1. How many hours of education do I need for licensure?
2. Can I do an apprenticeship to get a license?
3. Can I combine school hours and apprenticeship hours?
4. Can I use classroom hours from another state or country toward Delaware's education requirement?
5. What is the fee for a certification of licensure?
6. When is the practical exam offered?
7. Do I need to be a high school graduate to apply for a license?
8. When does my license expire?
9. How long do I have to renew my license after it has expired?
10. What is the license fee?
11. Do I need a license to do permanent make-up?
12. If I have a business license for my shop, do I need a professional license?
13. What are the requirements for setting up a shop or salon?
14. What is the hand-washing sink requirement for shops?
15. Do I need to have a U.S. Social Security Number in order to obtain a professional license, permit or registration?

Question: How many hours of education do I need for licensure?

Answer: The amount of professional/technical training you need depends on which kind of license you’re applying for:

• Cosmetologist or Barber - 1500 classroom hours
• Nail Technician - 125 classroom hours
• Electrologist-300 classroom hours
• Aesthetician- 300 classroom hours
• Cosmetologist or Barber Instructor - 500 classroom hours of teacher training OR two years’ experience as an active, licensed, practicing cosmetologist or barber plus at least 250 hours of teacher training in cosmetology or barbering
• Nail Technician Instructor - 45 classroom hours of teacher training OR two years’ experience as an active, licensed, practicing nail technician plus at least 25 hours of teacher training in nail technology
• Electrologist Instructor -100 classroom hours of teacher training OR two years’ experience as an active, licensed, practicing electrologist plus at least 50 hours of teacher training in electrology
• Aesthetician Instructor- 600 classroom hours of advanced instruction in aesthetics

Question: Can I do an apprenticeship to get a license?

Answer: Yes. The hours required are:

• Cosmetologist or Barber - 3000 apprenticeship hours
• Nail Technician - 250 apprenticeship hours
• Electrologist-600 apprenticeship hours
• Aesthetician- 600 apprenticeship hours

Question: Can I combine school hours and apprenticeship hours?

Answer: No.

Question: Can I use classroom hours from another state or country toward Delaware's education requirement?

Answer:

• If your professional/technical training was in another state or U.S. territory (e.g., Puerto Rico), you may use the hours. However, if you are required to submit proof of your training but the document is not in English, you are responsible for providing a certificate of translation from a person or agency acceptable to the Board.
• If your training was outside the U.S. or its territories, you must arrange for the Board office to receive a credential evaluation to determine if your training is equivalent to Delaware’s requirement (Section 15.3 of the Rules and Regulations). Request the evaluation from the International Educational Research Foundation (IERF).

 

Question: What is the fee for a certification of licensure?

Answer: See Request License Verification.

 

Question: When is the practical exam offered?

Answer: See Testing.

 

Question: Do I need to be a high school graduate to apply for a license?

Answer: If you’re applying for any kind of license other than an Instructor, you must have education equivalent to the 10th grade. Instructors must have completed an education equivalent to the 12th grade.

If you went to high school in the U.S. or a U.S. territory, you must submit an official transcript or GED to prove that you meet this requirement.

If you went to school outside the U.S. or its territories, you must arrange for the Board office to receive a credential evaluation to determine if your education is equivalent to Delaware’s requirement. Request the evaluation from the International Educational Research Foundation (IERF).

 

Question: When does my license expire?

Answer: Click License Renewal.

 

Question: How long do I have to renew my license after it has expired?

Answer: Click License Renewal.

 

Question: What is the license fee?

Answer: See Fee Schedule.

 

Question: Do I need a license to do permanent make-up?

Answer: Permanent make-up services are considered a form of body art/ tattooing. A permit from the Division of Public Health is required. Click Body Art Program on call (302) 744-1220 for information.

 

Question: If I have a business license for my shop, do I need a professional license?

Answer: Yes. You are required to obtain a professional license from the Division of Professional Regulation for each location where you are operating a shop or salon. The professional license is required in addition to the business license from the Division of Revenue. All persons providing professional services in the shop/salon are required to hold a professional license in their field as well.

 

Question: What are the requirements for setting up a shop or salon?

Answer: All shops and salons operating in Delaware must comply with the Division of Public Health’s Standards for Public Health Assurances in the Practice Of Cosmetology and Barbering .

 

Question: What is the hand-washing sink requirement for shops?

Answer: The Division of Public Health Standards, section 81.205, require a shop to have a hand-washing sink that is convenient and accessible to the stations in the shop. This requirement is met by either

• One hand-washing sink per station, or
• Centralized hand-washing sink

However, a sink in the shop’s restroom does not meet this requirement because the hand-washing sink must not be used for any other purpose.

In addition, the hand-washing sink must have liquid soap, disposable paper towels and a covered waste receptacle.

 

Question: Do I need to have a U.S. Social Security Number in order to obtain a professional license, permit or registration?

Answer: If you have been issued a U.S. Social Security Number (SSN), you are required to record it on your application for a license, permit or registration. The professional license, permit or registration will not be issued until the SSN is provided.

If you have never been issued a U.S. Social Security Number (SSN), you are required to submit a notarized affidavit, under penalty of perjury, that you do not have a U.S. SSN. The professional license, permit or registration will not be issued until the required affidavit is provided. The required affidavit form is Request for Exemption from Social Security Number Requirement. If you are later issued a U.S. SSN, you should report it to the Board office.