Kansas State Board of Cosmetology
Information verified:About the Kansas State Board of Cosmetology
The Kansas Board of Cosmetology (KBOC) is the state agency authorized under K.S.A. 74-2701 and K.S.A. 65-1901 through 65-1912 to license and regulate cosmetology professionals and establishments throughout Kansas. The board's stated mission is to protect the health and safety of the consuming public by licensing qualified individuals and enforcing high standards of practice across cosmetology, nail technology, esthetics, electrology, body art, and tanning professions.
The board is located at 2420 NW Button Rd., Topeka, KS 66618. KBOC can be reached by telephone at (785) 296-3155, by fax at (785) 296-3002, or by email at KBOC@ks.gov. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM CT. The board's official website is www.kansas.gov/kboc.
KBOC is governed by a board of appointed members and administered by an executive director. The board holds regular meetings to address rulemaking, disciplinary matters, licensing appeals, and policy updates. The board adopts rules and regulations pursuant to K.S.A. 74-2702a and enforces Kansas Administrative Regulations Chapters 28 and 69, which govern infection control, licensure standards, school requirements, and inspection procedures.
Licensed cosmetology establishments and schools are subject to routine inspections conducted by KBOC inspectors. Inspectors have authority under K.S.A. 65-1907 to enter and inspect any licensed establishment during business hours and to take enforcement action where violations are identified. Inspections verify compliance with infection control and sanitation standards in K.A.R. 28-24-1 through 28-24-14, covering personal cleanliness, disinfection protocols, pedicure equipment procedures, and physical facility requirements.
Kansas requires a high school diploma or GED as part of the cosmetology license application. All initial applications must be submitted with a $60 nonrefundable fee along with verification of training hours, copies of government-issued identification, and a social security card. Applications for out-of-state license holders are processed under K.S.A. 65-1904b and require a $75 fee along with verification from each previously licensing state board.
Licenses issued by KBOC expire on a biennial (two-year) cycle and must be renewed for $50. Practitioners who renew after the expiration date pay $75; those renewing more than six months past expiration pay $125. Renewal requires completing a Kansas law and regulation exam with a passing score of 75% or better. No continuing education hours are required for cosmetology practitioners — the renewal exam serves as the continuing competency requirement under Kansas statute.
Licenses Regulated
The Kansas Board of Cosmetology regulates the following license types for individuals and facilities:
- Cosmetologist — Requires 1,500 clock-hours of training and passage of Ergometrics-administered written and practical examinations. Cosmetologists are authorized to perform the full scope of cosmetology practice: hair services including cutting, coloring, and chemical treatments; non-invasive skin services; temporary hair removal; and nail services including manicuring and pedicuring.
- Esthetician — Requires 1,000 clock-hours of training. Estheticians perform skin care, eyebrow and eyelash services, temporary hair removal from the face and body, and related non-invasive treatments. Scope does not include hair cutting, hair coloring, or nail services.
- Nail Technician (Manicurist) — Requires 350 clock-hours of training. Nail technicians perform manicuring, pedicuring, and nail sculpturing. Kansas prohibits the possession or use of methyl methacrylate monomer (MMA) in licensed establishments.
- Electrologist — Requires 500 clock-hours of school training or 1,000 clock-hours through a board-approved apprenticeship program. Electrologists are authorized to perform permanent hair removal using electric needle technology only.
- Cosmetologist Technician — A legacy license type under K.S.A. 65-1902(c). No new Cosmetologist Technician licenses are issued; existing holders may continue to renew at $45 on-time.
- Cosmetology Instructor — Must hold an active Kansas cosmetology, esthetics, or nail technology license, then complete 300 hours of instructor training (plus one year of practice) or 450 hours of instructor training. Instructors must pass an instructor exam and renew every two years with 20 clock-hours of board-approved continuing education in practice and teaching methods.
- Cosmetology Establishment (Salon/Clinic) — Salons and clinics where licensed services are provided must be licensed before opening to the public. New establishments require inspection and payment of a $60 application fee. Establishments renew annually for $50.
- Cosmetology School — Schools must obtain a school license, maintain licensed instructor-to-student ratios of at least one instructor per 25 students, and meet board curriculum requirements. School licenses renew annually before July 1.
Renew Your Kansas Cosmetology License
Kansas cosmetology practitioner licenses expire on a biennial (two-year) cycle. The $50 renewal fee must be submitted on or before the license expiration date to avoid late penalties. KBOC offers three renewal methods — all require payment of the applicable fee and completion of the Kansas law and regulation renewal exam (75% passing score).
- Online renewal portal — Log in at kboc.kansas.gov/practitioners. First-time users must click "Forgot Password" to register with their email address. Complete the renewal form, take the renewal exam online, and pay by credit card. Print or save your confirmation page.
- Email or mail renewal — Pay first through the KBOC Pay Portal at www.kansas.gov/kboc and note your Order ID number; or prepare a check or money order payable to the Kansas Board of Cosmetology. Complete the Practitioner Renewal Form (Form #2), add your Order ID number or payment, then email the form to KBOC@ks.gov or mail to 2420 NW Button Rd., Topeka, KS 66618.
- In-person — Visit the KBOC office at 2420 NW Button Rd., Topeka, KS 66618, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM CT.
Renewal fees by submission timing:
- $50 — on-time (submitted by the expiration date)
- $75 — late (submitted after the expiration date; includes $25 late fee)
- $125 — very late (submitted more than six months after expiration)
Renewals may not be submitted more than six weeks before the expiration date — early submissions are returned. Allow 10 business days to receive your renewed license after submission. Notify KBOC if your license has not arrived within 90 days; failure to do so may result in a $25 duplicate license fee. No continuing education hours are required for practitioners — only instructors must complete 20 CE hours per renewal cycle.
File a Complaint
The Kansas Board of Cosmetology accepts formal complaints against licensed cosmetologists, estheticians, nail technicians, electrologists, establishments, schools, and instructors, as well as against unlicensed practitioners. Complaints may allege unprofessional conduct, sanitation violations, fraud, or unlicensed practice. The board has authority under K.S.A. 65-1908 to revoke, suspend, limit, or impose conditions on any license, or to assess fines up to $1,500 for violations.
To file a complaint, download and complete the Board Complaint Form (Form #54) from the KBOC forms page at www.kansas.gov/kboc/resources/forms-and-applications. Submit the completed form to KBOC@ks.gov, mail it to 2420 NW Button Rd., Topeka, KS 66618, or fax to (785) 296-3002.
Complaint-generated inspections are conducted under K.A.R. 69-13-3. KBOC inspectors are authorized under K.S.A. 65-1907 to enter any licensed establishment during business hours. Respondents have the right to a hearing under the Kansas Administrative Procedure Act before any final license action is taken. Open records requests may be submitted using Form #67 from the KBOC forms page.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who is the Kansas Board of Cosmetology and what does it regulate?
- The Kansas Board of Cosmetology (KBOC) is the state agency authorized under K.S.A. 74-2701 and K.S.A. 65-1901 through 65-1912 to license cosmetologists, estheticians, nail technicians, electrologists, instructors, establishments, and schools in Kansas. The board also regulates body art and tanning professions and is located at 2420 NW Button Rd., Topeka, KS 66618.
- How do I renew my Kansas cosmetology license?
- Renew online at kboc.kansas.gov/practitioners, by email to KBOC@ks.gov, or by mail to 2420 NW Button Rd., Topeka, KS 66618. The on-time biennial renewal fee is $50. All renewals require completing a Kansas law and regulation exam with a passing score of 75% or better.
- Does Kansas require continuing education for cosmetology license renewal?
- No. Kansas does not require continuing education hours for cosmetology, esthetics, nail technology, or electrology practitioners. Instead, the renewal exam on Kansas law and regulations serves as the continuing competency requirement. Cosmetology instructors must complete 20 clock-hours of CE every two years.
- How do I verify a Kansas cosmetology license?
- License verification is available through the KBOC online portal at kboc.kansas.gov/verify. Enter the licensee's name or license number to check current license status and expiration date.
- What is the Kansas renewal exam?
- Kansas requires each practitioner to complete and pass (75% or better) a renewal exam based on Kansas cosmetology law and regulations at every biennial renewal. The exam covers sanitation standards, disinfection procedures, prohibited practices, and establishment requirements. Reference materials are free at www.kansas.gov/kboc.
- What is a Kansas Senior Status License?
- A Senior Status License is available to Kansas cosmetology practitioners who no longer actively provide services for compensation. It allows practitioners to maintain an inactive credential at a reduced fee of $30. Contact KBOC at (785) 296-3155 or KBOC@ks.gov for eligibility requirements and the Senior Status License Application form.