Title 17 — Professions, Occupations, and Businesses

This chapter shall be known and cited as the “Cosmetology Act”.

(a) As used in this chapter:(1) “Aesthetician” means any person who engages in the practice of beautifying the body by cleaning, waxing, externally manipulating, or stimulating the body by means of the hands, devices, apparatus, or appliances with or without the use of cosmetic p…

(a) The following persons are exempt from this chapter:(1) All persons authorized by the laws of this state to practice medicine, surgery, dentistry, pharmacy, osteopathy, chiropractic, naturopathy, or podiatry;(2) Barbers insofar as their usual and ordinary vocation and professi…

(a) (1) It is unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to violate this chapter or a rule adopted by the Cosmetology Technical Advisory Committee pursuant to this chapter.(2) Evidence of a violation may result in a criminal or civil penalty.(3) Each day of a violation is a se…

(1) The grounds for disciplinary action are as follows:(1) Failure of a person, firm, or corporation operating a cosmetological establishment or school of cosmetology or engaged in the practice of cosmetology or any of its branches to comply with the requirements of this chapter …

(a) There is created the Cosmetology Technical Advisory Committee. (b) (1) The committee shall consist of eleven (11) members appointed by the State Board of Health to two-year terms.(2) A member may be removed from the committee by the board for cause.(3) A member shall not serv…

A.C.A. § 17-26-202Current through all legislation of the 2025 Regular Session.Arkansas Code of 1987 Annotated Official EditionCopyright © 2026 by the State of Arkansas All rights reserved

A.C.A. § 17-26-203Current through all legislation of the 2025 Regular Session.Arkansas Code of 1987 Annotated Official EditionCopyright © 2026 by the State of Arkansas All rights reserved

The Department of Health may employ inspectors and professional employees and fix their compensation, which compensation and all reasonable expenses incurred shall be paid from the Public Health Fund from fees generated by the program.

(a) In addition to the other duties set forth in this chapter, the Department of Health shall:(1) Prescribe the duties of the department's employees;(2) Hold examinations as to the qualifications of all applicants for registration whose applications have been submitted to it in p…

A school of cosmetology shall administer the practical licensing examination approved by the Department of Health for eligible candidates.

The Department of Health shall keep a registration record containing the names, known places of business, and the date and number of the license of every licensed cosmetologist and of those engaged in the practice of any branch of cosmetology, together with the names and addresse…

(a) The Department of Health shall conduct investigations and inspections as promulgated by rule. (b) (1) Hearings conducted by the Cosmetology Technical Advisory Committee may be held bimonthly for review of cases for which disciplinary action may be required.(2) (A) Except as p…

(a) The State Board of Health shall promulgate a fee schedule by rule and collect fees accordingly. (b) In addition to any other method of payment acceptable to the Department of Health, the department shall accept personal or business checks drawn on deposit accounts in financia…

(a) All fees, fines, and penalties collected under this chapter and on behalf of the State Board of Health and all receipts of every kind and nature collected under this chapter shall be paid into the State Treasury and shall be credited to the Public Health Fund. (b) (1) The fee…

A.C.A. § 17-26-301Current through all legislation of the 2025 Regular Session.Arkansas Code of 1987 Annotated Official EditionCopyright © 2026 by the State of Arkansas All rights reserved

(a) Each application for the written examination shall be accompanied by the required fee, and shall contain proof of the qualifications of the applicant for registration and licensing. (b) The application shall be verified by the oath of the applicant.

(a) The examination of applicants for a license in any of the branches or practices of cosmetology shall include both a practical demonstration and written test and shall embrace the subjects concerning the particular branch or branches, practice, or practices for which a license…

(1) The Department of Health shall admit to examination for a license as a cosmetologist, manicurist, aesthetician, or instructor a person who has made application to the department in proper form, has paid the fee required, and who:(1) Is not less than sixteen (16) years of age;…

A.C.A. § 17-26-305Current through all legislation of the 2025 Regular Session.Arkansas Code of 1987 Annotated Official EditionCopyright © 2026 by the State of Arkansas All rights reserved

(1) The Department of Health shall admit to examination for a license as an electrologist a person who has made application to the department in proper form, has paid the fee required, and who:(1) Is not less than eighteen (18) years of age;(2) Has completed the twelfth grade at …

(1) The Department of Health shall admit to examination for license as an electrology instructor any person who has made application to the department in proper form, has paid the fee required, and who:(1) Is not less than twenty-one (21) years of age;(2) Holds a valid Arkansas l…

A.C.A. § 17-26-308Current through all legislation of the 2025 Regular Session.Arkansas Code of 1987 Annotated Official EditionCopyright © 2026 by the State of Arkansas All rights reserved

Examinations for license as cosmetologists and all other branches of cosmetology shall include a written core and law test and a practical test that embrace all phases of cosmetology as deemed necessary by the Cosmetology Technical Advisory Committee to protect the health, safety…

The Cosmetology Technical Advisory Committee shall promulgate rules concerning an applicant for an examination who fails to appear for the examination.

Anyone failing to pass an examination shall be permitted upon application to take another examination.

(a) Persons who pass any examination under this chapter shall receive a license from the Cosmetology Technical Advisory Committee. (b) This license, except for renewal fees, entitles the holder to engage in the practice of the specified branch of cosmetology upon the public in a …

A.C.A. § 17-26-313Current through all legislation of the 2025 Regular Session.Arkansas Code of 1987 Annotated Official EditionCopyright © 2026 by the State of Arkansas All rights reserved

Every permit or license issued by the Cosmetology Technical Advisory Committee shall specify the occupation or occupations that the permit and license entitle the holder to practice.

(1) Upon application to the Department of Health in the form provided for the particular class of license applied for, accompanied by the required fee, a person licensed as a cosmetologist, electrologist, manicurist, aesthetician, or instructor under the laws of another state sha…

(a) Every licensee shall:(1) Display his or her license in a conspicuous place in his or her principal office, place of business, place of employment, or mobile salon; or(2) Wear the license on his or her person while practicing cosmetology. (1) Display his or her license in a co…

(a) (1) Every registered cosmetologist manager-operator, cosmetologist, electrologist, manicurist, or aesthetician, unless operating a mobile salon as defined under § 17-26-102, within thirty (30) days after changing the address of his or her place of business as designated on th…

A duplicate license shall be issued upon the filing of a statement explaining the loss of the license, verified by the oath of the applicant, and accompanied by the fee prescribed in § 17-26-209. Each duplicate license shall have the word “DUPLICATE” stamped across its face and b…

(a) Licenses of cosmetologists, instructors, electrologists, aestheticians, and manicurists shall expire on the licensee's birthday on a biennial basis. (b) Licenses of schools and establishments shall expire in one (1) of the following ways at the choice of the school or establi…

A.C.A. § 17-26-320Current through all legislation of the 2025 Regular Session.Arkansas Code of 1987 Annotated Official EditionCopyright © 2026 by the State of Arkansas All rights reserved

For good cause shown and under such reasonable rules as may be imposed, the Department of Health may reissue or reinstate the license of any person whose license has been previously revoked.

A.C.A. § 17-26-322Current through all legislation of the 2025 Regular Session.Arkansas Code of 1987 Annotated Official EditionCopyright © 2026 by the State of Arkansas All rights reserved

A.C.A. § 17-26-323Current through all legislation of the 2025 Regular Session.Arkansas Code of 1987 Annotated Official EditionCopyright © 2026 by the State of Arkansas All rights reserved

(a) The Department of Health:(1) Shall develop a registration application process for a registered hairstylist;(2) May charge each registrant a fee of not more than ten dollars ($10.00) to cover the department's costs of maintaining the registration; and(3) Shall not require regi…

(a) No person, firm, or corporation shall conduct or operate a cosmetological establishment, school of cosmetology, beauty parlor, or any other place of business in which any one (1) or any combination of the occupations of a cosmetologist are taught or practiced, except the bran…

(a) A person, firm, or corporation desiring to operate a cosmetological establishment shall make an application to the Department of Health for a license. (b) The application shall be accompanied by the required licensing fee.

(a) Schools of cosmetology shall be conducted as provided in this subchapter. (b) (1) A person, firm, or corporation desiring to conduct a school of cosmetology shall apply to the Department of Health for approval.(2) The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education shall not b…

(a) Licensing for cosmetological establishments and schools of cosmetology expires pursuant to § 17-26-319(b). (b) An application for renewal of a license shall be filed with the Department of Health, accompanied by the required renewal fee. (c) Thereupon, the department shall re…

(a) No person having charge of a cosmetological establishment or school of cosmetology, whether as an owner or an employee, shall permit any room or part thereof in which any of the branches or practices of cosmetology are conducted, practiced, or taught to be used for sleeping, …

(a) A school shall not be licensed until the Department of Health has had ample opportunity to verify sworn statements as to the actual ownership. In this respect, if false statements are submitted to the department in connection with a license application, this in itself shall c…

(a) Before any school license under this subchapter shall be finally granted, a second inspection shall be made after the equipment has been installed and before the school is permitted to begin operation. (b) An applicant shall not be granted a license to operate a school unless…

(1) Each school shall:(1) Possess sufficient apparatus and equipment necessary for the ready and full teaching of all the subjects or practices of cosmetology;(2) Maintain licensed instructors competent to impart instruction in all branches or practices of cosmetology;(3) Keep a …

Every school shall at all times be in charge of and under the supervision of a licensed cosmetologist manager-operator who has had at least a total of three (3) years of practical experience in the practice or teaching of all of the branches of cosmetology, except the branch of e…

(a) (1) (A) A person employed in a school to instruct students in the school shall be licensed as an instructor in the field in which he or she specializes.(B) A licensed instructor in good standing is not required to renew his or her specialty license.(2) A licensed instructor s…

(a) All instructors shall be continuously engaged in teaching students in theoretical or practical work. Except when instructing a student, an instructor may not practice upon a client, and any instructor who does so is subject to disciplinary action by the Cosmetology Technical …