HF4430

Purpose

This bill seeks to update Minnesota’s cosmetology laws by reshaping the Board of Cosmetologist Examiners, updating definitions, and setting new rules for licensing, fees, and oversight of salons, schools, and instructors. It also adds new licensing paths (like temporary military licenses), clarifies standards for nonresident and foreign-trained applicants, and moves toward more uniform licensing timelines.

Key Provisions

• Board composition and qualifications

  • The Board of Cosmetologist Examiners would have seven members: two cosmetologists (one chosen with input from a professional association of cosmetologists, nail technicians, and estheticians), two school instructors (one from a public cosmetology school and one from a private cosmetology school in Minnesota), one advanced practice esthetician, one nail technician, and one public member.
  • Members must be licensed in their field, have at least five years of practice, have a high school education or equivalent, and know the relevant statutes and rules.
  • Board operations would follow current Minnesota rules for compensation, vacancies, and administration (as defined in Chapter 214).

• Definitions and scope

  • Updated terms include: Cosmetologist, Esthetician, Manager, Salon, School, School Administrator, and Practitioner, each with specific Minnesota definitions.
  • A Salon can be an indoor space for services; homes of customers are allowed only under board health/infection control rules.
  • School definitions include what constitutes a cosmetology school and distinctions for community education programs.

• Licensing categories and processes

  • License categories include Practitioner, Manager, Instructor, Salon, and School, each with three-year license terms.
  • Fees are established for initial licenses, renewals, and applications (see “Fees and Timelines” below).
  • The board must issue or deny a complete license application within set timeframes (15 working days for non-expedited, 5 business days for expedited or temporary military cases).
  • A new School Administrator definition is added to align who can operate a school (e.g., proprietors, managing partners, authorized officers, or specific school leaders in state systems).

• Temporary and military licensing

  • Temporary military licenses would be available for eligible cosmetology fields, valid for a three-year licensing period, and limited to one temporary license per applicant.
  • A provision ties into a broader framework for temporary licenses via a separate section (197.4552).

• Nonresident and international applicants

  • Nonresident applicants may be licensed if they’ve completed school with equal or greater hour requirements, hold an active out-of-state/country license, and pass board-approved theory and practice exams plus Minnesota’s written exam.
  • Tests should be translated into the nonresident’s native language if possible.
  • Licenses under this provision would not be issued for managers or instructors.
  • Applicants with foreign training must provide official English translations.

• Reciprocity with barbers

  • A new provision allows a Minnesota barber to receive up to 500 credit hours toward cosmetology or hair technology licensing if they are actively registered in Minnesota at the time of applying.

• Compliance, penalties, and fees

  • The bill sets specific fee schedules for licenses and penalties, including inspections and license display requirements.
  • Penalties cover reinspection fees, expired licenses, failure to display licenses, improper tools, violations related to independent contractor arrangements, late renewal fees, and other infractions.
  • Administrative fees cover items like name changes, certification of licensure, duplicate licenses, special event permits, homebound service permits, and expedited processing.

• Repeal

  • The bill would repeal a prior statute (155A.275), simplifying or consolidating older provisions.

Changes to Existing Law

• Restructures the Board of Cosmetologist Examiners with a specific, diverse seven-member composition and clear eligibility criteria.
• Updates key terms and definitions (cosmetologist, esthetician, manager, salon, school, practitioner) and expands the scope of practice guidance (e.g., home-based services allowed under rules).
• Creates new or revised license categories and aligns expiration dates and renewal processes across practitioner, manager, instructor, salon, and school licenses.
• Introduces a three-year licensing cycle with detailed fee schedules for each license type.
• Adds temporary military licenses and streamlines the process for expedited licenses and military considerations.
• Establishes nonresident licensure pathways with language translation considerations and restricts nonresident licensure to certain categories.
• Establishes a reciprocity path with Minnesota barbers for up to 500 hours credit toward required cosmetology hours.
• Provides timelines for board decisions on applications and standardizes penalties and administrative fees.

Licenses, Fees, and Timelines (highlights)

• Three-year license terms for all major licenses (practitioner, manager, instructor, salon, school) with specified fee splits (license + application).
  • Initial:
  • Practitioner/Manager/Instructor: total $195 (license $155 + application $40)
  • Salon: total $350 (license $250 + application $100)
  • School: total $4,000 (license $3,000 + application $1,000)
  • Renewals:
  • Practitioner: $115 total (license $100 + application $15)
  • Manager/Instructor: $145 total (license $130 + application $15)
  • Salon: $225 total (license $175 + application $50)
  • School: $2,500 total (license $2,000 + application $500)
• Penalties (examples):
  • Reinspection: $150
  • Expired licenses: various amounts depending on type (ranging up to $1,000 for certain renewals)
  • Failure to display license: $100
  • Violations related to tools, practices, or independent contractor arrangements: typically $200–$500

• Administrative fees:

  • Homebound service permit: $50
  • Name changes: $20
  • Certification of licensure: $30
  • Duplicate license: $20
  • Special event permit: $75/year
  • Expedited licensing options: $150 (individual) and $300 (salon)
  • Continuing education provider approvals: $150/year for each

• Timelines for license decisions:

  • Non-expedited applications: board must issue or deny within 15 working days of complete application and fees.
  • Expedited or temporary military: board must act within 5 business days, with some conditions for additional review if needed.

• Temporary military license

  • Issued under section 197.4552 guidelines, valid for a three-year licensing period; only one per applicant.

• Nonresident licensing and translation

  • Translations of test materials into the applicant’s native language when feasible.
  • Managers and instructors not eligible for nonresident licensure under this pathway.

• Reciprocity with barbers

  • Eligible barbers may receive up to 500 hours credit toward Minnesota cosmetology/hair technology licensing if currently registered and active.

Relevant Terms

• Board of Cosmetologist Examiners
• cosmetology
• esthetician / esthetics
• advanced practice esthetician
• nail technician
• hair technology
• eyelash technology
• practitioner
• manager
• instructor
• salon
• school
• school administrator
• public member
• nonresident license
• temporary military license
• reciprocity
• translations (translated exams)
• three-year licensing period
• fees (initial, renewal, application)
• penalties (reinspection, expired licenses, display of license, etc.)
• homebound service permit
• independent contractor (owner/manager vs. operator)
• barber reciprocity (credit hours)