BARBERING & COSMETOLOGY

FAQs

REQUIREMENTS TO OBTAIN A HAWAII

BARBER’S LICENSE

Q: What kind of training do I need to qualify for a barber’s

license?

A: You must have at least 1500 hours of barber school or

apprenticeship training. If you have experience as a licensed

barber in another state or jurisdiction, and that experience is

more than 6 months, it may be used to satisfy this requirement.

Also, a combination of school and apprentice training may be

acceptable, subject to the Board’s evaluation.

used to satisfy the requirement, upon evaluation by the Board to

determine the extent of acceptable training. Please remember

that only barbers are trained and are allowed to use a razor, so

training as a hairdresser will be lacking this training, and will

have to be gained through barber training.

Q: What is a barber temporary permit? How do I apply for

this?

time you submit your application for a barber license.

Barber examination questions

Q: What examination do I need to pass to obtain a Hawaii

barber license?

A: Once you submit your license application, and are notified that

you qualify, you will need to register with the testing agency to

Q: I live outside of Hawaii but want to become licensed in

Hawaii. How do I request to take the licensing

examination in another state?

A: Send your request in writing to the Board along with your license

application for the Board’s approval. Please be advised that you

are responsible for any additional costs associated with taking

the licensing examination out-of-State, and also that test

A: Prometric is the testing administrator for the examination. The

testing site is at 354 Uluniu Street in Kailua, Oahu. Examinations

are scheduled 4 times a year, usually in March, June,

September, and December.

Q: What if I don’t pass the examination?

A: If you do not pass the examination and do not obtain your

and training as such for 6 months before qualifying for another

series of examinations. You will not be issued another

temporary permit for this period of training.

Barber licensing questions

Q: When and how do I apply for a Hawaii barber’s license?

Q: Does Hawaii reciprocate licenses from other states or

jurisdictions?

A: No, licensees from other states or jurisdictions must qualify and

reciprocal arrangements with any other board of barbering.

Q: Does Hawaii have a residency requirement for licensure

as a barber?

Q: Once I have submitted my application, how long does it

normally take for the Board to issue an initial license?

A: Completed applications are reviewed and approved by the

Licensing Branch, then ratified by the Board at its monthly

meetings. Please refer to the schedule of meetings on this

website for the dates. If your application is approved, you will

receive your license card approximately 2-3 weeks after the

meeting. Your wall certificate should be mailed to you

approximately 4-6 weeks after the meeting.

Q: How long is my barber’s license valid, and how do I

renew?

A: All barber licenses expire on December 31 of each odd-

numbered year. Renewal forms are mailed to the address of

record at least 1½ months prior to the expiration date, so it is

important to notify the Board immediately when you change

your address so that forms and information can be mailed to you

at the correct address.

a renewal form does not relieve you of the responsibility of

timely renewal of your license.

Q: Is there a continuing education requirement to renew a

barber license?

A: No, a barber does not have to take any continuing education in

order to renew the license.

Consumer Affairs, and must be U.S. funds only, drawn on a U.S.

bank or financial institution. Please provide the address where

the verification should be mailed.

Q: Is there an age requirement for a Hawaii beauty

operator’s license?

A: Yes, you must be at least 16 years old to obtain a beauty

operator’s license.

Q: Do I need to be a high school graduate?

Q: What kind of training do I need to qualify for a beauty

operator’s license?

A: The Beauty Operator license has 4 licensure categories. The

training requirements for each are as follows:

Cosmetologist

Esthetician

Skin care, spa and make-up services

600 beauty school training hours or

Nail Technician

Manicure and pedicure services

350 beauty school training hours or

apprenticeship training to qualify for a beauty operator’s

license?

A: Yes. To determine the total hours of training, 2 apprenticeship

hours are equivalent to 1 beauty school hour, provided the

training is not more than 3 years old. The Board may elect to

not recognize all the hours if the combination training occurred

during the same period of time.

Q: My diploma and training verification documents are not in

beauty operator’s license?

A: All documents that are submitted with your application must be

in English. Documents that are in a foreign language must be

translated into English. The translator must be someone other

Q: I have a license as a beauty operator (in the applicable

license category) in another state. Can I use that to

qualify for a Hawaii beauty operator’s license?

A: Yes, if you have at least 1 year of experience as a licensed

state of jurisdiction, you may use this to qualify. The license will

only be recognized for the hours of training that are recognized

in the state or jurisdiction that issued the license.

operator (in the applicable license category). Can this

experience count in qualifying for a Hawaii beauty

operator’s license?

A: Experience is recognized only after licensure and/or completion

of training. Generally, experience is not considered alone

without evidence of completion of training. A minimum of at

least 1 year of applicable experience is necessary to be

recognized by the Board.

temporary permit to allow you to work and train under the

supervision of a qualified licensee while waiting to take and pass

the licensing examination. You must apply for the temporary

permit at the time you submit your application for a beauty

operator license.

Beauty operator examination questions

Q: What examination do I need to pass to obtain a Hawaii

form, please contact Prometric at (808) 261-8182, or log onto

their website at www.experioronline.com. You must register

directly with Prometric by the examination registration deadline

Q: I live outside of Hawaii but want to become licensed in

Hawaii. How do I request to take the licensing

examination in another state?

A: Send your request in writing to the Board along with your license

the licensing examination out-of-State, and also that test

locations are limited to sites at which the testing service has a

secured office.

Q: Where and when is the beauty operator’s licensing

examination administered?

A: Prometric is the testing administrator for the examination. The

testing site is at 354 Uluniu Street in Kailua, Oahu. Examinations

A: If you do not pass the examination and do not obtain your

beauty operator’s license after 3 consecutive administrations of

the examination, you may continue to take the examination;

however, you will not be issued another temporary permit.

Q: When and how do I apply for a Hawaii beauty operator’s

remitted at this time.

Q: Does Hawaii reciprocate licenses from other states or

jurisdictions?

A: No, licensees from other states or jurisdictions must qualify and

apply for a Hawaii beauty operator licensure. The Hawaii Board

has no reciprocal arrangements with any other board of

Q: Does Hawaii have a residency requirement for licensure

as a beauty operator?

A: No, you do not have to be a Hawaii resident, however, you must

be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or alien authorized to work in the

U.S. in order to be granted a beauty operator’s license.

Q: Once I have submitted my application, how long does it

normally take for the Board to issue an initial license?

approximately 4-6 weeks after the meeting.

Q: How long is my beauty operator’s license valid, and how

do I renew?

A: All beauty operator licenses expire on December 31 of each odd-

numbered year. Renewal forms are mailed to the address of

record at least 1½ months prior to the expiration date, so it is

important to notify the Board immediately when you change

A: If you have not received a renewal form by the end of November

(of each odd-numbered year), you should contact the Licensing

Branch at (808) 586-3000 to obtain a form. Failure in receiving

a renewal form does not relieve you of the responsibility of

timely renewal of your license.

Q: Is there a continuing education requirement to renew a

beauty operator license?

A: Upon passing the beauty instructor’s licensing examination, you

will be notified by the Board and provided with information on

how to apply for the beauty instructor’s license. The required

licensing fees, as noted on your “Fees Due” notice must be

remitted at this time.

Q: Does Hawaii reciprocate licenses from other states or

jurisdictions?

Q: Does Hawaii have a residency requirement for licensure

as a beauty instructor?

A: No, you do not have to be a Hawaii resident, however, you must

be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or alien authorized to work in the

U.S. in order to be granted a beauty instructor’s license.

Q: Once I have submitted my application, how long does it

normally take for the Board to issue an initial license?

receive your license card approximately 2-3 weeks after the

meeting. Your wall certificate should be mailed to you

approximately 4-6 weeks after the meeting.

Q: How long is my beauty instructor’s license valid, and how

do I renew?

A: All beauty instructor licenses expire on December 31 of each

your address so that forms and information can be mailed to you

at the correct address.

Q: What should I do if I don’t receive a renewal form?

A: If you have not received a renewal form by the end of November

(of each odd-numbered year), you should contact the Licensing

Branch at (808) 586-3000 to obtain a form. Failure in receiving

a renewal form does not relieve you of the responsibility of

A: No, a beauty instructor does not have to take any continuing

education in order to renew the license.

Q: How do I request a license verification?

A: You need to submit a written request for verification of licensure

to the Board, along with a $15 verification fee. Your check or

money order should be made payable to Commerce and

Consumer Affairs, and must be U.S. funds only, drawn on a U.S.

BEAUTY SCHOOL LICENSE

Q: What are the requirements to open a beauty school and

obtain a license?

A: In order to operate a beauty school in the State of Hawaii and

enroll students in the school curriculum and programs, you must

apply for and obtain a beauty school license. There are

numerous requirements for this license, which you can review on

Q: I heard that I need to provide a bond? What is this for?

A: Yes, a beauty school must obtain a bond for not less than

$10,000 from a surety or insurance company in the State of

Hawaii. The bond provides that the beauty school will be held

and bound to the Board and the Department of Commerce and

Consumer Affairs for the full amount of $10,000 for every person

suffering loss or damage because of failure of the beauty school

to fully and faithfully comply with all applicable statutes and

A: No, your beauty school license must be renewed annually on or

before December 31 of each year.

Q: My beauty school is currently licensed. I expect to move

new location?

A: No, a beauty school license is not transferable to a new location.

You will need to apply for and be granted a new beauty school

the beauty culture.

Q: I already have a beauty school license for my current

location and am selling the school business. Will the new

owner be able to operate the school under my current

beauty school license?

A: No, a beauty school license is not transferable to a new owner.

The new owner will need to apply for and be granted a new

curriculum. If I now wish to add another curriculum, say

hairdressing, do I need to notify the Board and how do I

A: Yes, you will need to submit an application for the addition of a

curriculum for your beauty school and attach a request in writing

for the Board to approve the additional curriculum or program of

training. The application and written request must be

accompanied by the applicable fee.

and PAYMENT OF FEES

Q: I’ve completed the application form and am ready to

submit it to the Department of Commerce and Consumer

Affairs. What are the fees?

A: For a barber’s or beauty operator’s license, you must attach the

If you are requesting a temporary permit, you must remit the

For a beauty school license, you must remit the fee of $900,

fee, and the $50 Compliance Resolution Fund fee. The

application fee is non-refundable.

All checks must be made payable to COMMERCE AND

CONSUMER AFFAIRS, and must be in U.S. dollars and be drawn

P. O. Box 3469

Honolulu, HI 96801

Or deliver to the office location at:

King Kalakaua Building

Q: I believe that I have a legitimate complaint against a

licensed barber, beauty operator, beauty instructor,

barber shop, beauty shop, or beauty school. Who do I

A: The Regulated Industries Complaints Office (“RICO”), a

statewide agency of the DCCA, is the office to contact when you

have a complaint against a licensed or unlicensed barber, beauty

the neighbor islands, dial 274-3141 from Kauai; 984-2400 from

Maui; 974-4000 from the Big Island; and 1-800-468-4644 then

74272# from Molokai or Lanai.

Q: I’ve moved. How do I notify the Board?

A: We need a change of address notification in writing, which must

include your license number, old address, new address, and a

signature. Mail your notification to:

Licensing Branch – Address Change

P. O. Box 3469

Honolulu, HI 96801

license number, and a signature. You must also include

evidence of the name change (e.g., a copy of the marriage

license, divorce decree, court order, or other legal document

which effected the change). Mail your notification to:

Licensing Branch – Name Change

P. O. Box 3469

Honolulu, HI 96801

Or you can deliver your notification to:

Q: What do I do if I want my name changed on my wall

certificate?

A: You will need to return your original wall certificate along with

your written request for a new certificate and a check or money

order for $10, payable to Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

Your duplicate certificate will bear the signature of the current

Chairperson of the Board.

beauty operator, beauty instructor, barber shop, beauty

A: Please utilize the on-line service available from the Board’s

website. Click on On-Line Services, then on Professional &

Vocational Licensing Search.