Maine State Board of Cosmetology
Information verified:About the Maine State Board of Cosmetology
Maine does not operate a standalone Board of Cosmetology. Instead, all barbering and cosmetology licensing is administered by the Barbering and Cosmetology Licensing Program, a program within the Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation (OPOR). OPOR is an agency of the Maine Department of Professional and Financial Regulation (DPFR). The program was established to protect the public by ensuring that only qualified, licensed individuals practice barbering, cosmetology, aesthetics, and nail technology in the state.
The program's mailing address is 35 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0035. Licensing inquiries may be directed by phone to (207) 624-8579 or by email to barbercosm.lic@maine.gov. Staff are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern Time. All licensing transactions — new applications, renewals, address changes, duplicate license requests, and student/instructor roster submissions — are handled through the OPOR online licensing portal at licensing.web.maine.gov.
The program's statutory authority derives from Title 32 of the Maine Revised Statutes, Chapter 126 (Barbering and Cosmetology). The governing administrative rules are codified in the Code of Maine Rules at 02-041 CMR Chapters 20 through 30. A significant restructuring occurred in 2019 when Public Law Chapter 373 (LD 1768) updated the licensing framework: the traditional Barber license was replaced by the Barber Hair Stylist credential, and a brand-new Hair Designer license category was created for practitioners who provide haircutting, styling, and chemical hair services but do not perform aesthetic skin care or nail services. The 2019 law also replaced Establishment and Booth licenses with the current Level 1 and Level 2 Establishment structure.
Another notable feature of Maine's licensing system is the trainee pathway. Rather than attending a licensed cosmetology school, a candidate may train under a qualified supervisor (a licensed practitioner in good standing) and accumulate hours in a licensed establishment. Trainee licenses are issued and tracked by the program, with cosmetology and barbering trainees requiring 2,500 hours of supervised practice — significantly more than the 1,500-hour school route — before qualifying for examination. The number of trainees permitted per establishment and per qualified supervisor is capped by rule.
Maine's program also regulates licensed cosmetology schools and Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs that offer cosmetology, barbering, aesthetics, or nail technology instruction. Schools must maintain approved curricula, licensed instructors, and proper sanitation standards under Chapter 27 of the program rules. School inspections and complaint investigations are conducted by program staff, with disciplinary authority established under Chapter 29 of the rules.
License verification is available at no charge through the OPOR public licensing portal at pfr.maine.gov/almsonline. The program no longer issues paper license verifications. All licensees are encouraged to keep their email address current with the program, as renewal reminders and all official correspondence are sent electronically.
Licenses Regulated
The Maine Barbering and Cosmetology Licensing Program, under OPOR, regulates the following individual and establishment license categories:
- Cosmetologist — Full-scope license authorizing hair, skin, and nail services including haircutting, coloring, chemical waving, relaxing, aesthetics, and nail care. Requires 1,500 school hours or 2,500 trainee hours and passage of NIC written and practical examinations.
- Aesthetician — Authorizes skin-care services including facials, chemical exfoliation, makeup application, hair removal, and lash services. Requires 600 school hours or 1,000 trainee hours and passage of NIC written and practical examinations.
- Barber Hair Stylist — The current Maine barber credential (renamed from "Barber" in 2019). Authorizes barbering services including haircutting, shaving, facial hair services, and chemical services for male clientele. Requires 1,500 school hours or 2,500 trainee hours.
- Hair Designer — A limited-scope license created in 2019 for practitioners who perform haircutting, styling, chemical hair services, face/scalp/neck massage, and facial/scalp treatments. Does not include aesthetic skin care or nail services. Trained via school or trainee pathway.
- Nail Technician — Authorizes manicuring, pedicuring, and nail enhancement services. Requires 200 school hours or 400 trainee hours and passage of NIC written and practical examinations.
- Instructor — Authorizes teaching in a licensed Maine cosmetology school in any discipline (aesthetics, barbering, cosmetology, hair design, nail technology). Requires a valid practitioner license plus completion of an approved instructor training program.
- Trainee License — Issued to candidates learning under a qualified supervisor in a licensed establishment rather than attending school. Available for all five practice disciplines. Trainee licenses have limited renewal terms and require completion of all required hours before progressing to licensure by examination.
- Temporary License — Available to applicants awaiting exam results or completing administrative requirements. Cannot be renewed.
- Level 1 Establishment — Owner-operated salon or barbershop license. May not be held by a person on a temporary or trainee license.
- Level 2 Establishment — Booth/station rental license (formerly "Independent Booth"). Must operate within a Level 1 Establishment.
- School License — Required for any institution offering cosmetology, barbering, aesthetics, hair design, or nail technology courses for compensation. Regulated under Chapter 27 of the program rules.
Renew Your Maine Cosmetology License
Maine cosmetology, aesthetician, barber hair stylist, hair designer, nail technician, and instructor licenses all renew annually, with a uniform expiration date of October 31 each year. The annual renewal fee is $20.00. Maine does not require any continuing education for renewal of practitioner licenses — renewal is fee-only with no CE mandate.
Renewal is completed online through the OPOR licensing portal at licensing.web.maine.gov. Renewal reminders are emailed to the address on file at least 30 days before the October 31 deadline. The reminder email includes the licensee's access code, which is required along with the license number to complete online renewal. To ensure reminders are received, licensees must keep their email address current. Changes to email address or legal name must be made by contacting the program directly at barbercosm.lic@maine.gov before attempting to renew.
A late fee of $50.00 applies to any renewal submitted after the October 31 expiration date. Licensees who fail to renew within 90 days of expiration must submit a new application with the renewal fee plus the $50.00 late fee and an additional $25.00 penalty fee. A license that has lapsed for four or more years requires the licensee to pay all applicable fees and retake the licensing examination.
Trainee licenses renew on a different schedule: Trainee Cosmetologist and Trainee Barber Hair Stylist licenses expire 18 months from the date of issuance; Trainee Aesthetician licenses expire 12 months from issuance; Trainee Nail Technician licenses expire 6 months from issuance. The renewal fee for trainee licenses is $10.00. Trainee licenses that expire more than 90 days before the required hours are completed require submission of a new application with the fee plus a $50.00 late fee and $25.00 penalty.
Level 1 and Level 2 Establishment licenses also renew annually on October 31. All establishments are subject to periodic sanitation inspections by program staff.
File a Complaint
Complaints against licensed Maine cosmetologists, barbers, aestheticians, nail technicians, instructors, and licensed establishments are filed with the Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation (OPOR). The program investigates allegations of noncompliance — including unlicensed practice, sanitation violations, unprofessional conduct, and consumer harm — and may impose discipline including fines, license suspension, or revocation.
To file a complaint, use the OPOR online complaint form at me.accessgov.com/pfr. The form is available through the OPOR website. All complaint information is public record with the exception of Social Security Numbers. Complainants should be prepared to provide the licensee's name and license number (verifiable via the OPOR public license lookup), the date and location of the incident, and a description of the conduct at issue.
Disciplinary authority is established under Chapter 29 of the program rules. The program may also issue citations for minor violations under Chapter 30. Inspection staff conduct regular sanitation and safety inspections of licensed establishments; violations identified during inspections may result in citations or formal complaints independent of consumer filings.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who regulates cosmetology licensing in Maine?
- Maine cosmetology, aesthetics, barbering, and nail technology licensing is regulated by the Barbering and Cosmetology Licensing Program within the Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation (OPOR), an agency of the Maine Department of Professional and Financial Regulation. There is no standalone Board of Cosmetology. Contact the program at (207) 624-8579 or barbercosm.lic@maine.gov.
- How many training hours are required for a Maine cosmetology license?
- Maine requires 1,500 hours of training through a licensed cosmetology school, or 2,500 hours through the trainee/apprenticeship pathway under a qualified supervisor. Aestheticians need 600 school hours or 1,000 trainee hours. Nail technicians need 200 school hours or 400 trainee hours. Barber Hair Stylist requires 1,500 school hours or 2,500 trainee hours.
- Who administers the cosmetology exam in Maine?
- Prov, Inc. administers NIC (National Interstate Council) written and practical examinations for Maine. The written exam costs $99 and the practical exam costs $149. Both must be passed with a score of 75.00 or higher. Written exams may be taken at testing centers in Auburn, Bangor, or Presque Isle, or remotely. Practical exams are administered remotely via Examroom.ai. Contact Prov at (877) 228-3926 or provexam.com.
- What is the renewal fee for a Maine cosmetology license?
- The annual renewal fee is $20.00. Licenses expire October 31 each year. A $50.00 late fee applies to renewals submitted after the expiration date. Maine does not require any continuing education for cosmetology license renewal. Renew online at licensing.web.maine.gov.
- Does Maine require continuing education for cosmetology renewal?
- No. Maine does not require any continuing education hours for renewal of cosmetologist, aesthetician, barber hair stylist, hair designer, or nail technician licenses. Renewal is a fee-only process with no CE mandate.
- What is the Hair Designer license in Maine?
- The Hair Designer license was created by Maine statute in 2019. It is a limited-scope license authorizing haircutting, styling, chemical hair services (perms, relaxers, coloring), face/scalp/neck massage, and facial/scalp treatments. It does not authorize aesthetic skin care (facials, waxing) or nail services. Hair Designers take the NIC Hair Design written and cosmetology core practical examinations through Prov, Inc.
- How do I verify a Maine cosmetology license?
- Use the OPOR public license lookup at pfr.maine.gov/almsonline. License verification is provided at no charge. The program no longer issues paper license verifications.