Do I need a license to do Makeup in New York?
YES OF COURSE YOU DO!
“An Appearance Enhancement Business License allows an individual to operate an Appearance Enhancement establishment that provides any or all of the services included in the practice of cosmetology, esthetics, nail specialty, natural hair styling and/or waxing. It is the responsibility of licensees to understand the Appearance Enhancement License Law.
All beauty treatment specialists as well as all spas and salons must be licensed to legally operate within New York State. The state has five different designations for beauty specialists...”
Cosmetology
Natural Hair Stylist
Aesthetician
Nail Specialty
Waxing
It is your responsibility to read and understand the NYS Licensing Laws which can be found HERE.
LICENSING REQUIREMENTS
New York State Department of State requires a Cosmetology or Aesthetics Licence to provide makeup and all beauty services in New York. This includes, makeup, hair, skin, nails, brows, lashes, light therapy, teeth whitening and more. SO much more.
Common Misconceptions and FAQ’s
NO, a waxing and nail license does not allow you to perform makeup services.
NO, a nursing license does not allow you to perform makeup or waxing services.
YES, you do need a license if you’re only doing bridal makeup and or hair and not working in a salon.
NO, a Cos license does not allow you to whiten teeth. This is for Dental Professionals only.
Read the official NYS APPEARANCE ENHANCEMENT LICENSEES – PROCEDURAL SERVICE DETERMINATIONS LIST of HERE
COS VS AESTHETICS LICENSING
The Short of It…
Cosmetology Licensing allows you to perform Makeup, Hair, Skin, Waxing and Nail Services.
Aesthetics Allows you to perform Makeup, Waxing and Skin Services.
In both programs future professionals are taught not only how to perform these services, but also cover Anatomy, Physiology and Infection Control. We learn about blood borne pathogens, spotting skin infections, how to properly disinfect products and tools to prevent the spread of infection.
Side Note;
Waxing allows you to only provide Waxing Services, Not makeup.
Nail Specialty allows you to only provide Nail Services, and massage related to massaging products into the hands and feet.
HOW TO OBTAIN LICENSING
COSMETOLOGY
To apply for a Cosmetology license, you must:
Be 17 years old
Complete a 1,000 hour approved course of study and pass both the New York State written and practical examinations. The affirmation of New York State Approved Schooling section of the application must be completed by your school director as proof of successful completion.
Be examined by a physician, physician's assistant or nurse practitioner. The physician, physician's assistant or nurse practitioner must complete and date the Health Certification section of the application. You must submit your application within 30 days after the health certification is signed and dated.
Read about the NYS Cos License HERE
COSMETOLOGY LICENSING FEES
$40 initial application fee
$40 renewal fee
$15 written exam fee
$15 practical exam fee
$10 six month temporary license
$10 six month temporary license renewal
Aesthetics
To apply for an esthetics license you must:
Be 17 years old
Complete a 600 hour approved course of study and pass both the New York State written and practical examinations. The affirmation of New York State Approved Schooling section of the application must be completed by your school director as proof of successful completion.
Be examined by a physician, physician's assistant or nurse practitioner. The physician, physician's assistant or nurse practitioner must complete and date the Health Certification section of the application. You must submit your application within 30 days after the health certification is signed and dated.
AESTHETIC LICENSING FEES
$40 initial application fee
$40 renewal fee
$15 written exam fee
$15 practical exam fee
$10 six month temporary license
$10 six month temporary license renewal
Read about the Aesthetics License HERE
APPLYING FOR LICENSING
After you’ve completed the above you can apply for licensing via the NYS DOL Website HERE
BOOTH RENTER LICENSE
If you are renting a booth in a salon, you must obtain an Appearance Enhancement Business or Area Renter Application which has be displayed with your license, and service menu at your station or on the wall of your suite, insurance information also required and listed below.
CERTIFICATIONS
Makeup Artist Certifications are a fancy way to display a Certificate as proof you attended a Makeup Class or Program of some kind. This goes for MANY certifications out there in the beauty industry. Anybody can host a class and charge whatever they deem appropriate, but that does not mean it’s legal nor does it meet the educational requirements for obtaining a Cosmetology or Aesthetics License in New York State.
I was once REQUIRED to take a Plasma Pen class at a previous Tattoo Studio I was employed by. I had to leave my Grandmother’s 95th Birthday party to take this class OR ELSE. Come to find out, this particular service was not permitted for me to even provide with either my Tattoo or Cos license. This was what opened my eyes up to the legal logistics of the Cosmetology industry. This particular Tattoo Studio was performing a number of services without proper licensing and NO liability or professional insurance and why I left very quickly.
The owner of that Studio then attempted to require me to repay her for the cost of my attendance for said class which was cute she thought that was legal as well. Once I told her to have her Attorney send whatever documentation on the demands she had to my Attorney, I never heard from her again, she just blocked me from all her Social Media pages. LMFAO. To this day she continues to provide illegal services without proper licensing and insurance coverage which is so dangerous!
If you feel you are being exploited at your job, please visit this page for resources.
Someone could literally sue you for damages and take you for everything you’ve got and worked so hard to build. Also if your building or salon lease specifically states that you are permitted from engaging in illegal activity on the premise, you’d be in breach of contract and could lose your salon space!
See where this goes? Bottom line, there are so many layers to illegal services. If you’re a Stylist at a Salon, it’s important that you double check to make sure it’s properly licensed and that you are providing legal services to avoid fines and license revocation, let alone the risk of being sued if someone gets injured.
INSURANCE
BOOTH RENTERS; You must also maintain a surety bond; accidental and professional liability insurance policies, each in the minimum amount of $25,000 per occurrence and $75,000 in the aggregate; or a general liability policy in such amounts. You must submit evidence of this requirement at the time of your application. In addition, evidence of such must be maintained on the premises.
VENUES; A lot of wedding venues require a certificate of insurance to be a vendor and perform services in their establishment. You will not have adequate insurance coverage if you are performing services you are not licensed to do. Insurance will not cover an accident for a service you performed without having proper licensing.
LICENSING STATUS
Check the status of a Makeup Artist License HERE
Enter the stylists name, Select “Department of State” under Licensing agency, select the type of license, and click “search”.
UPDATE Anonymous Reporting and Complaints
I had a bunch of people messaging me asking how to report an unlicensed operator anonymously so I emailed the Division of Licensing to ask them. This was their response…
“Someone wishing to submit a complaint anonymously would need to complete a complaint form and simply not fill in their personal information. Please refer to the following link to download the complaint form.”
Preliminary Statement of Complaint | Department of State (ny.gov)