North Dakota State Board of Cosmetology
Information verified:About the North Dakota State Board of Cosmetology
The North Dakota State Board of Cosmetology is a standalone regulatory agency that operates independently with its own website at ndcosmetology.com. Unlike cosmetology boards embedded within broader state agencies, the North Dakota Board functions as a dedicated professional licensing authority, responsible for protecting consumers and upholding the practice and standards of North Dakota's beauty industry.
The Board's mission is to protect consumers, promote industry excellence, and uphold the integrity of cosmetology services across North Dakota. It fulfills this mission by licensing practitioners, approving and inspecting schools and establishments, administering the NIC Practical Examination, and enforcing professional standards and administrative rules.
The Board office is located at 4719 Shelburne St., Suite 1, Bismarck, ND 58503. It can be reached by phone at (701) 224-9800 and by email at bocinfo@nd.gov. The Board holds regular public meetings, with 2026 meetings announced on the website including a May 18, 2026 session at the Board office and via Zoom.
The Board is composed of seven members appointed by the Governor. Members include licensed cosmetologists, estheticians, advanced estheticians, and manicurists, as well as at least one member with secondary or postsecondary educational credentials and one licensed health care provider. As of 2026, the board's leadership includes President D'Arlyn Bauer, PhD, RN; Vice President Emily Wilcox; and Secretary Maureen Wanner.
2026 brought significant changes to North Dakota cosmetology law. House Bill 1126, signed into law in 2025 with an effective date of January 1, 2026, updated fee schedules (the first increase since 2003), established the new Advanced Esthetician license category, introduced official apprenticeship pathways for cosmetology, esthetics, and manicuring, and restructured the independent licensee (booth renter) framework.
Licenses Regulated
The North Dakota State Board of Cosmetology issues individual operator licenses, instructor licenses, and business licenses. Effective January 1, 2026, the Board added the Advanced Esthetician license category and official apprenticeship pathways. All licenses expire annually on December 31.
Cosmetologist
A cosmetology license authorizes hair, nail, and skin services for compensation. Requires 1,500 hours of school training (effective August 1, 2021, reduced from 1,800) or 2,500 hours in a USDOL-registered apprenticeship program (effective January 1, 2026). Original license fee: $50. Annual renewal: $50.
Advanced Esthetician (New in 2026)
North Dakota's new Advanced Esthetician license authorizes expanded skin care procedures including multi-layer chemical exfoliants, aesthetic laser operations (with additional certification), and other advanced services beyond the scope of a standard esthetics license. Requires 1,100 hours of school training. A grandfather provision is available for licensed cosmetologists and estheticians holding a ND license since January 1, 2025 or earlier. Annual renewal: $50.
Esthetician
An esthetics license covers standard skin care services, including single-layer chemical exfoliants, facials, waxing, and noninvasive cosmetic applications. Requires 600 hours of school training or 2,000 hours in an approved apprenticeship. Annual renewal: $50.
Manicurist
A manicurist license covers nail services only. Requires 350 hours of school training or 2,000 hours in an approved apprenticeship. Annual renewal: $50.
Instructor
Instructor licenses are issued for cosmetology, esthetics, advanced esthetics, and manicuring. Instructors must complete 8 hours of Board-approved continuing education annually, tracked through CE Broker. Annual renewal: $50.
Independent Licensee (Booth Renter)
An Independent Licensee license is the business license for practitioners working as their own boss within a licensed establishment. This is in addition to (not a replacement for) the individual operator license. Original license: $150. Annual renewal: $100.
Establishment
An Establishment license (formerly salon license) is required for any premises where cosmetology, esthetics, advanced esthetics, or manicuring services are performed. An establishment may employ licensees, rent to independent licensees, or serve as a solo practitioner location. Original license: $150. Annual renewal: $100.
Renew Your North Dakota Cosmetology License
All North Dakota cosmetology licenses expire annually on December 31. Licenses must be renewed by that date each year to remain active. The 2026 fee schedule represents the first fee increase since 2003, effective under HB 1126 signed in 2025.
Renewal Fees (Effective 2026)
- Cosmetologist, esthetician, advanced esthetician, manicurist, or instructor: $50
- Establishment or Independent Licensee: $100
- Late fee (within one year of expiration): $50
Continuing Education
North Dakota does not require continuing education for cosmetologist, esthetician, advanced esthetician, or manicurist license renewals. Instructor licenses require 8 hours of Board-approved continuing education each year. CE hours are tracked through CE Broker — instructors can claim a free account and upload hours throughout the year. The Board has access to CE Broker records and does not require re-submission at renewal time.
Expired Licenses
- Expired within one year: pay late fee of $50 plus current renewal fee ($50 individual)
- Expired 1–5 years (individual): reinstatement fee of $150 plus passing the ND Laws, Rules & Regulations examination
- Expired over 5 years: must retake all original exams — NIC Practical, ND Laws, and NIC Theory
- Establishment/Independent Licensee expired over 1 year: $100 late fee per year
How to Renew
Download the annual renewal form from the Forms page at ndcosmetology.com and mail it with payment to the Board office at 4719 Shelburne St., Suite 1, Bismarck, ND 58503. For questions, contact the Board at bocinfo@nd.gov or (701) 224-9800.
File a Complaint
The North Dakota State Board of Cosmetology accepts written complaints from any member of the public regarding violations of North Dakota Century Code chapter 43-11 or Board administrative rules. Complaints may address unlicensed practice, sanitation violations, deceptive conduct, or other failures to comply with cosmetology law. All complaints filed with the Board are considered public records under North Dakota law.
How to File a Complaint
Complaints must be submitted in writing and may be delivered by mail, email, or through the Board's website. Use the official Complaint Form or submit a written complaint that includes:
- Your full name, address, and contact information
- The full name, address, and license number (if known) of the individual, establishment, or school being complained about
- A clear, detailed description of the alleged violation, including the date and location
- Any supporting documentation (photographs, receipts, witness statements)
Mail complaints to: ND State Board of Cosmetology, 4719 Shelburne St., Suite 1, Bismarck, ND 58503. Email complaints to bocinfo@nd.gov.
Investigation and Enforcement
The Board reviews all submitted complaints and investigates those that fall within its legal authority. The Board has authority to revoke, suspend, or refuse to issue licenses for violations including unlicensed practice, safety and sanitation failures, fraud, and failure to comply with advertising requirements. Inspection results are published publicly on the Board's website. Disciplinary actions resulting from complaints may also be posted as public record.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the North Dakota State Board of Cosmetology a standalone agency?
- Yes. The North Dakota State Board of Cosmetology is a standalone regulatory board with its own website at ndcosmetology.com. Unlike many states where cosmetology is regulated through a broader state agency, North Dakota's Board operates independently and administers its own licensing, inspections, and the NIC Practical Examination.
- What is the Advanced Esthetician license in North Dakota?
- The Advanced Esthetician license is a new license type established effective January 1, 2026 under HB 1126. It authorizes practitioners to perform expanded esthetic procedures beyond the scope of a standard esthetics license — including multi-layer chemical exfoliants and aesthetic laser operations (with additional laser certification). Applicants must complete 1,100 hours of school training. A grandfather provision is available for licensed cosmetologists and estheticians who held a ND license on or before January 1, 2025.
- What examinations are required for a North Dakota cosmetology license?
- Three examinations are required: the NIC Written Theory examination (computer-based, via Prov at provexam.com or remotely), the North Dakota Laws, Rules & Regulations examination (computer-based, also via Prov), and the NIC Practical Examination (administered in person at the Board office in Bismarck on mannequins). All three must be passed before a license is issued.
- When do North Dakota cosmetology licenses expire?
- All North Dakota cosmetology licenses expire annually on December 31. The renewal fee for individual licenses (cosmetologist, esthetician, advanced esthetician, manicurist, instructor) is $50. Establishment and Independent Licensee renewals are $100. These fees were updated effective January 1, 2026 — the first fee increase since 2003.
- Does North Dakota require continuing education for cosmetology license renewal?
- No continuing education is required for cosmetologist, esthetician, advanced esthetician, or manicurist renewals. Instructors must complete 8 hours of Board-approved CE each year. CE hours are tracked through CE Broker (free account for instructors) and the Board has direct access to records, so hours do not need to be re-submitted at renewal.
- How can I verify a North Dakota cosmetology license?
- License verification is available through the Board's License Lookup tool at ndcosmetology.com. Inspection results for establishments are also publicly available on the website.
- Does North Dakota allow apprenticeship as a path to cosmetology licensure?
- Yes, as of January 1, 2026. North Dakota now accepts USDOL-registered apprenticeship programs as an alternative path to licensure: 2,500 hours for cosmetology, 2,000 hours for esthetics, and 2,000 hours for manicuring. Establishments wishing to sponsor apprentices must complete an Apprenticeship Establishment Request form available on the Board's website.