General Information, Terms and Definitions: "Cosmetology" means any one (1) or a combination of the following practices if they are performed on a person's head, face, neck, shoulder, arms, hands, legs or feet for cosmetic purposes: (i) Cutting, clipping or trimming hair and hair pieces. (ii) Styling, arranging, dressing, curling, waving, permanent waving, straightening, cleansing, bleaching, tinting, coloring or similarly treating hair and hair pieces. (iii) Cleansing, stimulating, manipulating, beautifying or applying oils, antiseptics, clays, lotions or other preparations, either by hand or by mechanical or electrical apparatus. (iv) Arching eyebrows, to include tweezing, waxing, threading or any other methods of epilation, or tinting eyebrows and eyelashes. (v) Removing superfluous hair by the use of depilation. (vi) Manicuring and pedicuring. (c) "Cosmetologist" means a person who for compensation, whether direct or indirect, engages in the practice of cosmetology. Licensure Requirements: Barber Applicants: Any barber who can read, write and speak English and has successfully completed no less than fifteen hundred (1500) hours in an accredited barber school, and who holds a current valid certificate of registration to practice barbering and who holds a current valid license, is eligible to take the cosmetology examination to secure a cosmetology license upon successfully completing five hundred (500) hours in an accredited school of cosmetology. All fees for application, examination, registration and renewal thereof shall be the same as provided for cosmetologists. Eligibility Requirements for All Applicants: a. Be at least 17 years of age. b. Be able to read, write and speak English. c. Have at least a twelfth (12th) grade education or its equivalent. (1)Proof of completion of high school education shall be submitted in the form of a diploma, or certified transcript which reflects graduation data. If the education was acquired by GED, original GED transcript must be submitted to the Board. (2) Where the secondary education was obtained outside of the United States, the applicant must present a copy of the proof of completion, along with an original translation which has been prepared by an approved translation or credentialing service, and which certifies that the document is considered to be proof of the equivalent of a 12th grade education. (3) A high school education received from a distance learning entity will only be accepted if that entity is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (4) Any other document and/or affidavit which constitutes reliable proof of completion of high school education shall be required by the Board. d. Must have successfully completed a course of training, at a licensed school for said training, for which application for licensure is being made. The state requires a minimum of 1500 hours of cosmetology training over a period of no less than 9 months at a properly and legally licensed school. A. Licensure examinations are provided for in-state and out-of-state applicants for practitioner and instructor licenses. B. An examination for any practitioner or instructor license is both practical and written. 1. The applicant must demonstrate by practical examination, minimal skills and knowledge necessary for the license sought. 2. The applicant must demonstrate by written examination, knowledge of profession, health and safety methods and procedures, Mississippi Statutes, rules and regulations pertinent to the practice necessary for the license. C. Grades necessary to pass the examination: Basic Examinations (Practitioner): A person taking the Board of Cosmetology examination will be granted a license to practice if such person makes an examination grade of not less than 70 scaled score on each portion of the practical examination, and not less than 70 scaled score on the written examination. D. Any applicant failing to pass the required examination after three attempts within 365 days of school completion is not eligible for re-examination until he or she has returned to a school for additional training of no more than 10 percent of the prescribed course hours for the course of training for which application for licensure is being made. E. A candidate for licensure who has been unsuccessful in passing the examination is required to retake the entire practical examination or written examination which was failed, up to a period of three years. After three years, the grades are no longer valid and the candidate is required to take the both written and practical examinations. F. The Board will maintain an accurate record of each examination as provided by the testing administrator. G. Reasonable accommodations may be made for candidates having a physical or mental impairment that limits one or more major life activities, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act. An applicant’s request for accommodation should be made to the test provider at the time of registration. 2. An application for examination must be submitted on a form prescribed by the Board and accompanied by the following: a. Two recent passport photographs of the applicant, taken within 90 days prior to application. b. In the event of a name change, legal proof of the name change. Any person who is licensed by a state in which Mississippi does not have provision for reciprocity licensure, or any student who meets all other applicable requirements, and has successfully completed a course of training in another state which meets Mississippi’s minimum requirements, but is not licensed in that state, may be eligible for licensure by examination. Out of State Applicants for Licensure: The affidavit/certification of training: An affidavit or certification of the applicant’s course of training must be submitted to the Board office by the board in the state in which the training was acquired. The affidavit/certification of training should contain, at a minimum: (1) Applicant’s name and address (2) Applicant’s Registration Number or license identification number(if applicable) (3) The course in which applicant was enrolled (4) Total clock hours earned (5) Date of completion or last attendance (Non-licensed individuals only) (6) Information regarding current license (if applicable), including expiration date and whether the licensee is in good standing. The affidavit/certification of licensure: The applicant must cause an affidavit/certification of licensure to be issued by the board in which the license is held. If the state in which the applicant is currently licensed is also the state in which the training was acquired, then only one affidavit is required. Otherwise, the applicant must obtain two affidavits. The affidavits/certifications must be mailed directly to the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology by the licensing authority, bear the seal impress of the licensing authority, and bear at least one signature of an official of the licensing authority. In the event the information cannot be provided by the licensing authority, it may be obtained from the attended school. In this case, the attended school must submit the information directly to the Board. The information must: (1) be submitted in an envelope bearing the attended school’s letterhead, (2) bear the seal impress of the school, and (3) be certified by an agent of the attended school. The Board reserves the right to deny Certification of Training submitted by a school if it is determined that the information can be provided by the appropriate licensing authority. Appear for an Application Eligibility Interview: Upon receipt of a completed Application of Intent and Affidavit/Certification of Training, which meets the examination requirements for Mississippi, the applicant is scheduled for an interview, and notified of the date and time. The applicant must present the following documents at the time of the interview: (1) Photographic identification. (a) Applicant must present two (2) current passport photographs to be attached to his or her application for approval for examination. The person who is making application for approval for examination must be recognizable in the photograph. (b) Applicant must present a government-issued photographic identification card which contains the applicant’s signature and date of birth. In the event of a name change, legal proof of the change must be presented. Two additional forms of identification must be presented by the applicant. In the event of a name change, legal proof of the change must be presented. Any applicant who uses or proposes to use a specific device in any practice area of discipline must present the required certification of proficiency from Mississippi or another state attesting to proper training in the use of the instrument. The applicant will be interviewed to determine his or her eligibility to apply for approval for examination. All other applicable eligibility requirements must be met by the applicant. Master Cosmetologist: (1) Any person who holds a current, valid cosmetology license may be licensed as a master cosmetologist if he or she has been a licensed cosmetologist in this state for a period of not less than twelve (12) months, and has completed a minimum course of sixteen (16) hours' study in continuing education approved by the board within the licensing period preceding initial application for the license, and has paid the original license fee. Master cosmetologist licenses shall be renewable upon completion of a minimum course of eight (8) hours' study in continuing education approved by the board within a licensing period and payment of the required renewal fee. This is an optional license and persons who do not wish to complete the continuing education requirement may obtain a non-master license when renewing their license.
