TEXT SIZE: A+ A- A • TEXT ONLY
TRANSLATE
Board of Cosmetology
Agency / Boards
Cosmetology: How to Get Certified
About Us
Fields of Practice
Retaking Written Examination
Business Authorizations
Reciprocity from Out of State
How to Get Licensed
Education & Training
Application Process
Board Meetings
For Recent Graduates
Renewal Process
Consumer Help
Examinations
Reactivation & Reinstatement
Laws & Rules
Written Examination Overview
Contact Us
Issue Responses
License Inquiry
Regulatory
Compliance
Reciprocity (Out of
State)
Forms
Fees
Publications
License Update
Financial Aid
Available
Tools for Schools
Related Links
Opportunities
Fields of Practice
Applicants may obtain certification in one or more of
four individual fields of practice as defined in Oregon
Revised Statutes (ORS) 690.005:
Barbering
Barbering is a separate discipline from hair design. Barbers
shampoo, cut, style, condition and singe (lightly burn hair
ends with a lighted wax taper) hair, but they cannot
provide chemical hair treatments (see Hair Design).
Barbers also shave, trim and cut the beard, and massage
the scalp, face and neck, applying facial and scalp
treatments with creams, lotions, oils and other cosmetic
preparations, either by hand or mechanical appliances, but
such appliances shall not be galvanic (direct electrical
current) or faradic (interrupted, or alternating, electrical
current).
Esthetics
Estheticians provide services to keep skin healthy and
attractive. Estheticians use their hands or mechanical or
electrical apparatuses or appliances for cleansing,
stimulating, manipulating, exfoliating or applying lotions or
creams and for the temporary removal of hair, makeup
artistry. facial and body wrapping, and facial and body waxing.
Hair Design
Hair designers shampoo, cut, style, condition and singe (see Barbering) hair and apply chemical
treatments such as coloring, dyeing, relaxing and permanent waves. They also temporarily curl and
braid hair as well as shave, trim and cut the beard or mustache.
Hair designers also massage the scalp and neck, but not the face, if in conjunction with the above
services.
Nail Technology
Nail technicians cut, trim, clean, polish, color or tint the natural nails on hands and feet and massage,
cleanse, treat and beautify the hands, arms (below the elbow) and legs (below the knee). They also
apply, sculpt and remove artificial nails.
Business Authorizations
All practitioners who provide services in Oregon must do so in a licensed facility, which is defined as
"...an establishment operated on a regular or irregular basis for the purpose of providing services in
one or more fields of practice."
The only exception is a practitioner who obtains a freelance authorization, which is a written
authorization allowing a pracititioner to practice outside of or away from a licensed facility.
The third type of cosmetology business license is an independent contractor registration. An
independent contractor is defined as a practitioner "...who is not under the control and direction of a
facility license holder."
Find
Temporary facility permits allow holders to operate a facility on a temporary basis for a period not
to exceed 30 consecutive calendar days.
Click here to go to the Business Authorizations page for more information.
Education & Training
Oregon applicants for licensure must first complete and pass courses required by the Oregon
Department of Education (ODE), Private Career Schools. Programs offered by Oregon licensed career schools under Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) 817-0300005:
Barbering - 1100 hours
Esthetics - 250 hours
Hair Design - 1450 hours
Nail Technology - 350 hours
Mandatory training of 150 hours in Safety/Infection Control and 100 hours of Career Development
is also required for initial certification.
Training may also be obtained through a competency-based school {scroll to page 43, OAR 581-0450200(6)}, which may not require the minimum training hours.
For Recent Graduates
The Oregon Health Licensing Agency (OHLA) has produced a howto guide for recent cosmetology school graduates that highlights
the steps necessary to gain certification. Click here to download Examination and Application: A How-to
Guide.
Examinations
Practical Examination - Both hourly-based and competencybased schools require students to pass a state-sanctioned practical
examination, conducted by a licensed career school meeting ODE
criteria and standards.
In collaboration with ODE, the Oregon Health Licensing Agency
(OHLA) regularly conducts performance evaluations of statesanctioned practical examinations at Oregon licensed career schools
to guarantee compliance with ODE criteria and standards.
Oregon recognizes the practical examination as the first step in a
two-step examination process toward licensure.
Written Examination - Graduates of both hourly-based and competency-based schools in Oregon as
well as applicants from out of state obtaining certification through reciprocity and experience
equivalency (see below) must pass a written examination to obtain certification.
The written examination is conducted on a walk-in basis (no appointment necessary).
OHLA office hours to begin testing are Monday 9 am - 1:30 pm and Tuesday through Friday 8
am - 1:30 pm.
Applicants who are taking two or more fields of practice examinations should arrive as early as
possible (no later than 12 noon) to complete their examinations by 4:30 pm at the latest. Applicants taking four fields of practice examinations should arrive and be ready to test at 9 am.
Applicants are allowed one and a half hours per examination section and for the Oregon Laws
and Rules section.
Special-accommodation examinations are also available. Visit the Oregon Health Licensing Agency
(OHLA) forms page to download and complete an Accommodation Request form to request special
accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Written Examination Overview
The following highlight the subject matter domains and number of questions per domain on the stateprepared written examination for each individual field of practice.
Barbering Examination Overview Esthetics Examination Overview Hair Design Examination Overview Nail Technology Examination Overview Oregon Laws & Rules Examination Overview The time limit for each field of practice section of the examination and for the Oregon Laws and Rules
examination is 90 minutes. Retaking Written Examination
OHLA and the Board of Cosmetology established requirements, including waiting periods and additional
training, for applicants who fail the written examination and must retake the examination after one or
more failed attempts.
After the third and sixth failed attempts, applicants must obtain additional training from an Oregon
educational institution.
Click here to review the requirements for retaking the written examination, including recertification of
training.
Reciprocity from Out of State
Reciprocity - Reciprocity allows a practitioner credentialed in another state to qualify for Oregon
certification. An applicant must:
1. Submit documentation—an affidavit of licensure—to show a minimum standard of quality
assurance and competency.
The out-of-state regulatory authority must deliver the affidavit of licensure to OHLA in a sealed
envelope or via pre-approved electronic transmission. Applicants are responsible for any fee
from the originating regulatory authority.
If the affidavit discloses any unresolved disciplinary actions and/or outstanding civil fines, the
applicant must resolve these issues before obtaining certification in Oregon.
2. Submit a qualifying application and fee for certification through reciprocity. OHLA sends
application materials to the applicant after reviewing and approving the affidavit of licensure.
3. Pay examination fee and pass the written examination, which includes the Oregon Laws &
Rules examination and an examination for each field of practice for which the applicant is
qualified and wishes to become certified.
4. Pay certification fee per field of practice. Applicants who pass the examination at OHLA in
Salem and pay certification fee(s) obtain same-day certification.
Click here to go to the Reciprocity page for more information.
Application Process
To obtain application forms, please contact the Oregon Health Licensing Agency or click here to go to
the Forms page.
Documentation - The following materials and information are required: official transcript from a
licensed cosmetology career school (in-state applicants) or affidavit of licensure (out-of-state
applicants), two pieces of government-issued photo identification, and Social Security number or
Individual Taxpayer Identification number.
Click here to view identification requirements.
Application and Fees - Applicants must complete an application form and pay an application fee (nonrefundable), original certificate fee for each field of practice and examination fee per field of practice
and for the Oregon Laws and Rules section.
Click here for full fee schedule.
Renewal Process
Application for certificaiton renewal should be made in advance of the certification inactive date, which
is the last day of the month two years from the date of issuance.
Renewal applications are mailed to practitioners approximately six weeks prior to certification expiration
courtesy of OHLA / Board of Cosmetology.
Name Changes - if you have had a legal name change please see the list of acceptable documents to
prove your current full legal name. You will need to provide provide this documentation in order to
renew your certification. Click here to go to list of acceptable documents. Note: If a practitioner two-year certificate goes inactive, there is a three-year window to renew by
paying the current renewal fee(s) and late fee(s). Click here to go to the Fees page.
Click here to renew online.
Reactivation & Reinstatement
Certification Reinstatement after Three Years in Inactive Status
Practitioners whose certificate is inactive for three years or more must take and pass both the practical
and written examinations (within two years of re-application), reapply for certification and pay all
application, examination and certification renewal fees.
Practitioner certification turns to inactive status if the practitioner does not renew prior to the date of
certification renewal. Practitioners in inactive status who provide services to the public are in violation.
Note: Independent contractor registrations and freelance authorizations that are not renewed become
dormant,. These authorizations do not become inactive and do not expire. To reactivate a dormant
independent contractor registration or freelance authorization, the holder must contact the agency.
OREGON.GOV
WEB SITE LINKS
PDF FILE ACCESSIBILITY
Adobe Reader, or equivalent, is required
State Directories
Text Only Site
Agencies A to Z
Accessibility
Oregon Administrative Rules
Oregon.gov
Oregon Revised Statutes
File Formats
Oregon - an Equal Opportunity
Employer
Privacy Policy
About Oregon.gov
Web Site Feedback
Site Map
to view PDF files. Click the "Get Adobe
Reader" image to get a free download of
the reader from Adobe.