South Carolina Board of Cosmetology

License Renewal

Professional Licenses

Proof of CE hours must be on file with the Board prior to accessing the online renewal as you will not be able to successfully complete an online renewal if your classes are not visible to this office.

All cosmetology, esthetician, nail technician and instructor licenses expire on March 10 of each ODD year. Also required is proof of the required continuing education hours and payment of the renewal fee prescribed by the Board. Licensees are required to complete a total of 12 hours of continuing education; six (6) of those hours can be completed through a Board-approved online continuing education provider and the other six (6) hours must be completed in a Board-approved classroom setting. Or, all 12 hours may be completed in a Board-approved classroom setting.

Instructors- All persons licensed as instructors must show satisfactory evidence of twelve (12) hours of instruction geared toward teaching biennially. Only half of the 12-hour requirement may be completed online. If you complete six (6) hours online, you MUST complete six (6) hours in-person with the same CE provider in order to gain full credit.

You can check your CE hours by accessing this link: https://eservice.llr.sc.gov/SSO/Login/LoginPage?ReturnUrl=%2fContinueEd%2fContEd.aspx

Salon Licenses and School Licenses

All salon, booth renters, and school licenses expire on June 30th of each EVEN year.

Salons must have a licensed manager on file with this office. Manager licenses must start with any of the following (RC, NT, ES, IRC, INT or IES).

• If the salon’s name or location has changed, the license cannot be renewed.

Booth renter licenses are valid for the salon’s name that is printed on the license and is not transferrable.

• If the booth renter has moved to a different salon, a new booth renter license must be obtained and the old license is not renewable.

Cosmetology schools must have a licensed manager on file with this office. Proof of a $10,000 bond is required for post-secondary programs prior to the renewal process being completed.

Inactive Status/Reactivation/Reinstatement

Inactive status

Licensees may place a current license on inactive status; however, in order to maintain inactive status a licensee must renew the license biennially by submitting a renewal application and paying the renewal fee . The licensee will not receive any license or other authorization to practice during the inactive period.

Reactivation

An individual seeking to reactivate a license shall complete an application, submit the required fee and submit proof of CE classes for each renewal cycle since the license was placed inactive.

Reinstatement

Licenses may be reinstated up to three (3) years after the license expires. You may apply for reinstatement by completing the application and the affidavit of eligibility, paying the required reinstatement fee and presenting satisfactory proof of CE requirements. An individual whose license has been expired for more than three (3) years must pay the required fee and successfully pass both the written and practical exams to have the license reinstated.