Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers Continuing Education

To renew a license, each licensee must provide to the Board proof of completion a total of five (5) continuing education (CE) hours in a form acceptable to the Board as follows:

Three (3) hours of the total five (5) hours must be satisfied by a course in health and safety developed or approved by the Board. A health and safety course or program that meets or exceeds the three (3) hours that has been developed and offered through a college, university department, or division of continuing education of the Department of Education, the Technical College System of Georgia, the Board of Regents, or The American Red Cross may be accepted by the Board without prior approval; and

Two (2) hours of the total five (5) hours must be in a course previously registered with the Board in any of the following areas:

1. Industry or trade show
2. Health and safety
3. Industry trends
4. Computer skills
5. Business management
6. The area of practice for the type of license held by the licensee
   If audited, the licensee shall submit written proof from the CE provider of attendance and/or completion of each CE course submitted for credit.

Your continuing education provider must be registered with the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers for you to receive continuing education credit. A list of approved continuing education providers may be found on the Board's website under the tab titled Education & Exams. 

The first time you renew your license you are not required to meet the CE requirements.  Every renewal after that, you must complete five (5) hours of continuing education every two (2) years to renew your license for master cosmetologist, esthetician, nail technician or hair designer.

Master Barber, Barber II, and Barber Instructor licenses are 'exempt' from CE requirements until the 2018 renewal year and will be required every two years thereafter.

A licensee who has held a license for 25 years or longer is eligible for a waiver of the continuing education requirement; or A licensee who can prove to the Board that he or she has a hardship may request a waiver.  The waiver request form may be downloaded here.

Reinstatement applications ARE NOT eligible for a waiver of continuing education; Georgia law O.C.G.A. 43-10-10 requires documentation must be submitted for all required continuing education hours since the date the license lapsed. Additional information may be found on the reinstatement application. The Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers cannot waive this statutory requirement.