New Mexico State Board of Cosmetology
Information verified:About the New Mexico State Board of Cosmetology
The New Mexico Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists operates under the Regulation and Licensing Department (RLD), a state agency that administers dozens of professional licensing programs. The board derives its authority from the Barbers and Cosmetologists Act, Sections 61-17A-1 through 61-17A-25 NMSA 1978, and enforces regulations codified in Title 16, Chapter 34 of the New Mexico Administrative Code (NMAC).
The board regulates barbers, cosmetologists, hairstylists, estheticians, electrologists, manicurists/pedicurists, instructors, schools, establishments, and enterprises statewide. Its core mission is to protect New Mexico consumers by ensuring that all licensed practitioners and business owners meet verified education, competency, and infection-control standards before serving the public.
Licensing, renewal, and application services are delivered through the NM-PLUS online portal at nmrldlpi.my.site.com. First-time users must self-register with an email address and create a password before applying for initial licensure or accessing renewals. The board also posts exam schedules and board-meeting notices on the RLD website.
The board's offices are located in the Toney Anaya Building at 2550 Cerrillos Road, Second Floor, Santa Fe, NM 87505, which accepts courier and delivery services only. All regular mail must go to the mailing address: Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists, P.O. Box 25101, Santa Fe, NM 87504. The board can be reached at (505) 476-4622 or by email at barber.cosmoboard@rld.nm.gov. A dedicated help desk for portal issues is available at rld.bchelpdesk@rld.nm.gov.
Licenses Regulated
The New Mexico Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists issues the following individual practitioner licenses under the Barbers and Cosmetologists Act:
- Cosmetologist — Authorizes the full range of hair, skin, and nail services. Requires 1,600 training hours at a board-approved school and passage of both the NIC written and practical examinations.
- Hairstylist — A narrower license covering hair services. Required training and exam details are established by board rule.
- Esthetician — Authorizes skin care treatments including facials, makeup application, lash services, chemical hair removal, and related procedures. Requires 600 training hours and passing both NIC examinations.
- Electrologist — Authorizes permanent hair removal by electrolysis using an electric current. Issued as a stand-alone practitioner license.
- Manicurist/Pedicurist — Authorizes nail services on the hands and feet. Requires 600 training hours.
- Manicurist/Esthetician — A combined license covering both nail and skin-care services. Requires 900 training hours and passage of the NIC examinations.
- Master Barber — Authorizes barbering services including shaving, cutting, and related treatments.
- Instructor — Authorizes teaching any licensed discipline in a board-approved school. Requires a 1,000-hour instructor training program or at least two years of current verified work experience, plus passage of the instructor examination.
In addition, the board licenses cosmetology schools, barber schools, establishments (salons), enterprises (booth rental businesses), and electrology clinics. A barber/cosmetology crossover license is also available to licensees who complete the appropriate crossover course and pass the relevant examination in the alternate discipline.
Renew Your New Mexico Cosmetology License
New Mexico cosmetology and barber licenses renew every two years through the NM-PLUS online portal at nmrldlpi.my.site.com. The renewal fee is $100.00 for all practitioner license types. Licenses expire at the end of the licensee's birth month.
Practitioners must upload a recent passport-size color photograph (front-view face) when submitting their renewal. No continuing education is required for practitioner renewal — renewal is completed by paying the fee and uploading the required photo before the expiration date.
A late fee of $40.00 applies if the renewal is not completed by the expiration date. Licenses that expire and remain unrenewed for more than one year are considered non-renewable; those individuals must reapply for initial licensure. Establishments and enterprises that fail to renew within 30 days of expiration are subject to late fees; after one year, the license is non-renewable and a new application is required.
Instructor licenses renew annually on March 31 and carry a separate continuing education requirement: 12 CE hours per year in professional development or instructional improvement. CE certificates of completion must be submitted at the time of renewal. CE hours for instructors do not carry over from year to year.
For login issues or accounts that do not display a license ready for renewal, contact the board help desk at rld.bchelpdesk@rld.nm.gov, which responds within one to two business days.
File a Complaint
Complaints against New Mexico-licensed cosmetologists, barbers, estheticians, manicurists, electrologists, instructors, salons, or schools are filed online through the RLD complaint portal at nmrldlpi.my.site.com/bcd/s/public-complaint.
The board investigates allegations of unsanitary practices, infection-control violations, unlicensed activity, and other violations of the Barbers and Cosmetologists Act. Unlicensed practice may result in civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation under the Uniform Licensing Act. The board also conducts regular establishment inspections to verify that sanitation standards, posted licenses, and pedicure-chair cleaning logs are maintained.
After a complaint is received, RLD staff review whether the allegations fall within the board's jurisdiction. Matters requiring formal action are referred to disciplinary proceedings, which may result in a consent agreement, license suspension, revocation, or monetary penalty. Completed disciplinary orders are posted on the board's discipline and enforcement page on the RLD website.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who regulates cosmetology licensing in New Mexico?
- The New Mexico Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists, administered by the Regulation and Licensing Department (RLD), regulates cosmetologists, barbers, hairstylists, estheticians, electrologists, manicurists/pedicurists, instructors, and establishments. Contact the board at (505) 476-4622 or barber.cosmoboard@rld.nm.gov.
- How much does it cost to renew a New Mexico cosmetology license?
- The biennial renewal fee is $100.00 for all practitioner license types. A $40.00 late fee applies if you renew after your license expiration date. Instructor licenses renew annually at the same $100.00 fee. Renew through the NM-PLUS portal at nmrldlpi.my.site.com.
- Does New Mexico require continuing education for cosmetology renewal?
- No. Practitioners — cosmetologists, estheticians, manicurists, and others — are not required to complete continuing education for license renewal. Only instructor licenses carry a CE requirement: 12 hours of professional development annually, due by March 31 each year.
- How do I verify a New Mexico cosmetology license?
- Use the RLD public license search at nmrldlpi.my.site.com/bcd/s/rld-public-search to confirm the current status of any cosmetology, barber, or esthetics license issued in New Mexico.
- How do I file a complaint against a New Mexico cosmetologist?
- File complaints online through the RLD complaint portal at nmrldlpi.my.site.com/bcd/s/public-complaint. The board investigates unlicensed activity, sanitation violations, and consumer complaints. Unlicensed practice may result in civil penalties up to $10,000 per violation.
- Can I transfer my cosmetology license to New Mexico from another state?
- Yes. New Mexico offers licensure by reciprocity for practitioners holding a current and honorable license in another state. Submit a reciprocity application, jurisprudence exam, and $150 fee through the NM-PLUS portal. Foreign-trained applicants whose requirements are similar to or exceed New Mexico's standards may also apply by reciprocity. No temporary licenses are issued while a reciprocity application is pending.