This page provides information for Massachusetts license requirements including how to apply for a new license, renew an existing one, reactivate an expired license and Massachusetts license reciprocity for when you need to transfer a license to this state or out of state. If available, we provide other useful information such as cosmetology school hours requirements, how to apply for additional license for professions like manicurists, nail technicians, instructors etc. If you did not find the answer you were looking for on this page or if you have questions or issues pertaining to cosmetology, then we recommend you contact the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering.

Massachusetts Cosmetology License Verification

If you need to verify a license for a salon or person, then you can do so by visiting the Massachusetts Board of Cosmetology license verification website. From there you can search for the person or business and see if there are any disciplinary actions on record. This will allow you to make an informed decision about the person and or business providing your service.

Apply for Massachusetts License

To start your online application, please go to the ePLACE Portal.

If you prefer to not do this online and would rather download a copy of the application, fill it out and then mail it in. Then please visit the Board's Applications and Forms page on its website.

Please be aware that if you submit an application and it is determined by the Board that it is incomplete, or that you have failed to meet the regulatory requirements for licensure, the Board will provide you thirty days to complete your application or submit the information needed to demonstrate that you meet the regulatory requirements. After thirty days, if your application is still incomplete, or if you have still failed to demonstrate that you meet the regulatory requirements for licensure, your application will be closed or denied. If your application is closed or denied, you would need to re-apply for licensure by submitting a complete application to the Board and by paying a new application fee.

If you are only applying for an Operator (Type 2) license, please note that the application process for that license is managed by the Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering's vendor, Pearson VUE. To apply for a license, please visit Pearson VUE's website. Please direct any questions regarding the application process, including fees, to Pearson VUE by calling 800-274-2021.

All other Cosmetology license types - Cosmetology Demonstrator (Type 5), Cosmetology License Forfeiture Application, Cosmetology Instructor (Type 4), Cosmetology Junior Instructor, Cosmetology Manager (Type 1), Cosmetology Operator (Type 2), Cosmetology Out-of-Country Application, Cosmetology Out-of-State Application, Cosmetology Shop - can be completed using the ePLACE instructions.

Licensing Benefits for Active Duty Military, Relocated Military Spouses, and Veterans

The Division of Professional Licensure and the Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering are pleased to offer licensing benefits to active duty members of the military, relocated military spouses, and veterans pursuant to the Veterans' Access, Livelihood, Opportunity and Resources Act (VALOR Act) and the new VALOR Act II, signed into law on April 4, 2014. These benefits include:

  • Credit for related military experience
  • Extensions of the license renewal period
  • Expedited license application processing or
  • Waiver of certain licensing fees

To apply for any of these licensing benefits, interested parties must self-identify as an active duty member of the military, military spouse, or veteran. To apply for these benefits or for more information, please visit www.mass.gov/dpl/valor.

Renew Massachusetts License

To renew online, you will need the information found on the license renewal form which was mailed to your address of record. If you do not have a license renewal form, you can call the Board at 617-727-9940, or email at cosmetologyandbarberingboard@state.ma.us, to obtain your authorization code.

If you have your license renewal, you may complete the following steps to renew online:

Access the ePLACE Portal to register for an account. After you have registered for an account, please login with the username and password that you created. After logging in with the username that you created when you registered, go to the Manage My Licenses and Permits tab, and complete the following steps:

  • Select the File an Online Application link
  • Select the Link Your Account Portal link under the search box
  • Select the Link your Online Account to an Existing Record link and
  • Select the proper agency, Division of Professional Licensure, and when prompted enter your Record ID/license number and the Authorization Code provided on your license renewal form
  • Link your account using your Record ID/license number (Example: 1234-PL-M1) and the Authorization Code (Example: 1234567899) found on your license renewal form

Note: Your Record ID/license number and Authorization Code can be found on page one of the license renewal form provided to you. If you are unable to locate your Record ID/license number and Authorization Code, please contact that Board that issues your license by calling 617-727-3074.

Once you have successfully linked your account, go back to the Manage my Licenses and Permits page and you should now see your license listed and the option to renew. Be advised the option to renew will only be present if your license is currently eligible for renewal.

Licensees may only renew their license once per license cycle, either via postal mail or online. Please do not renew online and by mail. Doing so will interfere with the processing of your renewal application and delay approval and receipt of your renewed license.

Massachusetts Cosmetology School Hours

Type Requirements
Cosmetologist License 1000 Hours
Esthetician License 300 Hours
Nail Technician License 100 Hours
Barber License Call 617-727-7367
Electrologist License Call 617-727-3939
Cosmetology Instructor License Cosmetology License + 2 Years As Junior Instructor
Massage Therapist License 650 Hours

Cosmetology Demonstrator License

Before completing your application, please review the Board's regulations, set forth at 240 Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR). You may purchase an official copy of 240 CMR in person at the State Bookstore located at the Massachusetts State House, Room 116, Boston, MA 02133, or you may order a copy online through the Secretary of State's office. The Board also maintains an unofficial, courtesy copy of the regulations accessible through the Statutes and Regulations section of its website.

Requirements to Apply

To apply for a Cosmetology Demonstrator license, an applicant must meet and adhere to the following requirements:

  • If you do not hold any license, you must be able to show work experience as a demonstrator for at least three months. This must be shown through an affidavit, on the letterhead of the company of organization for which you worked
  • A person who is issued a demonstrator's license may only perform demonstrations for individuals in the cosmetology industry and not for the general public
  • Demonstrations may be performed in the following locations: in a registered shop in the Commonwealth, at hairdressers trade shows or meetings in the presence of licensed beauty shop owners and their employees, in the business quarters of distributors or supply houses, or in schools of beauty culture with licensed instructors in attendance. There shall be no charge for these demonstrations.
  • Submission of Supporting Documentation and Required Forms

A completed application must include:

  • If you do not hold any license, a notarized affidavit or affidavits from each manufacturer or distributor certifying work experience as a demonstrator for at least 3 months. This affidavit must be on company letterhead
  • A copy of your driver's license or government-issued photo ID
  • 2" x 2" passport-style photo
  • If you hold a license in another state, please include a copy of that license, and ensure that the board in the state you are licensed sends the Board verification of your license
  • A notarized, signed Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) Acknowledgement Form

The following document(s) must be mailed to the Board:

  • License Verification(s): If you hold or have held another license or certification in the United States or another country or foreign jurisdiction, please contact the relevant licensing authority and arrange for that authority to send a certificate of standing to the Board directly indicating the status of your license, information on any pending actions, and any disciplinary information.

Please mail the aforementioned document(s) to the Board at the following address:

Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering
Division of Professional Licensure
1000 Washington Street, Suite 710
Boston, MA 02118-6100

Application Fee

All applicants are required to pay a non-refundable application fee of $136. This fee must be paid online at the end of the application process, either by check or credit card. Please note that a convenience fee will be assessed for credit card payments.

Cosmetology License Forfeiture Instructions

Prior to completing your application, please review the Board's regulations, set forth at 240 Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR). You may purchase an official copy of 240 CMR in person at the State Bookstore located at the Massachusetts State House, Room 116, Boston, MA 02133, or you may order a copy online through the Secretary of State's office. The Board also maintains an unofficial, courtesy copy of the regulations accessible through the Statutes and Regulations section of its website.

Requirements to Apply

To apply for re-licensure using the Cosmetology Licensure Forfeiture process, an applicant must:

  • Have a licensed that expired three or more years ago
  • Pass both a written and practical examination, after receiving approval by the Board
Submission of Supporting Documentation and Required Forms

Please scan and upload a copy of the following documents:

The following document(s) must be mailed to the Board:

  • License Verification(s): If you hold or have held another license or certification in the United States or another country or foreign jurisdiction, please contact the relevant licensing authority and arrange for that authority to send a certificate of standing to the Board directly indicating the status of your license, information on any pending actions, and any disciplinary information

Please mail the aforementioned document(s) to the Board at the following address:

Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering
Division of Professional Licensure
1000 Washington Street, Suite 710
Boston, MA 02118-6100

Application Fee

All applicants are required to pay a non-refundable application fee of $136. This fee must be paid online at the end of the application process, either by check or credit card. Please note that a convenience fee will be assessed for credit card payments.

Cosmetology Instructor (Type 4) License Application

Before completing your application, please review the Board's regulations, set forth at 240 Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR). You may purchase an official copy of 240 CMR in person at the State Bookstore located at the Massachusetts State House, Room 116, Boston, MA 02133, or you may order a copy online through the Secretary of State's office. The Board also maintains an unofficial, courtesy copy of the regulations accessible through the Statutes and Regulations section of its website.

Application Process

Once the Board has received and processed your application, you will be issued a temporary permit valid for six (6) months that will allow you to work before you take the examination. You must receive a passing score on the practical examination before you will be permitted to take the written examination. Practical examinations are not given in July and August. Upon passing the practical examination, the applicant will receive information on how to take the written examination through the Board's vendor, Pearson Vue. Follow all instructions listed in the handbook.

Application Requirements

All applicants must have two years of work experience as a Type 1 Cosmetologist, Type 6 Aesthetician, or Junior Assistant Instructor.

Submission of Supporting Documentation and Required Forms

The following documents must be uploaded during the online application process:

  • A 2” x 2” passport-style photo
  • A copy of your driver's license or government-issued photo ID
  • A copy of your high school diploma or Graduate Equivalency Diploma (GED)
  • A notarized (i.e., signed by a notary with a seal) affidavit or affidavits certifying the date you started and stopped working for each employer (you may sign the bottom section if you were self-employed). Whether the work was full or part-time (full-time entails 5, 8 hour days per week; part-time entails a minimum of 24 hours per week for 40 weeks per year). Two full years of work experience in the field of cosmetology
  • A notarized, signed Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) Acknowledgement Form

The following document(s) must be mailed to the Board:

  • License Verification(s): If you hold or have held another license or certification in the United States or another country or foreign jurisdiction, please contact the relevant licensing authority and arrange for that authority to send a certificate of standing to the Board directly indicating the status of your license, information on any pending actions, and any disciplinary information.

Please mail the aforementioned document(s) to the Board at the following address:

Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering
Division of Professional Licensure
1000 Washington Street, Suite 710
Boston, MA 02118-6100

Application Fee

All applicants are required to pay a non-refundable application fee of $136. This fee must be paid online at the end of the application process, either by check or credit card. Please note that a convenience fee will be assessed for credit card payments.

Cosmetology Junior Instructor License Application

Prior to completing your application, please review the Board's regulations, set forth at 240 Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR). You may purchase an official copy of 240 CMR in person at the State Bookstore located at the Massachusetts State House, Room 116, Boston, MA 02133, or you may order a copy online through the Secretary of State's office. The Board also maintains an unofficial, courtesy copy of the regulations accessible through the Statutes and Regulations section of its website.

Submission of Supporting Documentation and Required Forms

The following documents must be uploaded during the online application process:

The following document(s) must be mailed to the Board:

  • License Verification(s): If you hold or have held another license or certification in the United States or another country or foreign jurisdiction, please contact the relevant licensing authority and arrange for that authority to send a certificate of standing to the Board directly indicating the status of your license, information on any pending actions, and any disciplinary information

Please mail the aforementioned document(s) to the Board at the following address:

Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering
Division of Professional Licensure
1000 Washington Street, Suite 710
Boston, MA 02118-6100

Application Fee

All applicants are required to pay a non-refundable application fee of $68. This fee must be paid online at the end of the application process, either by check or credit card. Please note that a convenience fee will be assessed for credit card payments.

Cosmetology Manager (Type 1) License Application

Before completing your application, please review the Board's regulations, set forth at 240 Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR). You may purchase an official copy of 240 CMR in person at the State Bookstore located at the Massachusetts State House, Room 116, Boston, MA 02133, or you may order a copy online through the Secretary of State's office. The Board also maintains an unofficial, courtesy copy of the regulations accessible through the Statutes and Regulations section of its website.

Requirements to Apply

Before applying for licensure as a Manager (Type 1) you must have completed two full years (24 months) of work experience as a licensed Cosmetology Operator (Type 2).

Submission of Supporting Documentation and Required Forms

The following documents must be uploaded during the online application process:

  • A small 2" x 2" passport-style photo
  • A notarized (i.e., signed by a notary with a seal) affidavit or affidavits signed by salon managers certifying the date you started and stopped working for each employer as an operator. Whether the work was full or part-time (full-time entails 5, 8 hour days per week; part-time entails a minimum of 24 hours per week for 40 weeks per year). Two full years of work experience
  • The Board will not consider any work experience obtained prior to becoming licensed in the field of cosmetology. Outside a salon licensed by the Massachusetts Cosmetology and Barbering Board. Obtained in another state
  • A copy of a government-issued ID or a driver's license
  • A notarized, signed Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) Acknowledgement Form

The following document(s) must be mailed to the Board:

  • License Verification(s): If you hold or have held another license or certification in the United States or another country or foreign jurisdiction, please contact the relevant licensing authority and arrange for that authority to send a certificate of standing to the Board directly indicating the status of your license, information on any pending actions, and any disciplinary information.

Please mail the aforementioned document(s) to the Board at the following address:

Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering
Division of Professional Licensure
1000 Washington Street, Suite 710
Boston, MA 02118-6100

Application Fee

All applicants are required to pay a non-refundable application fee of $82. This fee must be paid online at the end of the application process, either by check or credit card. Please note that a convenience fee will be assessed for credit card payments.

Cosmetology Out of Country License Application

Prior to completing your application, please review the Board's regulations, set forth at 240 Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR). You may purchase an official copy of 240 CMR in person at the State Bookstore located at the Massachusetts State House, Room 116, Boston, MA 02133, or you may order a copy online through the Secretary of State's office. The Board also maintains an unofficial, courtesy copy of the regulations accessible through the Statutes and Regulations section of its website.

Requirements to Apply

To apply for a Cosmetology Out of Country license, an applicant must have met the following requirements:

  • You must have graduated from a cosmetology school
  • If you have at least two years of experience, you may qualify for a manager-level license
  • Pass both a written and practical examination, after receiving approval by the Board
Submission of Supporting Documentation and Required Forms

Please scan and upload the following documents. The documents that you attach must be translated by an accredited translator if they are not completed in English.

  • A 2" x 2" passport-style photo
  • A notarized affidavit from your school certifying your dates of enrollment and graduation, including the exact number of hours of training you received in each subject
    • Example: 300 hours in Skin Care - Denied (too vague)
    • Example: 25 hours in Waxing, 8 hours in Skin Diseases, etc. - Acceptable
  • Applicants may be required to take additional courses depending on the breakdown of their hours
  • A second notarized affidavit, this time from your employer, if you have worked after completion of your in-school training or apprenticeship. For self-employed applicants, a notarized affidavit from your landlord is acceptable. The affidavit form is on the Applications and Forms section of the Board's website
  • All affidavits must be notarized, i.e. signed by a notary public with a seal, in the country where you worked or studied. All affidavits will become the property of the Board
  • A copy of your passport and/or resident alien card stating your name, age, occupation, etc
  • Proof that the educational program you attended is recognized by your government. This proof must:
    • Be provided by the government where the school is located
    • Be an original document on government letterhead signed by a government official
    • State that the school is authorized or licensed by the government and the date when the school received authorization or licensure
  • A notarized, signed Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) Acknowledgement Form

The following document(s) must be mailed to the Board:

  • License Verification(s): If you hold or have held another license or certification in the United States or another country or foreign jurisdiction, please contact the relevant licensing authority and arrange for that authority to send a certificate of standing to the Board directly indicating the status of your license, information on any pending actions, and any disciplinary information.

Please mail the aforementioned document(s) to the Board at the following address:

Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering
Division of Professional Licensure
1000 Washington Street, Suite 710
Boston, MA 02118-6100

Application Fee

All applicants are required to pay a non-refundable application fee of $136. This fee must be paid online at the end of the application process, either by check or credit card. Please note that a convenience fee will be assessed for credit card payments.

Application Questions

Please direct any questions regarding the application process to the Board at cosmetologyandbarberingboard@state.ma.us, or call them at 617-727-9940.

Cosmetology Out of State License Application

Please review and complete the steps below before starting your Out of State Application. Questions about the application process should be directed to cosmetologyandbarberingboard@state.ma.us or 617-727-9940. If you do not wish to submit your application online, you may download a copy of the application from the Board's Applications and Forms page on its website.

Prior to completing your application, please review the Board's regulations, set forth at 240 Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR). You may purchase an official copy of 240 CMR in person at the State Bookstore located at the Massachusetts State House, Room 116, Boston, MA 02133, or you may order a copy online through the Secretary of State's office. The Board also maintains an unofficial, courtesy copy of the regulations accessible through the Statutes and Regulations section of its website.

Requirements to Apply

To apply for a Cosmetology Out of Country license, an applicant must have met the following requirements:

  • You must have graduated from a cosmetology school
  • If you have at least two years of experience, you may qualify for a manager-level license
  • Pass both a written and practical examination, after receiving approval by the Board
Submission of Supporting Documentation and Required Forms

Please scan and upload the following documents. The documents that you attach must be translated by an accredited translator if they are not completed in English.

  • A 2" x 2" passport-style photo
  • A copy of your license from another state
  • A copy of your driver's license or other government-issued ID
  • A certification of your current license from another state. The certification form is available on the Applications and Forms page of the Board's website. The applicant should mail the form to the state in which the applicant is currently licensed, and this state must complete the form and mail the completed form directly to the Massachusetts Board. The applicant should ask the state board where they are licensed if there is a fee for completing this form. The applicant's license must be current for the application for a Massachusetts license to be complete
  • If you have at least two years of work experience, a notarized (i.e., signed by a notary with a seal) affidavit or affidavits certifying the date you started and stopped working for each employer (you may sign the bottom section if you were self-employed). Whether the work was full or part-time (full-time entails 5, 8 hour days per week; part-time entails a minimum of 24 hours per week for 40 weeks per year). Two full years of work experience in the field of cosmetology
  • If you have not taken your state board examination, you must submit an official transcript from the school you graduated from verifying your hours and dates of enrollment
  • A notarized, signed Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) Acknowledgement Form

The following document(s) must be mailed to the Board:

  • License Verification(s): If you hold or have held another license or certification in the United States or another country or foreign jurisdiction, please contact the relevant licensing authority and arrange for that authority to send a certificate of standing to the Board directly indicating the status of your license, information on any pending actions, and any disciplinary information

Please mail the aforementioned document(s) to the Board at the following address:

Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering
Division of Professional Licensure
1000 Washington Street, Suite 710
Boston, MA 02118-6100

Application Fee

All applicants are required to pay a non-refundable application fee of $136. This fee must be paid online at the end of the application process, either by check or credit card. Please note that a convenience fee will be assessed for credit card payments.

Cosmetology Shop License Application

Prior to completing your application, please review the Board's regulations, set forth at 240 Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR). You may purchase an official copy of 240 CMR in person at the State Bookstore located at the Massachusetts State House, Room 116, Boston, MA 02133, or you may order a copy online through the Secretary of State's office. The Board also maintains an unofficial, courtesy copy of the regulations accessible through the Statutes and Regulations section of its website.

Cosmetology Shop License Types and Guidelines

Please review the following information to ensure that you are applying for the correct license:

Type 1 - Cosmetology Full-Service Shop:

A cosmetology full service salon which offers hair, skin, and nail services. This type of salon must employ a Type 1 cosmetologist as a manager.

Type 2 - Renter, Aesthetics Shop:

A single person who rents space in a Type 4 salon. To be eligible for this type of license, you must have a manager-level license (Type 1, Type 3 or Type 6). The owner of the entire salon can only rent to one person per space (chair, table, room).

Type 3 - Manicuring Shop:

A manicuring shop only (you must be a Type 1 or Type 3).

Type 4 - Booth Rental Shop (for owners of the entire salon space):

A person who owns a salon and rents space to other licensees who are independent contractors. All Booth Rental Salons (Type 4) must employ a manager level licensee if the owner is not licensed as such; no other employees of the shop owner may practice at this type of salon under a Booth Rental License unless the owner also has a separate salon license.

Type 5 - Aesthetic Shop:

An aesthetic salon which can offer services such as facials and waxing. This type of salon must employ a Type 6 or Type 1 manager.

Please note that if you rent space to others then you must have a Type 4 license. If you have employees then you must have a Type 1 license. If you rent space and have employees who work in your salon, then you must have both a Type 4 and a Type 1 license and submit two applications.

Additional Important Information for All Salon Applicants, Including Major Policies and Required Documentation:

Please see the Important Information for All Salon Applicants document available on the Applications and Forms page of the Board's website.

Submission of Supporting Documentation and Required Forms

The following documents must be uploaded during the online application process:

  • A floor plan which must include the entire layout of the salon (8.5” x 11” only). The applicant must retain a copy of the floor plan on the premises at all times. The floor plan must include all the following:
    • All stations, chairs, manicure tables, aesthetic rooms. For a booth shop, circle the space you are renting
    • Additional sinks (cannot be located in the bathroom). Aesthetic and manicuring shops are required to have an additional sink located in a space that is accessible at all times to all areas. Example: Aesthetic shop with 3 rooms can either have a sink in each room or a minimum of one sink in a common area that is accessible at all times
    • Shop sign
    • Label all rooms whether cosmetology or other, such as medical room, dispensary, lunch room, etc.
      Bathrooms
    • Copy of price list stating all services being provided. Gender Pricing is prohibited. Example: Cannot state Men's cut $18, Women's cuts $25
  • 2” x 2” PASSPORT-STYLE photo of each owner
  • Copy of A driver's license or photo ID for each owner
  • Copy of the manager's (if not owner) driver's license or photo ID and current cosmetology, aesthetic or manicuring license
  • Copy of all employees' cosmetology licenses (not applicable if applying for a booth rental license unless the owner is not a licensee). For booth shop license, provide a copy of the booth rental license
  • Business Certificate from the city or town where the salon is located
  • A completed plumbing and electrical work form if work has been done. If no work has been done, the no work required form must be completed by the applicant. Both forms are available on the Applications and Forms section of the Board's website
  • If the business is incorporated, submit a copy of the Articles of Incorporation; if it is a partnership or LLP, a copy of the partnership agreement; for LLCs, submit a copy of the Certificate of Organization
  • If a business is organized or incorporated, submit a copy of a certificate showing foreign registration with the Massachusetts Secretary of State's Office
  • A notarized, signed Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) Acknowledgement Form

The following document(s) must be mailed to the Board:

  • License Verification(s): If you hold or have held another license or certification in the United States or another country or foreign jurisdiction, please contact the relevant licensing authority and arrange for that authority to send a certificate of standing to the Board directly indicating the status of your license, information on any pending actions, and any disciplinary information.

Please mail the aforementioned document(s) to the Board at the following address:

Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering
Division of Professional Licensure
1000 Washington Street, Suite 710
Boston, MA 02118-6100

Application Fee

All applicants are required to pay a non-refundable application fee of $136. This fee must be paid online at the end of the application process, either by check or credit card. Please note that a convenience fee will be assessed for credit card payments.

Apply for a Massachusetts Barbering License

If you are applying for an Apprentice Barber license, please note that the application process is managed by the Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering's vendor, Pearson VUE. Please contact Pearson VUE at 800-274-2021 or visit their website to apply for a license.

All other barbering licenses described below. Assistant Barbering Instructor, Barber Instructor, Barber Shop, Lapsed Master Barber or Apprentice Barber, Master Barber, Out of Country Apprentice Barber, Out of State Master of Apprentice Barber (Reciprocity) - can be applied for using the Department of Professional Licensure's ePLACE portal. Please review the instructions below prior to starting your license application.

Barber Instructor License Application Instructions

Prior to completing your application, please review the Board's regulations, set forth at 232 Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR). You may purchase an official copy of 232 CMR in person at the State Bookstore located at the Massachusetts State House, Room 116, Boston, MA 02133, or you may order a copy online through the Secretary of State's office. The Board also maintains an unofficial, courtesy copy of the regulations accessible through the Statutes and Regulations section of its website.

Requirements to Apply
  • Be a high school or General Equivalency (GED) graduate
  • Have graduated from a licensed barber school
  • Be a licensed Master Barber in Massachusetts
  • Pass an Instructor written and practical examination
Submission of Supporting Documentation and Required Forms

The following documents may be uploaded during the online application process:

The following document(s) must be mailed to the Board:

  • Transcript: A copy of your transcript from the barber school you attended in an official sealed envelope.
    License Verification(s): If you hold or have held another license or certification in the United States or another country or foreign jurisdiction, please contact the relevant licensing authority and arrange for that authority to send a certificate of standing to the Board directly indicating the status of your license, information on any pending actions, and any disciplinary information.

Please mail the aforementioned document(s) to the Board at the following address:

Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering

Division of Professional Licensure
1000 Washington Street, Suite 710
Boston, MA 02118-6100

Application Fee

All applicants are required to pay a non-refundable application fee of $170. This fee must be paid online at the end of the application process, either by check or credit card. Please note that a convenience fee will be assessed for credit card payments.

Barber Shop License Application Instructions

Prior to completing your application, please review the Board's regulations, set forth at 232 Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR). You may purchase an official copy of 232 CMR in person at the State Bookstore located at the Massachusetts State House, Room 116, Boston, MA 02133, or you may order a copy online through the Secretary of State's office. The Board also maintains an unofficial, courtesy copy of the regulations accessible through the Statutes and Regulations section of its website.

Barber Shop Inspections

Following the receipt and approval of a completed Barber Shop application, the Board will assign an investigator to conduct an inspection of the shop. The owner listed on the application will be contacted by the assigned investigator to schedule the inspection. Please note that a new Barber shop cannot be opened without inspection and approval by the Board.

For additional information on this process, please review the Helpful Tips for Barber Shops document available on the Applications and Forms section of the Board's website.

Submission of Supporting Documentation and Required Forms

The following documents must be uploaded during the online application process:

  • A 2” X 2” passport-style photo of the shop owner (the person who will hold the shop license)
  • A driver's license or government-issued photo ID for the shop owner
  • A driver's license or government-issued photo ID for the manager (Master Barber) if different from the shop owner
  • A floor plan which includes the entire layout of the shop. The plan does not have to be professionally prepared; it may be hand drawn using circles and squares as symbols to indicate rooms and equipment, the front door and back door, bathroom locations, and the overall set-up of the shop. The plan must contain the location of a barber pole or barber pole decal
  • Business Certificate from the city or town where the shop is located
  • A completed Plumbing Inspection Form or Electrical Inspection Form if plumbing or electrical work has been done on the premises, or a No Plumbing or Electrical Work Required Form if no plumbing or electrical work has been done. These documents are on the Applications and Forms page of the Board's website
  • If the business is incorporated, submit a copy of the Articles of Incorporation; if a partnership or LLP, a copy of partnership agreement; for LLCs, submit a copy of Certificate of Organization. If the business is organized or incorporated, submit a copy of a certificate showing foreign registration with the Massachusetts Secretary of State's Office
  • If you hold another license or certification in the United States or another country or foreign jurisdiction, please attach a certificate of standing from each state or jurisdiction indicating the status of your license, information on any pending actions, and any relevant disciplinary information
  • A notarized, signed Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) Acknowledgement Form

Application Fee

All applicants are required to pay a non-refundable application fee of $130. This fee must be paid online at the end of the application process, either by check or credit card. Please note that a convenience fee will be assessed for credit card payments.

Lapsed Master Barber or Lapsed Apprentice Barber License Application Instructions

Please review and complete the steps below before starting your Lapsed Master Barber license application. Questions about the application process should be directed to cosmetologyandbarberingboard@state.ma.us or 617-727-9940. If you do not wish to submit your application online, you may download a copy of the application from the Board's Applications and Forms page on its website.

Before completing your application, please review the Board's regulations, set forth at 232 Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR). You may purchase an official copy of 232 CMR in person at the State Bookstore located at the Massachusetts State House, Room 116, Boston, MA 02133, or you may order a copy online through the Secretary of State's office. The Board also maintains an unofficial, courtesy copy of the regulations accessible through the Statutes and Regulations section of its website.

Requirements to Apply

To apply for a new license after holding a lapsed barber license an applicant must:

  • Have a Massachusetts Barber license that has been expired for three years or more
  • Pass a practical examination, after receiving approval by the Board
Submission of Supporting Documentation and Required Forms

The following documents must be uploaded during the online application process:

The following document(s) must be mailed to the Board:

  • License Verification(s): If you hold or have held another license or certification in the United States or another country or foreign jurisdiction, please contact the relevant licensing authority and arrange for that authority to send a certificate of standing to the Board directly indicating the status of your license, information on any pending actions, and any disciplinary information.

Please mail the aforementioned document(s) to the Board at the following address:

Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering
Division of Professional Licensure
1000 Washington Street, Suite 710
Boston, MA 02118-6100

Application Fee

All Lapsed Master Barber applicants are required to pay a non-refundable application fee of $66, in addition to any examination fees. This fee must be paid online at the end of the application process, either by check or credit card. Please note that a convenience fee will be assessed for credit card payments. Lapsed Apprentices are not charged an application fee.

Master Barber License Application Instructions

Please review and complete the steps below before starting your Master Barber license application. Questions about the application process should be directed to cosmetologyandbarberingboard@state.ma.us or 617-727-9940. If you do not wish to submit your application online, you may download a copy of the application from the Board's Applications and Forms page on its website.

Before completing your application, please review the Board's regulations, set forth at 232 Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR). You may purchase an official copy of 232 CMR in person at the State Bookstore located at the Massachusetts State House, Room 116, Boston, MA 02133, or you may order a copy online through the Secretary of State's office. The Board also maintains an unofficial, courtesy copy of the regulations accessible through the Statutes and Regulations section of its website.

Requirements to Apply

To become licensed as a Master Barber an applicant must:

  • Have a current Apprentice Barber or Out of Country Apprentice license
  • Be able to verify that you have worked under a Master Barber for at least eighteen months, if you are an Apprentice Barber, or for at least two years, if you hold an Out of Country Apprentice license
Submission of Supporting Documentation and Required Forms

The following documents must be uploaded during the online application process:

  • A small 2" x 2" passport-style photo
  • A notarized (i.e., signed by a notary with a seal) affidavit or affidavits signed by barber shop managers certifying the date you started and stopped working for each employer as an apprentice barber. Whether the work was full or part-time (full-time entails 5, 8 hour days per week, part-time entails a minimum of 24 hours per week for 40 weeks per year). Eighteen months of work experience, or two years if you have an out-of-country apprentice license. The Board will not consider any work experience:
    • Obtained prior to becoming licensed in the field of barbering
    • Outside a barber shop licensed by the Massachusetts Cosmetology and Barbering Board
    • Obtained in another state
  • A copy of a government-issued ID or a driver's license
  • A notarized, signed Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) Acknowledgement Form

The following documents must be mailed to the Board:

  • License Verification(s): If you hold or have held another license or certification in the United States or another country or foreign jurisdiction, please contact the relevant licensing authority and arrange for that authority to send a certificate of standing to the Board directly indicating the status of your license, information on any pending actions, and any disciplinary information.

Please mail the aforementioned documents to the Board at the following address:

Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering
Division of Professional Licensure
1000 Washington Street, Suite 710
Boston, MA 02118-6100

Application Fee

All applicants are required to pay a non-refundable application fee of $66 in addition to any examination fees. This fee must be paid online at the end of the application process, either by check or credit card. Please note that a convenience fee will be assessed for credit card payments.

Out of Country Apprentice Barber License Application Instructions

Please review and complete the steps below before starting your Out of Country Apprentice Barber license application. Questions about the application process should be directed to cosmetologyandbarberingboard@state.ma.us or 617-727-9940. If you do not wish to submit your application online, you may download a copy of the application from the Board's Applications and Forms page on its website.

Before completing your application, please review the Board's regulations, set forth at 232 Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR). You may purchase an official copy of 232 CMR in person at the State Bookstore located at the Massachusetts State House, Room 116, Boston, MA 02133, or you may order a copy online through the Secretary of State's office. The Board also maintains an unofficial, courtesy copy of the regulations accessible through the Statutes and Regulations section of its website.

Requirements to Apply

To apply for an Out of Country Apprentice Barber license, you must meet the following requirements:

  • Be at least eighteen years old
    Be able to verify that you have worked as a barber in another country for at least two years
  • Have taken a ten hour sterilization course
Submission of Supporting Documentation and Required Forms

The following documents must be uploaded during the online application process:

  • A 2” x 2” passport style photo
  • A copy of your driver's license or government-issued photo ID, which may be a passport
  • A green card allowing you to work in the US
  • A birth certificate or passport
  • Verification of a 10-hour sterilization course
  • A notarized (i.e., signed by a notary with a seal) affidavit or affidavits signed by barber shop managers in another country certifying the date you started and stopped working for each employer as a barber, and
    whether the work was full or part-time (full-time entails 5, 8 hour days per week; part-time entails a minimum of 24 hours per week for 40 weeks per year)
  • A notarized, signed Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) Acknowledgement Form

Please Note: You must submit original affidavits in the original language and must also submit copies translated by an accredited translator. The affidavits must be notarized in the country of origin.

The following document(s) must be mailed to the Board:

  • License Verification(s): If you hold or have held another license or certification in the United States or another country or foreign jurisdiction, please contact the relevant licensing authority and arrange for that authority to send a certificate of standing to the Board directly indicating the status of your license, information on any pending actions, and any disciplinary information.

Please mail the aforementioned document(s) to the Board at the following address:

Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering
Division of Professional Licensure
1000 Washington Street, Suite 710
Boston, MA 02118-6100

Application Fee

The Board does not charge an application fee for Out of Country Apprentice Barber licenses.

Out of State Master Barber or Apprentice Barber (Reciprocity) License Application Instructions

If you do not wish to submit your application online, you may download a copy of the application from the Board's Applications and Forms page on its website.

Before completing your application, please review the Board's regulations, set forth at 232 Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR). You may purchase an official copy of 232 CMR in person at the State Bookstore located at the Massachusetts State House, Room 116, Boston, MA 02133, or you may order a copy online through the Secretary of State's office. The Board also maintains an unofficial, courtesy copy of the regulations accessible through the Statutes and Regulations section of its website.

Requirements to Apply

To apply for an Out of State Apprentice Barber (Reciprocity) license, an applicant must meet the following requirements:

  • You must have a current Apprentice license from another state. (Not a license that says Apprentice. In most states the Apprentice means ability to work in a shop without formal schooling. You must show that you have at least 1000 hours of schooling and you have taken exams to obtain a license if the license says Apprentice)
  • You must have worked fewer than two years in the state where you are licensed
  • Or have a license shows you were licensed as an Apprentice Barber (not signed up for apprenticeship under a barber instead of going to a licensed school. Some states have in-the-shop training. Massachusetts does not recognize this form of training)

Please Note: If you are licensed as an Apprentice in Massachusetts, you will have to work eighteen months under a Master Barber before you may take the Master Barber license exams. To apply for an Out of State Apprentice Barber (Reciprocity) license, an applicant must meet the following requirements:

  • You must have a current Master Barber License from another state
  • You must have worked as a Master Barber for two or more years in the state where you are licensed

Please Note: If you have not worked as a licensed barber for at least two years, you must apply as an Apprentice Barber and work for eighteen months under a Master Barber before you will be eligible to take the Master Barber exams.

Submission of Supporting Documentation and Required Forms

The following documents must be uploaded during the online application process:

The following document(s) must be mailed to the Board:

  • Transcript(s): Official sealed transcript from your Barber School
  • Current License Verification: Certification of your current license. This form must be mailed directly from the state board where you are currently licensed to the Massachusetts board
  • Other License Verification(s): If you hold or have held another license or certification in the United States or another country or foreign jurisdiction, please contact the relevant licensing authority and arrange for that authority to send a certificate of standing to the Board directly indicating the status of your license, information on any pending actions, and any disciplinary information

Please mail the aforementioned document(s) to the Board at the following address:

Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering
Division of Professional Licensure
1000 Washington Street, Suite 710
Boston, MA 02118-6100

Application Fee

All applicants are required to pay a non-refundable application fee of $225. This fee must be paid online at the end of the application process, either by check or credit card. Please note that a convenience fee will be assessed for credit card payments.

Apply for an Electrology License

If you are applying for an Electrologist license, please note that the application process for that license is managed by the Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering's vendor, Pearson VUE. To apply for a license, please visit Pearson VUE's website. Please direct any questions regarding the application process, including fees, to Pearson VUE by calling 800-274-2021. All other license types - Electrology Instructor, Electrology Lecturer, Out-of-State Electrologist - can be completed using the ePLACE instructions below.

Electrology Instructor

Before completing your application, please review the Board's regulations, set forth at 238 Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR). You may purchase an official copy of 238 CMR in person at the State Bookstore located at the Massachusetts State House, Room 116, Boston, MA 02133, or you may order a copy online through the Secretary of State's office. The Board also maintains an unofficial, courtesy copy of the regulations accessible through the Statutes and Regulations section of its website.

Requirements to Apply

To apply for an Electrology Instructor license an applicant must:

  • Hold a current Massachusetts Electrologist license
  • Have actively engaged in the practice of electrolysis for at least the last five consecutive years preceding the date of his or her application for registration as an instructor
  • Passed an Instructor licensing examination prescribed by the Board
Submission of Supporting Documentation and Required Forms

The following documents must be uploaded during the online application process:

  • A small 2" x 2" passport-style photo
  • A notarized (i.e., signed by a notary with a seal) affidavit or affidavits signed by you (if self-employed) or an electrology office owner certifying the date you started and stopped working for each employer as an electologist. Whether the work was full or part-time (full-time entails 5, 8 hour days per week; part-time entails a minimum of 24 hours per week for 40 weeks per year). Five years of work experience as an electrologist immediately preceding your application. The Board will not consider any work experience obtained prior to becoming licensed in the field of electrology
  • A copy of a government-issued ID or a driver's license
  • A notarized, signed Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) Acknowledgement Form

The following document(s) must be mailed to the Board:

  • License Verification(s): If you hold or have held another license or certification in the United States or another country or foreign jurisdiction, please contact the relevant licensing authority and arrange for that authority to send a certificate of standing to the Board directly indicating the status of your license, information on any pending actions, and any disciplinary information.

Please mail the aforementioned document(s) to the Board at the following address:

Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering
Division of Professional Licensure
1000 Washington Street, Suite 710
Boston, MA 02118-6100

Application Fee

All applicants are required to pay a non-refundable application fee of $66. This fee must be paid online at the end of the application process, either by check or credit card. Please note that a convenience fee will be assessed for credit card payments.

Electrology Lecturer License

Before completing your application, please review the Board's regulations, set forth at 238 Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR). You may purchase an official copy of 238 CMR in person at the State Bookstore located at the Massachusetts State House, Room 116, Boston, MA 02133, or you may order a copy online through the Secretary of State's office. The Board also maintains an unofficial, courtesy copy of the regulations accessible through the Statutes and Regulations section of its website.

Requirements to Apply

To apply for an Electrology Lecturer license an applicant must:

  • Possess a bachelor's degree, or the equivalent thereof, in the field or subject area in which he or she proposes to provide didactic training, from a degree-granting college or university accredited by the United States Department of Education or the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or
  • Possess a current, valid adult or secondary school teaching certificate or credential, issued by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or any other state or territory of the United States, which authorizes him or her to teach in the field or subject area in which he or she proposes to provide didactic training or
  • Have at least five years of experience in a profession, trade, industry or occupation which requires regular use of the knowledge and skills which he or she proposes to teach to students at the electrolysis school, and, where applicable, possesses a current, valid license to practice said profession, trade or occupation issued by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or any other state or territory of the United States or
  • By virtue of education, practical experience or any combination thereof, possesses sufficient knowledge of the subject matter which he or she proposes to teach to students at the electrolysis school
Submission of Supporting Documentation and Required Forms

The following documents must be uploaded during the online application process:

  • A small 2" x 2" passport-style photo
  • A copy of a government-issued ID or a driver's license
  • Any supporting documents showing that the applicant possess a bachelor's degree, or the equivalent thereof, in the field or subject area in which he or she proposes to provide didactic training, from a degree-granting college or university accredited by the US Department of Education or the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or possess a current, valid adult or secondary school teaching certificate or credential, issued by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or any other state or territory of the US, which authorizes him or her to teach in the field or subject area in which he or she proposes to provide didactic training. Or have at least five years of experience in a profession, trade, industry or occupation which requires regular use of the knowledge and skills which he or she proposes to teach to students at the electrolysis school, and, where applicable, possesses a current, valid license to practice said profession, trade or occupation issued by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or any other state or territory of the United States or
  • By virtue of education, practical experience or any combination thereof, possesses sufficient knowledge of the subject matter which he or she proposes to teach to students at the electrolysis school
  • A notarized, signed Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) Acknowledgement Form

The following document(s) must be mailed to the Board:

  • License Verification(s): If you hold or have held another license or certification in the US or another country or foreign jurisdiction, please contact the relevant licensing authority and arrange for that authority to send a certificate of standing to the Board directly indicating the status of your license, information on any pending actions, and any disciplinary information.

Please mail the aforementioned document(s) to the Board at the following address:

Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering
Division of Professional Licensure
1000 Washington Street, Suite 710
Boston, MA 02118-6100

Application Fee

All applicants are required to pay a non-refundable application fee of $52. This fee must be paid online at the end of the application process, either by check or credit card. Please note that a convenience fee will be assessed for credit card payments.

Out of State Electrologist

Please review and complete the steps below before starting an Out of State Electrologist license application. Questions about the application process should be directed to cosmetologyandbarberingboard@state.ma.us or 617-727-9940. If you do not wish to submit your application online, you may download a copy of the application from the Board's Applications and Forms page on its website.

Before completing your application, please review the Board's regulations, set forth at 238 Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR). You may purchase an official copy of 238 CMR in person at the State Bookstore located at the Massachusetts State House, Room 116, Boston, MA 02133, or you may order a copy online through the Secretary of State's office. The Board also maintains an unofficial, courtesy copy of the regulations accessible through the Statutes and Regulations section of its website.

Requirements to Apply

Applicants must be at least eighteen years of age with both a High school diploma, or an equivalent, and an Electrolysis school diploma.

Submission of Supporting Documentation and Required Forms

The following documents must be uploaded during the online application process:

The following document(s) must be mailed to the Board:

  • Transcript: An official sealed transcript from your electrology school.
    License Verification(s): If you hold or have held another license or certification in the United States or another country or foreign jurisdiction, please contact the relevant licensing authority and arrange for that authority to send a certificate of standing to the Board directly indicating the status of your license, information on any pending actions, and any disciplinary information.

Please mail the aforementioned document(s) to the Board at the following address:

Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering
Division of Professional Licensure
1000 Washington Street, Suite 710
Boston, MA 02118-6100

Application Fee

All applicants are required to pay a non-refundable application fee of $97. This fee must be paid online at the end of the application process, either by check or credit card. Please note that a convenience fee will be assessed for credit card payments.

Apply for an Aesthetics License

If you are applying for an Aesthetics Operator (Type 7) license, please note that the application process is managed by the Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering's vendor, Pearson VUE. To apply for a license, please visit Pearson VUE's website. Please direct any questions regarding the application process, including fees, to Pearson VUE by calling 800-274-2021.

All other Aesthetics license types described below - Aesthetics Instructor (Type 8), Aesthetics Manager (Type 6), Aesthetics Shop (Type 5), Junior Aesthetics Instructor (Type 5) - can be completed using the ePLACE instructions.

Aesthetics Instructor (Type 8) License

Before completing your application, please review the Board's regulations, set forth at 240 Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR). You may purchase an official copy of 240 CMR in person at the State Bookstore located at the Massachusetts State House, Room 116, Boston, MA 02133, or you may order a copy online through the Secretary of State's office. The Board also maintains an unofficial, courtesy copy of the regulations accessible through the Statutes and Regulations section of its website.

Application Process

Once the Board has received and processed your application, you will be issued a temporary permit valid for six (6) months, which will allow you to work before you take the examination. You must receive a passing score on the practical examination before you will be permitted to take the written examination. Please note that practical examinations are not given in July and August.

Upon passing the practical examination, the applicant will receive information on how to take the written examination through the Board's vendor, Pearson Vue. Follow all instructions listed in the handbook. All applicants must have two years of work experience as a Type 1 Cosmetologist, Type 6 Aesthetician, or Junior Assistant Instructor.

Submission of Supporting Documentation and Required Forms

The following documents must be uploaded during the online application process:

  • A 2” x 2” passport-style photo
  • A copy of your driver's license or government-issued photo ID
  • A copy of your high school diploma or Graduate Equivalency Diploma (GED)
  • A notarized (i.e., signed by a notary with a seal) affidavit or affidavits certifying the date you started and stopped working for each employer (you may sign the bottom section if you were self-employed). Whether the work was full or part-time (full-time entails 5, 8-hour days per week; part-time entails a minimum of 24 hours per week for 40 weeks per year). Two full years of work experience in the field of cosmetology or aesthetics
  • A notarized, signed Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) Acknowledgement Form

The following document(s) must be mailed to the Board:

  • License Verification(s): If you hold or have held another license or certification in the United States or another country or foreign jurisdiction, please contact the relevant licensing authority and arrange for that authority to send a certificate of standing to the Board directly indicating the status of your license, information on any pending actions, and any disciplinary information.

Please mail the aforementioned document(s) to the Board at the following address:

Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering
Division of Professional Licensure
1000 Washington Street, Suite 710
Boston, MA 02118-6100

Application Fee

All applicants are required to pay a non-refundable application fee of $136. This fee must be paid online at the end of the application process, either by check or credit card. Please note that a convenience fee will be assessed for credit card payments.

Aesthetics Instructor (Type 8) License

Before completing your application, please review the Board's regulations, set forth at 240 Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR). You may purchase an official copy of 240 CMR in person at the State Bookstore located at the Massachusetts State House, Room 116, Boston, MA 02133, or you may order a copy online through the Secretary of State's office. The Board also maintains an unofficial, courtesy copy of the regulations accessible through the Statutes and Regulations section of its website.

Application Process

Once the Board has received and processed your application, you will be issued a temporary permit valid for six months, which will allow you to work before you take the examination. You must receive a passing score on the practical examination before you will be permitted to take the written examination. Please note that practical examinations are not given in July and August.

Upon passing the practical examination, the applicant will receive information on how to take the written examination through the Board's vendor, Pearson Vue. Follow all instructions listed in the handbook. All applicants must have two years of work experience as a Type 1 Cosmetologist, Type 6 Aesthetician, or Junior Assistant Instructor.

Submission of Supporting Documentation and Required Forms

The following documents must be uploaded during the online application process:

  • A 2” x 2” passport-style photo
  • A copy of your driver's license or government-issued photo ID
  • A copy of your high school diploma or Graduate Equivalency Diploma (GED)
  • A notarized (i.e., signed by a notary with a seal) affidavit or affidavits certifying the date you started and stopped working for each employer (you may sign the bottom section if you were self-employed). Whether the work was full or part-time (full-time entails 5, 8-hour days per week; part-time entails a minimum of 24 hours per week for 40 weeks per year). Two full years of work experience in the field of cosmetology or aesthetics
  • A notarized, signed Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) Acknowledgement Form

The following document(s) must be mailed to the Board:

  • License Verification(s): If you hold or have held another license or certification in the United States or another country or foreign jurisdiction, please contact the relevant licensing authority and arrange for that authority to send a certificate of standing to the Board directly indicating the status of your license, information on any pending actions, and any disciplinary information.

Please mail the aforementioned document(s) to the Board at the following address:

Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering
Division of Professional Licensure
1000 Washington Street, Suite 710
Boston, MA 02118-6100

Application Fee

All applicants are required to pay a non-refundable application fee of $136. This fee must be paid online at the end of the application process, either by check or credit card. Please note that a convenience fee will be assessed for credit card payments.

Aesthetics Manager (Type 6)

Before completing your application, please review the Board's regulations, set forth at 240 Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR). You may purchase an official copy of 240 CMR in person at the State Bookstore located at the Massachusetts State House, Room 116, Boston, MA 02133, or you may order a copy online through the Secretary of State's office. The Board also maintains an unofficial, courtesy copy of the regulations accessible through the Statutes and Regulations section of its website.

Requirements to Apply

Before applying for licensure as an Aesthetics Manager (Type 6), you must have completed two full years (24 months) of work experience as a licensed Aesthetics Operator (Type 7).

Submission of Supporting Documentation and Required Forms

The following documents must be uploaded during the online application process:

  • A small 2" x 2" passport-style photo
  • A notarized (i.e., signed by a notary with a seal) affidavit or affidavits signed by salon managers certifying the date you started and stopped working for each employer as a Type 7 aesthetician. Whether the work was full or part-time (full-time entails 5, 8 hour days per week; part-time entails a minimum of 24 hours per week for 40 weeks per year). Two full years of practical work experience. The Board will not consider any work experience:
    • Obtained prior to becoming licensed in the field of aesthetics
    • Outside a salon licensed by the Massachusetts Cosmetology and Barbering Board
    • Obtained in another state
  • A copy of a government-issued ID or a driver's license
  • A notarized, signed Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) Acknowledgement Form

The following document(s) must be mailed to the Board:

  • License Verification(s): If you hold or have held another license or certification in the United States or another country or foreign jurisdiction, please contact the relevant licensing authority and arrange for that authority to send a certificate of standing to the Board directly indicating the status of your license, information on any pending actions, and any disciplinary information.

Please mail the aforementioned document(s) to the Board at the following address:

Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering
Division of Professional Licensure
1000 Washington Street, Suite 710
Boston, MA 02118-6100

Application Fee

All applicants are required to pay a non-refundable application fee of $68. This fee must be paid online at the end of the application process, either by check or credit card. Please note that a convenience fee will be assessed for credit card payments.

Aesthetics Shop (Type 5) License

Prior to completing your application, please review the Board's regulations, set forth at 240 Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR). You may purchase an official copy of 240 CMR in person at the State Bookstore located at the Massachusetts State House, Room 116, Boston, MA 02133, or you may order a copy online through the Secretary of State's office. The Board also maintains an unofficial, courtesy copy of the regulations accessible through the Statutes and Regulations section of its website.

Cosmetology Shop License Types and Guidelines

Applicants for an Aesthetics Shop (Type 5) license should apply for a Type 5 - Aesthetic Shop license. If you are unsure whether or not your business model meets the requirement for licensure as a Type 5 Aesthetics Shop, please review the types of shop and salon licenses issued by the Board, described below:

Type 1 - Cosmetology Full-Service Shop:

A cosmetology full service salon which offers hair, skin, and nail services. This type of salon must employ a Type 1 cosmetologist as a manager.

Type 2 - Renter, Aesthetics Shop:

A single person who rents space in a Type 4 salon. To be eligible for this type of license, you must have a manager-level license (Type 1, Type 3 or Type 6). The owner of the entire salon can only rent to one person per space (chair, table, room).

Type 3 - Manicuring Shop:

A manicuring shop only (you must be a Type 1 or Type 3).

Type 4 - Booth Rental Shop (for owners of the entire salon space):

A person who owns a salon and rents space to other licensees who are independent contractors. All Booth Rental Salons (Type 4) must employ a manager level licensee if the owner is not licensed as such; no other employees of the shop owner may practice at this type of salon under a Booth Rental License unless the owner also has a separate salon license.

Type 5 - Aesthetic Shop:

An aesthetic salon which can offer services such as facials and waxing. This type of salon must employ a Type 6 or Type 1 manager.

Please note that if you rent space to others then you must have a Type 4 license. If you have employees then you must have a Type 1 license. If you rent space and have employees who work in your salon, then you must have both a Type 4 and a Type 1 license and submit two applications.

Additional Important Information for All Salon Applicants, Including Major Policies and Required Documentation

Please see the Important Information for All Salon Applicants document available on the Applications and Forms page of the Board's website.

Submission of Supporting Documentation and Required Forms

The following documents must be uploaded during the online application process:

  • A floor plan which must include the entire layout of the salon (8.5” x 11” only). The applicant must retain a copy of the floor plan on the premises at all times. The floor plan must include all the following:
    • All stations, chairs, manicure tables, aesthetic rooms. For a booth shop, circle the space you are renting
    • Additional sinks (cannot be located in the bathroom). Aesthetic and manicuring shops are required to have an additional sink located in a space that is accessible at all times to all areas. Example: Aesthetic shop with 3 rooms can either have a sink in each room or a minimum of one sink in a common area that is accessible at all times
    • Shop sign
    • Label all rooms whether cosmetology or other, such as medical room, dispensary, lunch room, etc.
    • Bathrooms
  • Copy of price list stating all services being provided. Gender Pricing is prohibited. Example: Cannot state Men's cut $18, Women's cuts $25
  • One 2” x 2” passport-style photo of each owner
  • Copy of driver's license or photo ID for each owner
  • Copy of manager's (if not owner) driver's license or photo ID and current cosmetology, aesthetic or manicuring license
  • Copy of all employees cosmetology licenses (not applicable if applying for a booth rental license unless the owner is not a licensee). For booth shop license, provide a copy of the booth rental license
  • Business Certificate from the city or town where the salon is located
  • A completed plumbing and electrical work form if work has been done. If no work has been done, the no work required form must be completed by the applicant. Both forms are available on the Applications and Forms section of the Board's website
  • If the business is incorporated, submit a copy of the Articles of Incorporation; if it is a partnership or LLP, a copy of the partnership agreement; for LLCs, submit a copy of the Certificate of Organization
  • If a business is organized or incorporated, submit a copy of a certificate showing foreign registration with the Massachusetts Secretary of State's Office
  • A notarized, signed Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) Acknowledgement Form

The following document(s) must be mailed to the Board:

  • License Verification(s): If you hold or have held another license or certification in the United States or another country or foreign jurisdiction, please contact the relevant licensing authority and arrange for that authority to send a certificate of standing to the Board directly indicating the status of your license, information on any pending actions, and any disciplinary information.

Please mail the aforementioned document(s) to the Board at the following address:

Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering
Division of Professional Licensure
1000 Washington Street, Suite 710
Boston, MA 02118-6100

Application Fee

All applicants are required to pay a non-refundable application fee of $136. This fee must be paid online at the end of the application process, either by check or credit card. Please note that a convenience fee will be assessed for credit card payments.

Junior Aesthetics Instructor License

Prior to completing your application, please review the Board's regulations, set forth at 240 Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR). You may purchase an official copy of 240 CMR in person at the State Bookstore located at the Massachusetts State House, Room 116, Boston, MA 02133, or you may order a copy online through the Secretary of State's office. The Board also maintains an unofficial, courtesy copy of the regulations accessible through the Statutes and Regulations section of its website.

Submission of Supporting Documentation and Required Forms

Please upload copies of the following:

The following document(s) must be mailed to the Board:

  • License Verification(s): If you hold or have held another license or certification in the United States or another country or foreign jurisdiction, please contact the relevant licensing authority and arrange for that authority to send a certificate of standing to the Board directly indicating the status of your license, information on any pending actions, and any disciplinary information.

Please mail the aforementioned document(s) to the Board at the following address:

Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering
Division of Professional Licensure
1000 Washington Street, Suite 710
Boston, MA 02118-6100

Application Fee

All applicants are required to pay a non-refundable application fee of $68 This fee must be paid online at the end of the application process, either by check or credit card. Please note that a convenience fee will be assessed for credit card payments.

Apply for a Manicuring License or Application

Please note that the initial application process for a Manicurist (Type 3) license is managed by the Board's vendor, Pearson VUE. To apply for a Manicurist (Type 3) license, please visit Pearson VUE's website. Please direct any questions regarding the application process, including fees, to Pearson VUE by calling 800-274-2021. All other applications can be completed on ePLACE. Prior to beginning your application, please review the information below.

Manicure Shop License

Before completing your application, please review the Board's regulations, set forth at 240 Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR). You may purchase an official copy of 240 CMR in person at the State Bookstore located at the Massachusetts State House, Room 116, Boston, MA 02133, or you may order a copy online through the Secretary of State's office. The Board also maintains an unofficial, courtesy copy of the regulations accessible through the Statutes and Regulations section of its website.

Cosmetology Shop License Types and Guidelines

Please review the following information to ensure that you are applying for the correct license.

Type 1 - Cosmetology Full-Service Shop:

A cosmetology full service salon which offers hair, skin, and nail services. This type of salon must employ a Type 1 cosmetologist as a manager.

Type 2 - Renter, Aesthetics Shop:

A single person who rents space in a Type 4 salon. To be eligible for this type of license, you must have a manager-level license (Type 1, Type 3 or Type 6). The owner of the entire salon can only rent to one person per space (chair, table, room).

Type 3 - Manicuring Shop:

A manicuring shop only (you must be a Type 1 or Type 3).

Type 4 - Booth Rental Shop (for owners of the entire salon space):

A person who owns a salon and rents space to other licensees who are independent contractors. All Booth Rental Salons (Type 4) must employ a manager level licensee if the owner is not licensed as such; no other employees of the shop owner may practice at this type of salon under a Booth Rental License unless the owner also has a separate salon license.

Type 5 - Aesthetic Shop: An aesthetic salon which can offer services such as facials and waxing. This type of salon must employ a Type 6 or Type 1 manager.

Please note that if you rent space to others then you must have a Type 4 license. If you have employees then you must have a Type 1 license. If you rent space and have employees who work in your salon, then you must have both a Type 4 and a Type 1 license and submit two applications.

Additional Important Information for All Salon Applicants, Including Major Policies and Required Documentation

Please see the Board's Important Information for All Salon Applicants document available on the Applications and Forms section of its website.

Submission of Supporting Documentation and Required Forms

The following documents must be uploaded during the online application process:

  • A floor plan which must include the entire layout of the salon (8.5” x 11” only). The applicant must retain a copy of the floor plan on the premises at all times. The floor plan must include all the following:
    • All stations, chairs, manicure tables, aesthetic rooms. For a booth shop, circle the space you are renting
    • Additional sinks (cannot be located in the bathroom). Aesthetic and manicuring shops are required to have an additional sink located in a space that is accessible at all times, to all areas. (Example: Aesthetic shop with 3 rooms can either have a sink in each room or a minimum of one sink in a common area that is accessible at all times)
    • A shop sign
    • Label all rooms whether cosmetology or other, such as medical room, dispensary, lunch room, etc.
      Bathrooms
    • Copy of price list stating all services being provided. Gender Pricing is prohibited. Example: Cannot state Men's cut $18, Women's cuts $25
    • One 2” x 2' passport-style photo of each owner
    • Copy of driver's license or photo ID for each owner
    • If the manager is not the owner, please provide a copy of the manager's current driver's license or photo ID, and a copy of the managers current cosmetology, aesthetic or manicuring license
    • Copy of all employees' cosmetology licenses (not applicable if applying for a booth rental license unless the owner is not a licensee). For booth shop license, provide a copy of the booth rental license
    • Business Certificate from the city or town where the salon is located
    • A completed plumbing and electrical work form, if work has been done. If no work has been done, the no work required form must be completed by the applicant. Both forms are available on the Applications and Forms section of the Board's website
    • If the business is incorporated, please submit a copy of the Articles of Incorporation; if it is a partnership or a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP), a copy of the partnership agreement. For Limited Liability Companies (LLC), please submit a copy of the Certificate of Organization
    • If the business is organized or incorporated, submit a copy of a certificate showing any foreign registration with the Massachusetts Secretary of State's Office
  • A notarized, signed Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) Acknowledgement Form
Application Fee

All applicants are required to pay a non-refundable application fee of $136. This fee must be paid online at the end of the application process, either by check or credit card. Please note that a convenience fee will be assessed for credit card payments.