Personal License

A person is entitled to receive a license if the person:

1. Submits to the board an application on a form supplied by the board.

2. Does either of the following:

(a) Completes and receives appropriate credits for at least two years of high school education or its equivalent as prescribed by the board in its rules and submits to the board satisfactory evidence that the person is at least sixteen years of age.

A.A.C. R4-10-101(35) “Two years of high school or its equivalent” means one of the following:

  • Ten high school credits attained by an individual;
  • If the individual is homeschooled, a copy of the Affidavit of Intent filed with the county school superintendent and proof the individual is at least 16 years old;
  • Proof of being at least 18 years old; or
  • Obtaining a passing score on a high school equivalency general educational development (GED) test or its equivalent as required by the Department of Education.

(b) Submits to the board satisfactory evidence that the person is at least eighteen years of age.

3. Submits to the board satisfactory evidence of any of the following:

(a) That the person is a graduate of a school in another state or country that has substantially the same requirements as this state for schools licensed by the board.

(b) That the person is a graduate of a course consisting of the required hours:

  • Aesthetics: 600 hours
  • Barbering: 1,200 hours
  • Cosmetology: 1,500 hours
  • Hairstyling: 1,000 hours
  • Nail Technology: 600 hours

(c) That the person completed a United States department of labor-approved or a department of economic security-approved apprenticeship program in aesthetics that includes at least two hundred hours of infection protection and law review instruction. The person shall complete the instruction prescribed by this subdivision through either:

(i) A school that is licensed by the board or a school or program in another state that has, in the board's opinion, licensure requirements that are substantially equivalent to the requirements of this state.

(ii) A department of economic security-approved apprenticeship program.

4. Passes the examination.

Licenses expire every two years on your birthday. Initial licenses may not be valid for a full two years, they will expire on your second birthday, whichever comes first.

Step Description Resource/Additional Information
1 Take and pass both the written and practical exams through Virtual Inc. (PCS)

Testing Information

2

Create an account in the portal. 

  • Select the 'Sign up now' link or create an account using a social account.  Please use the email address that is already associated with your license.
  • When creating your account, please make sure you are using your legal name.
  • If you were approved as an eyelash technician, please log into that account. 

Watch a Step-by-Step Video on How to Create an Account

3 Select 'Applications.' Then, select the 'New Application' button and use the drop-down arrow to select 'Aesthetics Application.'  
4 The application you selected will pop up. Select 'Continue.'  
5

Fill out the required information and upload the required documents.

  • You must upload a photo of yourself that will be placed on your license. 
  • You must provide proof of citizenship. This can be a passport, Arizona driver's license or birth certificate. If you provide a birth certificate, you must also provide photo identification. 

The photo must be from the shoulders up in front of a white background. This photo should be a passport-like photo.

*If your photo is not being accepted, it may be because your file size is too large. 

  • You can go back to your application at any point if you need to finish at a later date. 
6 Pay the application fee.  Online payment methods can be Discover, Mastercard and Visa. 
After Application Submittal

It currently takes up to 4 weeks for a completed application to be processed. If any additional information is needed from you, you will receive an email from the licensing portal indicating what we need from you and to upload the additional information. 

You can check your application status by logging into the licensing portal.

Upon being licensed, you will receive an email with a link to print your license. 

Apply for an Aesthetics License

 

Licenses expire every two years on your birthday. Initial licenses may not be valid for a full two years, they will expire on your second birthday, whichever comes first. 

Step Description Resource/Additional Information
1

Take and pass both the written and practical exams through Virtual Inc. (PCS)

Testing Information

 

2 Fill out all of the necessary application information and supporting documents. 

License Application Requirements

3 After you have filled out the application, you must verify the email address you listed on your application. The verification link is good for 48 hours. If you do not confirm your email address and then move on to the payment, your application will not be submitted. 

 

4

Select ‘Confirm Email’ on the email sent. It will then bring up a new window where you will have to select 'Confirm' one more time. You will then be brought to the payment screen. Fill out the payment information. 

Please note that you must be ready to pay when you confirm your email. It will automatically bring you to the payment screen. If you close out of the payment screen, you will not be able to get back in and will have to resubmit a new application. 

 
5 After you have filled out the payment information, you must select ‘Authorize’ on the Order Review page.  
6 The application process is complete once you get to the payment confirmation page. You will receive an email from the Barbering & Cosmetology Board saying that your application has been submitted.

Apply for a Personal License

After License Submittal

It currently takes up to 4 weeks for a completed application to be processed. If any additional information is needed from you, you will be contacted via email. 

When you have been approved, you will receive an email from the licensee portal, not from the Arizona Barbering & Cosmetology Board. Please check your spam folder.

 
Note:

In-person services are not available. All applications must be submitted online.

Please make sure you are applying for the correct license type. The Board will not provide refunds for individuals who submitted the incorrect application. 

 

 

Step Description Resource/Additional Information
1

Take and pass both the written and practical exams through Virtual Inc. (PCS)

Testing Information

2 Create an account in the portal. After you're in the portal, please select 'Licensee Contact Info' and insert your identifying information (DOB, SSN, Mailing Address). 

Watch a Step-by-Step Video on How to Create an Account

3 Select 'Applications.' Then, select the 'New Application' button and use the drop-down arrow to select 'Barber Application.'  
4 The application you selected will pop up. Select 'Continue.'  
5

Fill out the required information and upload the required documents.

  • You will need to upload a photo of yourself that will be placed on your license. 
  • You must provide proof of citizenship. This can be a passport, Arizona driver's license or birth certificate. If you provide a birth certificate, you must also provide photo identification. 

The photo must be from the shoulders up in front of a white background. This photo should be a passport-like photo.

*If your photo is not being accepted, it may be because your file size is too large. 

  • You can go back to your application at any point if you need to finish at a later date. 
6     Pay the application fee.  Online payment methods can be Discover, Mastercard and Visa. 
After Application Submittal 

It currently takes up to 5 weeks for a completed application to be processed. If any additional information is needed from you, you will receive an email from the licensing portal indicating what we need from you and to upload the additional information. 

You can check your application status by logging into the licensing portal.

Upon being licensed, you will receive an email from the portal with your license. 

Apply for a Barber License