out-of-state license in good standing with at least one year of licensed work experience may satisfy Hawaii's training requirement under Pathway 3 of the application.
- Who handles complaints against Hawaii cosmetologists?
- Complaints are filed with the Regulated Industries Complaints Office (RICO), a DCCA agency separate from the Board. File online at cca.hawaii.gov/rico or call (808) 587-4272. RICO handles complaints against both licensed and unlicensed practitioners.
- How do I verify a Hawaii cosmetology license?
- Use the MyPVL online service at mypvl.dcca.hawaii.gov and click "PVL Licensing Search" to verify the current status of any Hawaii barber, beauty operator, beauty instructor, shop, or school license.