Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology – How to Renew your Cosmetology License and More!

Down in the deep south lays the Pelican State. There’s no doubt that Louisianan’s have it go when it comes to the cost of living. The cost of living is about five percent, or even more, lower than in other states. Apart from affordable housing and low utility costs, Louisianan’s also enjoy a ripe climate for business. Forbes even named it “America’s New Frontier for Business,” credited to its production environment for an array of working professionals. To make life a cosmetologist a bit easier in The Pelican State, I’ve compiled a list of procedures you are likely to undergo once or twice. But before that, let’s see some fun facts about the state:

• Many consider Louisiana a sort of ‘melting pot.’ This nickname comes from its deep roots in different cultures, including French, French-Canadian, and African cultures. You can still partake in its celebration of cultures like at the Mardi Gras Festival.
• The Bayou State allows a lot of creative thrive within its borders. A testament to that is the many famous Louisianans in the entertainment industry like Reese Witherspoon, Tyler Perry, and even Louis Armstrong.
• If you enjoy history, You might enjoy a visit to The National WWII Museum where there are exhibits that tell the American experience of living through that war.

Now let’s talk more about answering some of your professional cosmetology questions.

Cosmetology Licensure Renewal

If you intend to or are already practicing in the state of Louisiana, a yearly renewal of your license is something you will have to undergo. Although continuing education is not mandatory to renew your license, it is encouraged to keep you up to date and act as a refresher. But you can go ahead and download the renewal form from their state. After filling it with the appropriate information, you can send the form to The Board’s office address with the accompanying fee. The address is as follows:

Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology, 11622 Sunbelt Court, Baton Rouge, LA 70809

Initial license fee: $0

Renewal fee (to be paid every year before expiration): $25

Late renewal fee: $25

Differences in fee may apply if you’re using an out-of-state license, for instance. The renewal of such permits is $50. If your renewal fee expires beyond two years, then the late renewal fee of $25 is no longer applicable, and you will have to pay $75 instead.

How to transfer my license to Louisiana from another State?

You can practice cosmetology with specific out-of-state licenses like Alabama, but this exception doesn’t apply to all states. States excluded include Texas, Wisconsin, Utah, etc. If you’re an applicant looking for reciprocity from this state, you’ll have to write a NIC, written and practical examination. Also, you will still pay a reciprocity license fee of $50. The first thing to do would be to fill the application form and submit it with your current photo, and social security number. Louisiana requires that your home state verify and send across a copy of your original cosmetology license to their office. Your license must still be current at the time of posting. If your application is approved, you’ll be contacted and can proceed to schedule your exam with NIC and the State. Each of the three tests costs $25, making it a total of $75 in exam fees.

Upon completing these procedures, with the minimum pass mark, Louisana, the board will issue you a license.

How to change name/address on cosmetology license

You cannot change your name or address using Louisiana’s cosmetology Board’s website. But they will still need to be made aware of the changes. You can do this by sending verification of such changes to their mail; the required information should include your new name, old name, utility bill, and an official document showing the difference (applicable for name change). You can make your payments online, or issue a money order payable to the state of Louisiana.

Requirements for Cosmetology Instructor’s License

Dedicating part of your time and effort to helping cosmetology students succeed is a noble career path and one that should not be taken likely. If you’re interested in a career as a cosmetology instructor, then you must meet specific requirements:

• Have a current cosmetology license.
• Complete at least 500 teacher training hours at an approved school

You may then qualify the job of an instructor after meeting these requirements. But you’ll have to renew your license by paying a fee of $25. If you’re still unclear about the process, the Louisiana Board of Cosmetology has more answers.

Cosmetology Examination Requirements

The Louisianan Board of Cosmetology allows applicants to acquire their licenses with no need to pay an initial license fee. So if you pass the National and State exams, your permit will automatically be issued. Although to pass these exams, you must meet specific requirements:

Your beauty school usually schedules your state exam, which covers Cosmetology laws and regulation of Louisiana. Your results will take two weeks to process, and as discussed earlier, a pass is an automatic license.  There are useful resources online to help you practice for these tests.

I would love to hear what you think or answer any questions you may have about cosmetology in Louisiana in the comment section below. You can also read about the same procedures in other States here.