Rule Changes in Ohio, Include New Fees

The Ohio State Cosmetology and Barber Board (Board) issued final rules that became effective January 2, 2025, impacting fees, curriculum hours, school floor plans, student financial obligations, and definitions. If you have questions about the new rules, please contact the Board at jared.yee@cos.ohio.gov. ASCP walks you through everything you need to know.

New Fees
The final rules create new fees for many license types, impacting professionals and salon/barbershop owners. ASCP lists fees you may be responsible for below. Bookmark this fee schedule on the Board’s website for future use.

Note: For the fees described, we use “cosmetology” as an umbrella term to describe any branch of cosmetology.  

• Temporary pre-examination work permit: $15 (previously $10) 
• Initial barbering exam application: $55 (previously not more than $90) 
• No-show exam application: $50 (previously $45) 
• Cosmetology reexamination application: $35 (previously $31.50) 
• Barbering reexamination application: $35 per section to be retaken (previously $45) 
• Barbering license: $70 (previously $40) 
• Cosmetology license renewal: $55 before June 30, 2025; $65 after June 30, 2025 (previously $70) 
• Cosmetology or barbering license renewal issued or in escrow: $65 after June 30, 2025 (new fee combining categories previously separated) 
• New salon license (or change in name or ownership): $85 (previously $75) 
• New barbershop license (or change in name or ownership): $85 (previously $110) 
• Salon or barbershop license renewal: $70 before June 30, 2025 (no change): $75 after June 30, 2025 
• Duplicate license: $30 (previously $20) 
• Barber restoration license: Current license renewal fee plus a $45 lapsed renewal fee for each year after the license was last issued or renewed; the total fee will not exceed $690 (previously $150) 
• Barber instructor or assistant barber restoration license: $110 plus a $45 lapsed renewal fee for each year after the license was last issued or renewed (previously $225)

Manicuring Course Curriculum
The final rules establish a manicuring program length, which must be at least 200 hours. This may include up to 50 hours of academic courses taken during the time a student is enrolled in a manicure program.

School Floor Plans
Previously, schools had different floor plan criteria depending on the type of program the school offered (cosmetology, esthetics, manicuring, hair design, barbering, etc.). The new rules standardize square-footage measurements and require all schools, regardless of program type, to be at least 3,000 square feet.

Student Financial Obligations
The final rules impose strict guidelines for students to ensure they follow through with financial agreements made to schools. If a student fails to meet financial obligations, the Board will not allow a student to sit for their licensing exam until the Board receives confirmation the student has fulfilled their financial obligations.

Likewise, if a student fails to meet their financial obligations and wants to transfer program hours to another licensed school, the Board will not transfer the student’s hours until the Board receives confirmation the student has fulfilled their financial obligations.

Definitions
The final rules provide an amended definition for “appropriate disinfectant” to provide clarity. Make sure you’re using an acceptable disinfectant that meets the amended definition below:

Appropriate disinfectant: A chemical disinfectant product that is an EPA-registered disinfectant used to destroy or kill most bacteria, fungi, and viruses on non-porous surfaces and is mixed and used according to the manufacturer’s directions, or a sodium hypochlorite (bleach) solution with a concentration of at minimum 5.25% sodium hypochlorite mixed in a solution of one part bleach to nine parts cool or cold water.

Effective January 2, 2025