To receive a cosmetology license in Georgia or a license in one of the other beauty practitioner disciplines in this state you have to attend a licensed school and complete the minimum required training hours as specified by the Georgia Board of Cosmetology (GBC) before you can take the exams. The application fee is currently $30.
Minimum Required Training Hours
- Cosmetologist license: 1500 hours
- Esthetician license: 1000 hours
- Hair Designer license: 1325 hours
- Nail Technician license: 525 hours
Apprentice Requirements:
- Cosmetologist Apprentice: 3000 hours AND 18 months of training
- Esthetician Apprentice: 2000 hours AND 18 months of training
- Hair Designer Apprentice: 2650 hours AND 14 months of training
- Nail Technician Apprentice: 1050 hours AND 8 months of training
Examinations are already stressful, but a lack of information or misinformation only adds unnecessary stress. Therefore, we advise every applicant to talk to their beauty school teachers to clear all questions. It is also recommended to contact PSI via A) internet www.psiexams.com, B) touch phone (800) 733-9267, or a PSI registrar at (800) 733-9267 (Mo-Fr 7.30 AM – 8.00 PM EST and Sa 11.00 AM – 5.00 PM EST)
Contact Information Georgia Board of Cosmetology and Barbers
Physical Address:
Georgia Board of Cosmetology
237 Coliseum Drive
Macon, GA 31217-2440
Phone: 614-466-3834
Fax: 614-644-6880
Website, FAQs, Fees(pdf) and Forms
Cosmetology License Renewal
Cosmetology licenses in Georgia are due for renewal every two years. The schedule is different for each beauty practitioner discipline. Georgia requires licensees to complete 5 hours continuing education (CE) per renewal period. Three of these five hours must be obtained in health and safety courses, while the remaining two hours may be completed by attending a trade/product show or by completing other courses in health and safety, industry trends, computer skills, business management or related areas of practice. Licensees who have held a license for 25 years or longer can file for a waiver of the CE requirement. The renewal fee is $50.
Out-of-state License – Out-of-country License
An out-of-state license does not automatically qualify you for a cosmetology license in Georgia. But you may qualify for what is called reciprocity if your state has similar training and licensing requirements. Out of country applicant training will be reviewed by the Board and applicants may be required to pass the written and practical examination. The application fee is $50.
Currently, none of the beauty practitioner licenses from the following states are eligible for reciprocity in Georgia:
- California (unless licensed after May 2009)
- Connecticut
- District of Columbia
- Florida (unless licensed prior to August 1986)
- Hawaii
- Illinois (unless licensee prior to December 1984)
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Montana
- Nebraska (unless licensed prior to 2004)
- New York (unless licensed prior to June 2001)
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Puerto Rico
- Rhode Island
- Virgin Islands
These following license types are not eligible for reciprocity:
- Alaska (nail technicians and estheticians)
- Pennsylvania (nail technicians and estheticians)
- Maryland (nail technicians and estheticians)
- Massachusetts (nail technicians and estheticians)
- Maine (nail technicians)
- South Carolina (estheticians)
- Virginia (nail technicians)
For all other states, reciprocity may be granted or denied on an individual basis in accordance with the law.
Please see the Georgia Board of Cosmetology FAQs and contact the board for clarification.
—
Disclaimer: We do not guarantee the accuracy of the above information. Ultimately the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology determines license requirements and will provide you with all needed information. We are not affiliated with the Board in any way. The information on this page was last updated on 9/23/2017.