Wisconsin State Board Of Cosmetology

The Wisconsin Board Of Cosmetology is in charge of enforcing laws and regulations through inspections, investigation into complaints submitted by consumers and conducts hearings, imposes penalties and enforces actions when they deem necessary. Through education and the enforcement of the cosmetology laws in WI, the state board ensures the safety, welfare and public health by regulating the salons, schools and individuals who practice cosmetology. The list of the board members who are part of the Wisconsin Barbering and Cosmetology Examining Board are listed below:

State Board Members

They also issue licenses for to individuals who qualify for reciprocity or through the state boards administration of a written and practical examination to schools and salons. To find out how to apply for a new license, renew an existing one or find out how many hours for cosmetology license in Wisconsin, check out the Wisconsin Cosmetology License page for additional information. The list of categories the state board issues licenses for are below:

• Available License Categories
• Practioner
• Manicurist
• Esthetician
• Electrologist

If you need to obtain a cosmetology license, renew an existing one, or want to open up a salon or go to school, then in most cases there are fees involved. We list all available fees for this state below. We recommend to call the Wisconsin State Board Of Cosmetology if you cannot find the fee information you are looking for below, or if you need to know how to pay your fees and what type of payments they accept.

Wisconsin Cosmetology License Lookup

If you are planning to setup an appointment with a local salon, it is recommended that you first verify the professional or business license. You can do that online for the state of Wisconsin by visiting app.wi.gov. 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.

Filing a Complaint

Part of the duties of the Wisconsin Barbering and Cosmetology Examining Board is receiving and investigating consumer complaints involving unlawful acts which may include:

• False advertisement
• Violations of health
• Deceptive statements
• Sanitation regulations
• Unlicensed person
• Malpractice or incompetence

If you feel like you have experienced one of these issues listed above, or have information about a specific incident, then you would need to submit your complaint. If you have issues or questions about the complaint process outlined below, then it is recommended you contact the state board for assistance.

You can complete the complaint form online by clicking here. If you would like to email, mail, or fax your complaint instead of submitting it online, print and complete the Complaint Form and submit it to:

Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services
Division of Legal Services and Compliance
P.O. Box 7190
Madison, WI 53707-7190

Fax: 608-266-2264
Email: dsps@wisconsin.gov

The Division of Legal Services and Compliance (DLSC) provides compliance services for the agency's boards and direct-licensed professions. DLSC is staffed with attorneys, investigators and other legal staff to address complaints promptly and appropriately. If a complaint is made with sufficient evidentiary support to suggest that a credential holder is in violation of a relevant condition or rule related to their profession the Division may investigate and, if necessary, file a disciplinary action against the credential holder. The purposes of discipline are to protect the public, rehabilitate the credential holder and to deter other credential holders. Disciplinary action is then monitored for compliance by DLSC's Monitoring Unit.

The links in the Additional Resources section provide directions for making a complaint as well as a page that describes the Department’s case handling process. If a complaint is opened for investigation the case may take in excess of a year to reach a conclusion. This span of time is required to screen, investigate, and if appropriate, prosecute the approximately 3,000 complaints the department receives each year.

In some circumstances the Department may not have the authority or requisite legal basis to investigate a complaint. Any complaint falling within the jurisdiction of another agency will be referred to that agency for further action. Alternative options to filing a complaint are briefly described below.

Here are some tips on preparing your complaint. Make a list of things you want to say. Try your best to separate your feelings from the facts. Present the events in the order of which they happened, use dates and times if possible. When submitting your complaint, please make sure to provide copies of documents, for example contracts, letters, advertisements, sakes slips, cancelled checks, warranties and any other documentation that can support your claim. Only provide copies, keep the original copies for your own record. Please remember, the complaint should describe the event or practice which misled you. If you can, please also state why the practice was misleading.

If you still have questions or issues about your complaint or about cosmetology, then use the contact information listed below. We provide the Wisconsin Board Of Cosmetology phone number, office address and how to access their departments website.