Georgia Licensing Overview for a Cosmetologist
Licensing for a cosmetologist in Georgia is controlled by the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology.
General Guidelines for a Cosmetologist in Georgia
Specific requirements to perform cosmetologist services can generally be used as a guideline, but make sure to check with your local governing rules and regulations.
Who’s allowed to perform these services?
Cosmetologist
General requirements for cosmetologist license required?
Be at least 17 years old
What’s the state licensing site for cosmetologist?
Georgia State Board of Cosmetology
What are some training programs available for cosmetologist?
How long is a license good for and when do I need to renew?
Renew biennially by March 31 of even-numbered years
What are fees associated with licensing?
$50
Cosmetologist / Esthetician Licensing
A cosmetologist is a beauty professional who specializes in the beautification and health of their client’s hair, skin and nails. An esthetician is a beauty professional that specializes in the beautification and health of their client’s skin, particularly through hair removal, skin and facial treatments and the application of makeup. With additional training, a cosmetologist can become an esthetician and vice versa. While there are fundamental differences between cosmetologists and estheticians as we have just explained, the process of becoming licensed within each career is almost the same. With this being said, the process of being a fully licensed cosmetologist and/or esthetician varies between each state.
The following pages look at the detailed information on individual state licensing to help give you the best advice as you move forward in your career path.
There are four main steps that need to be completed to become a qualified cosmetologist / esthetician in the state of Georgia. These include:
- The successful completion of a cosmetology / esthetician course
- Successfully undergo state testing and pass the minimum requirements of each test
- Submission of an application for licensure with the Georgia Board of Cosmetology
- Maintain your knowledge base through regular education to keep your cosmetologist / esthetician license current.
Education
There are basic educational requirements needed before one can become a licenced cosmetologist and/or esthetician in the state of Georgia. The minimum education requirement for this profession is a certificate or diploma in cosmetology / esthetician undertaken at a registered beauty school, through vocational training or through a junior college. To successfully complete this course, students are required to undertake a minimum of 1,500 hours of training over a minimum of 9 months before they can be signed off. For further training, some beauticians may choose to gain an associate degree to boost their qualifications. For those looking to begin their own start up business, an associate degree is quite a desirable skill to possess. The hours to become an esthetician are quite similar, with students needing to complete 1000 registered hours at a registered school of estheticians
Another popular method in which to become a standard cosmetologist in the state of Georgia is through an apprenticeship. To gain an apprenticeship, a student must be over the age of 17 years and have successfully completed year 10 of high school. For those wishing to undertake an apprenticeship instead of attending a registered beauty school, they will need to be accepted under the charge of a licensed cosmetologist and complete three years and 3000 supervised hours within the field.
Licensing Exam
The state of Georgia requires students who wish to become fully licensed as either a cosmetologist or an esthetician to successfully pass a licensing exam. In Georgia, cosmetology students are required to undertake a Master Cosmetologist exam. This exam is conducted by the PSI and is split in to two sections – the practical and the theory sections of the exam. The practical exam takes 140 minutes to complete and costs $64. The theory exam takes 90 minutes, may be taken online and costs $45.
Esthetician students will undertake a similar testing regime that is also conducted by the PSI. Both the practical and theory exams are 90 minutes long each.
Application for licensure
Upon the successful completion of a cosmetology / esthetician course or an apprenticeship and successfully passing both the practical and theory examinations, cosmetologists and estheticians are required to submit an application of licensure. Cosmetologists must submit this application to the Georgia Board of Cosmetology along with a fee of $30. Apprentice cosmetologists must submit the application with a $45 fee, and esthetician’s must submit their application with a fee of $30.
Ongoing education
Following the successful completion of your state license to become a cosmetologist license, master cosmetologists must pay an ongoing licensing fee on March 31 of even numbered years. To continue a cosmetology licence, professionals must undergo 5 hours of continuing education during each 2-year renewal period, including 3 credit hours in TCSG Health and Safety, and 2 credit hours of any elective.
Esthetician’s must renew their state licence on the 31st August of odd numbered years. These professionals must also undertake 5 hours of continuing education during each 2 year renewal period, including 3 credit hours in TCSG Health and Safety, and 2 credit hours of any elective.