Application and Qualifications for Practicing or Teaching — Fees

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  1. Any person who desires a cosmetologist's license shall submit an application for examination to the board on the prescribed form. The application shall be accompanied by:
    1. A nonrefundable, nontransferable application/examination fee as set by the board;
    2. Satisfactory proof that the applicant has attained the age of at least sixteen (16) years; and
    3. Satisfactory proof that the applicant either:
      1. Has completed and passed a course of instruction of no less than one thousand five hundred (1,500) hours in practice and theory at a school of cosmetology; or
      2. Holds a valid Tennessee master barber registration and has completed three hundred (300) hours in a licensed school of cosmetology learning the fundamentals of cosmetology technique and pedicuring.
  2. Any person who desires a license to practice manicuring only shall submit an application for examination to the board on the prescribed form. The application shall be accompanied by:
    1. A nonrefundable, nontransferable application/examination fee as set by the board; and
    2. Satisfactory proof that the applicant has attained the age of at least sixteen (16) years and has completed and passed a course of instruction of no less than six hundred (600) hours in the practice and theory of manicuring at a school of cosmetology.
  3. Any person who desires a license to instruct in a school shall submit an application for examination to the board on the prescribed form. The application shall be accompanied by:
    1. A nonrefundable, nontransferable application/examination fee as set by the board; and
    2. Satisfactory proof that the applicant:
      1. Is a high school graduate, evidenced by a certificate or diploma or possesses a general equivalency diploma (GED(R));
      2. Holds a valid cosmetologist's, manicurist's, aesthetician's or natural hair stylist's license issued by the board;
      3. Has completed and passed a board-approved course in instructor training of at least three hundred (300) hours within a period of six (6) months as an instructor trainee or has served as a junior instructor for a minimum of one (1) year;
      4. Has been licensed as a cosmetologist, aesthetician, manicurist, or natural hair stylist pursuant to this chapter for at least three (3) continuous years; and
      5. Seeks to instruct only in the area in which the applicant is currently licensed.
  4. Any person who desires a license to practice aesthetics only shall submit an application for examination to the board on the prescribed form. The application shall be accompanied by:
    1. A nonrefundable, nontransferable application/examination fee as set by the board; and
    2. Satisfactory proof that the applicant has attained the age of at least sixteen (16) years and has completed and passed a course of instruction of no less than seven hundred fifty (750) hours in the practice and theory of aesthetics at a school of cosmetology.
  5. Any person who desires a natural hair styling license shall submit an application for examination to the board on the prescribed form. The application shall be accompanied by:
    1. A nonrefundable, nontransferable application/examination fee as set by the board; and
    2. Satisfactory proof that the applicant has attained the age of at least sixteen (16) years and has completed and passed a course of instruction of no less than three hundred (300) hours in the practice and theory of natural hair styling at a school of cosmetology.


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