Mississippi Licensing Overview for a Cosmetologist
Licensing for a cosmetologist in Mississippi is controlled by the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology.
General Guidelines for a Cosmetologist in Mississippi
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?
At least 17 years old; Must be able to read, write and speak English; High school education or equivalent
What’s the state licensing site for cosmetologist?
Mississippi 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?
Renews every 2 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.
There are four main steps that need to be completed to become a qualified cosmetologist / esthetician in Mississippi. These include:
- The successful completion of a cosmetology / esthetician course
- Submission of an application of intent with the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology,
- Successfully undergo state testing and pass the minimum requirements of each test
- 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 licensed cosmetologist and/or esthetician in the state of Mississippi. The minimum education requirement for this profession is a certificate or diploma in cosmetology / esthetician undertaken at a registered beauty school. To successfully complete this course, students are required to be above the age of 17, have successfully completed high school and undertake a minimum of 1,500 hours of training 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 rules to become an esthetician are quite similar, however, students need only to complete 600 registered hours of training at a registered school of estheticians.
Mississippi does not currently offer apprenticeships as a path to become a cosmetologist or estheticians.
Application for licensure
Upon the successful completion of a cosmetology / esthetician course or an apprenticeship, students within the state of Mississippi are required to submit an application for licensure. This license application must be submitted to Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology for both a cosmetology license and an esthetician license. To successfully pass the application requirements, professionals are first required to undertake licencing exams. At the application stage, estheticians are required to pay a $50 fee to the board along with their application.
Licensing Exam
The state of Mississippi requires students who wish to become fully licensed as either a cosmetologist or an esthetician to successfully pass a licensing exam. Mississippi conducts their examinations through Pearson Vue. This exam consists of two parts: a theoretical exam which costs $65, and a practical exam that is $95.
The theoretical cosmetology examination takes 2 hours and 15 minutes to complete. The theoretical examination consists of 25 questions and covers a range of questions including but not limited to:
- Rules and regulations
- Health and safety
- Styling
- Chemical straightening
- Coloring
The theoretical esthetician examination takes 1 hour and 45 minutes to complete. The theoretical examination has 100 questions that cover a range of questions including but not limited to:
- State licencing
- Health and safety regulations
- First aid
- Client interactions
- Skin analysis
- Esthetic science
- Hair removal
- Facials
- Make up types
During the practical cosmetology examination professionals are required to bring their own equipment. Cosmetologists are required to pass all components of the exam. The practical examination covers a range of tasks including but not limited to:
- Hair analysis
- Hair styling
- Hygiene control and safety
- Hair colouring
- Manicures
- Hair cutting
- Makeup application
During the practical esthetician examination professionals are required to bring their own equipment. The practical examination covers a range of tasks including but not limited to:
- Hygiene and safety
- Makeup application
- Skin analysis
- Facials
- Hair removal
Continuing Education
Following the successful completion of your state license to become either a cosmetology or an esthetician, it is important to remember that you must renew this license every two years when notified by the board. This process is simple and can be done online through the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology. There is a fee of $50 for this two year renewal for both cosmetologists and estheticians.
In the state of Mississippi, there are no continuing Educational requirements for cosmetology or esthetician licenses, however, many professionals continue to grow their expertise. This allows them to stay up to date with the latest techniques and trends in the field of beauty.