Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers Continuing Education Requirements
CE Broker
As of January 1, 2026, all Cosmetologists and Barbers licensed to practice in the state of Georgia will be required to:
- Register and report their continuing education coursework and submit proof of completion of continuing education experiences into CE Broker®; and,
- Beginning January 1, 2026 and thereafter to record all continuing education taken to satisfy licensure and renewal requirements within their CE Broker® account which will be accessible by the Board and its designees.
In light of this new requirement, licensees will need to create, at a minimum, a NO COST, BASIC LIMITED ACCESS ACCOUNT in CE Broker® and begin recording any completed continuing education activities.
LICENSEES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO LOAD ALL CE ALL CE COURSE ACTIVITIES AND CERTIFICATES BEFORE YOU APPLY TO RENEW AND AS YOU TAKE AND RECEIVE THEM. The Board will use its authority to audit the continuing education. If you do not enter ALL OF THE REQUIRED hours in CE Broker®, there is a high probability that you will be audited and the Board will take action as necessary in accordance with the law and rules.
Continuing Education FAQ
Current continuing education providers expire on December 31, 2021. Any courses taken after that date must be from a provider with a current 2022-2023 registration.
INSTRUCTOR CE REQUIREMENTS: All instructors seeking renewal of licenses must complete fifteen (15) hours of Board approved continuing education, with at least half of the 15 hours in teaching techniques, lesson planning, or other advanced teacher training. There are no CE exemptions for instructors.
How many continuing education hours are required for licensees?
To renew a license, each licensee must provide to the Board proof of completion a total of 5 continuing education (CE) hours in a form acceptable to the Board as follows: 3 hours of the total 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 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 2 hours of the total 5 hours must be in a course previously registered with the Board in any of the following areas:
- industry or trade show.
- health and safety.
- industry trends.
- computer skills.
- business management.
- 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.
The first time you renew your license you are not required to meet the CE requirements (Rule 240-3-.01 (2)(a)(1)). Every renewal after that, you must complete 5 hours of continuing education every 2 years to renew your license for Master Cosmetologist, Esthetician, Nail Technician, Hair Designer, Master Barber, or Barber II.
3 hours of the required 5 hours must be obtained in health and safety courses developed by the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG). The remaining 2 hours may be completed by attending a trade/product show or by completing other courses in health and safety, industry trends, computer skills, business management or related areas of practice. Any shows that you use for your continuing education must be registered with the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers for you to receive continuing education credit.
The Georgia State Board of Cosmetology does not offer continuing education classes.
View the Approved Continuing Education Providers and Courses lists on GOALS.
View the Approved Continuing Education Providers and Courses lists on GOALS.
The first time you renew your license you are not required to meet the CE requirements. Every renewal after that, you must complete 5 hours of continuing education every 2 years to renew your license for master cosmetologist, esthetician, nail technician, 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.
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.
See the How-to Guide: Continuing Education Providers page for the registration information and requirements for all course providers.
Continuing education courses taken via the Internet, by home study or some other electronic method are acceptable for completing continuing education requirements, if the courses are registered with the Georgia Board of Cosmetology and Barbers. These courses will also have to follow the 3-hour curriculum developed by the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG).
More Information
More CE requirements information may be found in the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers FAQ >>>