Pursuant to 2017 Wisconsin Act 278, beginning August 1, 2018, prior to submitting an application for a credential, an individual may apply to the Department for a determination of whether the individual would be disqualified from obtaining the credential due to his or her conviction record.  To apply for a predetermination, please fill out Form #3085 and submit all required documentation specified on the form.  Pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 111.335(4)(e), the offenses or kinds of offenses that may result in a refusal, bar, or termination of licensure are published under Additional Resources on the left side of this page.

License Information

Fee Reduction

Pursuant to 2017 Wisconsin Act 319, beginning August 1, 2018, an applicant for an initial credential may apply for a reduction of the initial credential fee that is equal to 10% of the initial fee.  Qualification is based on the federal adjusted gross income being at or below 180% of the federal poverty guideline prescribed for the applicant's family household size by the United States Department of Health and Human Services. To determine eligibility please visit the United States Department of Health and Human Services website at https://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty-guidelines, prior to submitting Form 3217.

Per Wis. Stat. § 440.08 (2), the required renewal date for the Cosmetologist credential is 03/31/odd years.  Should you receive your initial credential in the months leading up to this date, you are still required to renew your license by the statutorily defined date.

Pre-Credential Education Information

1. The applicant has graduated from high school or has attained high school graduation equivalency as determined by the Department of Public Instruction; is participating in a program approved by the Examining Board; or is at least 18 years old and meets the ability to benefit rule under 20 USC 1091 (d).

2. An applicant completes the following:

1. A course of instruction in cosmetology of at least 1550 training hours in not less than 10 months in a school of cosmetology licensed under Wis. Stat. § 440.62 (3)(ar) or (b), exempted under Wis. Stat. § 440.61, or accredited by an accrediting agency approved by the Board or has successfully completed an apprenticeship under Wis. Stat. § 454.10.
   

Application for Licensure

If you are not licensed in another state, you must schedule an appointment for examination with the Department's contracted vendor, DL Roope Administration Inc.

Application for Licensure by Endorsement

Pursuant to 2017 Wisconsin Act 81, all one-hour courses for endorsement applicants on Wisconsin Statutes and Administrative Code relating to the practice of Cosmetology should be submitted for review to DSPSExaminationsOffice@wisconsin.gov.

Endorsement applications must undergo statute review, please contact the department for additional information regarding the review and timeline at dspscredbac@wisconsin.gov

List of Currently Approved Courses

Application by Reinstatement (License Expired Five Years or More)

A person whose license has been expired for more than 5 years is required to pass the current licensing examination (written and practical) to demonstrate minimum competency in services and subjects substantially related to practice and public health and safety.

To request an approval letter to take the examination, please call or send an email to the Department with the following information: your name (prior names if your name has changed), your license number and your current address.

You will be required to submit the reinstatement fee to the Department of Safety & Professional Services after passing the examination.

Renewal Information

Requirements

• FEE (See Renewal Dates and Fees)
• SIG (signature attesting to having reviewed the Digest detailing changes brought forth by Act 81)
• If your legal status as a qualified alien or nonimmigrant lawfully present in the United States has changed since the issuance of your credential or your last renewal, please contact the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services at (608) 266-2112 or dsps@wisconsin.gov.

Renewal Methods

• Online Log In: License Renewal Online
• Request a Paper Renewal Form: (888) 506‑4239 or (608) 261‑4460 for the Madison area

Inactive 454 Status

If you do not intend to practice and want your license to be placed on Inactive 454 Status per Wis. Stats. 454.06(8m) & 454.23(6), you can partially renew online.  If your license status is Not already Inactive 454, you Can complete the renewal online, up to the payment.  Do Not Pay online.  Follow instructions given during the renewal process.

If you do not complete the renewal for this Inactive 454 status online, you will need to email our office beginning February 4th, 2019 to request paper renewal forms: DSPSRenewal@wisconsin.gov.  You will also need to submit Form R454.  Please make sure to inform staff at the Department to include an R454 form for you to complete or you can print it from the website.    

• Your license status must be in good standing before being placed on Inactive Status. 
• The 2019 renewal fee is prorated to $41.00 for Inactive Status.

Wisconsin Act 210 (effective June 1, 2012)

This Act extends the license of a service member if the license expires while they are on active duty from 90 days to 180 days from the date of discharge. The same applies to a spouse of a service member if the spouse does not practice under their license while the service member is on active duty and does not practice because the service member is on active duty.

This Act repeals a provision of prior law that required a service member to meet all of the requirements for license extension or renewal, except for continuing education requirements, in order to have the license extended.

Service members and spouses may request extensions of licenses beyond 180 days from discharge and may request a waiver or extension of time to complete continuing education requirements due to hardship. Please view Active Duty/Discharge Renewal Extension Form #R210.