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The Details of Guidelines for Opening a Cosmetology or Barbering School
What you need for Guidelines for Opening a Cosmetology or Barbering School
These guidelines are intended to assist prospective schools with initial planning only and are not intended to cover all aspects of school licensure. For additional details see the guidelines document in Downloads below.
To open a Cosmetology or Barbering school, you will need to:
- Review all statutes (M.G.L. c. 112, §§87T to 87KK), regulations (240 CMR 2.00 to 11.00), and policies governing the cosmetology profession including personal license types, schools, and salons. Links to these documents can be found here.
- Determine the type of school you want to open (e.g. Manicurist school, Barbering school, Cosmetology school)
- Review premises requirements for schools (e.g. schools must have clinic and lecture rooms of minimum dimensions)
- Review equipment requirements for schools
- Scout possible locations for a facility
- Upon finding a suitable facility, contact Board office to schedule an initial walkthrough of facility, (it is recommended that no leases or property purchases take place until after this walkthrough).
- Prepare a draft floorplan
- Choose name for prospective school and complete other administrative requirements (e.g. prepare a curriculum and obtain instructors)
- Submit documents to the Cosmetology and Barbering Board for approval. The School owner/representative will attend a Board meeting.
- Begin advertising “prospective school”, choose prospective opening date (at least one month after Board approval referenced in #11).
- Submit an initial enrollment report signed by the applicant which shall contain a list of enrolled students.
- Contact Board office to schedule final walkthrough of facility.
- Upon approval of final walkthrough, submit paper application and fee.
- Upon approval, school is licensed and may open, all changes thereafter must be approved by the Board in writing.
How to apply Guidelines for Opening a Cosmetology or Barbering School
Hard copy applications are available in the Downloads section of this page.
Mail your completed application to the address below:
Division of Occupational Licensure
Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering
1000 Washington Street, Suite 710
Boston, MA 02118