Upholding the practice & standards of North Dakota's beauty industry
What is the difference between Individual license, Independent Licensee license & Establishment license?
An
Individual license is the first license you obtain from the Board once you complete your training and passed your exams: cosmetologist, esthetician, advanced esthetician, manicurist or instructor license. This is the license that allows you to practice your profession.
An
Independent Licensee license is also referred to as a 'booth renter' license. This is your business license that allows you to work as your own boss within a licensed establishment. You need this license along with your Individual license to practice as your own boss within a licensed establishment.
An
Establishment license (formerly called salon license) is the premises that employs other licensees, rents to Independent Licensees or a combination of both. An Establishment can also be a solo practitioner not located within another licensed establishment.
Endorsement (reciprocity):Out of State applicants applying for North Dakota license without examination. Every person desiring to be licensed as a cosmetologist, esthetician, advanced esthetician, or manicurist without taking the examination shall make application on the form provided by the board. More information can be found on the '
Transferring to ND' page.
License Verification when Transferring to Another State:
To have a verification of your license sent to another state, please complete the
license verification request and return it to the Board with the fee of $20.
Name and Address Changes:"A personal name or mailing address change must be submitted to the board office. Please
click here to fill out the Name Change Form. Once completed, mail the form to our office. If you would like your name changed on your license, submit your request with a $20.00 fee."
Expired Licenses:
"All licenses expire on the thirty-first day of December in that year. The holder of an expired license, within one year from and after the date of its expiration, may obtain a license upon the payment of the late fee in addition to the current renewal fee. The holder of an expired license, one year after the date of the expiration but before five years, may obtain a reinstatement of the license upon payment of the required late fee; and take and pass the ND law, rules, and regulations examination.
If a license is not renewed within five years since the license expired, the applicant for reinstatement shall take and pass the examinations required of new applicants. This includes the hands on practical, laws and rules, and NIC theory examinations."
N.D. Law, Rules & Regulations:The Laws, Rules & Regulations are located below the ND Great Seal on the Board's website,
www.ndcosmetology.com . Click on the words "Statutes" and Rules and Regulations. Rules & Regulations posters are available at no cost and maybe requested in writing or email to our office, with your name and mailing address, and we can mail a copy to you.
For new establishments and independent licensee locations, your inspector will give you a copy.
Blood Exposure Procedure:"
Click here for Blood Exposure Procedure guidelines."
NIC Disinfection Guidance:
Visit
National Instate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology page for additional disinfection guidance.
Business Names of Establishment or Independent Licensee:"Business names of salons or booth rentals must be registered as a trade name with the Secretary of State. You may contact the Secretary of State's office at (701) 328-2900.
Additional information and forms are available at the
North Dakota Secretary of State's website.
Licensing Requirements:Cosmetology: 1500 hours of school training as of August 1, 2021. (1800 hours prior to August 1, 2021)
Apprentice Cosmetology: 2500 hours in an approved registered apprenticeship program as of January 1, 2026.
Advanced Esthetician: 1100 hours of school training as of January 1, 2026.
Esthetician: 600 hours of school training.
Apprentice Esthetics: 2000 hours in an approved registered apprenticeship program as of January 1, 2026.
Manicure: 350 hours of school training.
Apprentice Manicurist: 2000 hours in an approved registered apprenticeship program as of January 1, 2026.
Examination Requirements:"NIC Written Theory, NIC Practical, and North Dakota Laws, Rules & Regulations."
Filing a Complaint:
Submission requirements. All complaints alleging a violation of title 32 or North DakotaCentury Code chapter 43-11 must be submitted to the board in writing and may be delivered by mail, electronic mail, or through the board website. The complaint must be legible, dated, and signed by the complainant.
Required information. A written complaint must include the following information to the best of the complainant's ability:
(1) The full name, address, and contact information of the complainant;
(2) The full name, address, and, if known, the license number of the individual or the name and address of the establishment or school against whom the complaint is being made;
(3) A clear, concise, and detailed description of the alleged violation, including the date and location of the incident; and
(4) Any supporting documentation, such as, photographs, receipts, and witness statements, which the complainant believes is relevant to the complaint.
(5) You may use the Board's
complaint form, or other written means.
Public record. Complaints filed with the board are considered public records in accordance with North Dakota law.
Advertising requirements.
Each establishment, independent licensee or school shall adhere to the following requirements to protect consumers from misleading claims, ensure public health and safety, and uphold professional standards:
1. Truthful and accurate advertising. All advertising for services, licensees, establishments, and schools must be truthful, accurate, and may not contain any false or misleading claims or information;
2. Identification of licensee, establishment, independent licensee or school. All advertising must clearly identify the name, as the name appears on the license of the licensed establishment, school or the name of the licensed individual providing the services;
3. License specific services. If an advertisement promotes services that are regulated by multiple regulatory jurisdictions, the advertisement clearly must separate and identify which services are provided under which regulatory jurisdiction; and
4. Advertising of services requiring medical supervision. For any services advertised being provided by a licensee which require the supervision of a licensed health care provider under applicable North Dakota law or rules, the advertisement clearly must identify the licensed health care provider by name, professional title.
Independent Licensee/Establishment:
"
Establishment" includes any salon, business, or premises where the occupation of cosmetology, esthetics, advanced esthetics, manicuring is practiced. A license from the NorthDakota state board of cosmetology is required for all establishments except as otherwise provided in chapter 43-11.
"
Independent licensee" means a licensed individual who maintains a separate license and practices cosmetology, manicuring, esthetics, or advanced esthetics at a location within, but separate, from a cosmetology establishment. The licensee must abide by the same provisions of this chapter as an establishment.
1. Independent licensees. Any establishment may be divided into independent licensee spaces.Each independent licensee must be individually licensed by the board as a separate entity and each independent licensee license only may be issued to a single individual licensee.
2. Responsibilities of the independent licensee:
a. Maintain an active North Dakota individual license and independent licensee license foreach establishment.
b. Maintain an active lease arrangement with a licensed establishment, which serves as their primary affiliated location.
c. Adhere to all existing applicable laws and administrative rules, particularly within their workstation or suite and any shared space within the establishment.
d. Display the individual and independent licensee licenses in clear view in the immediate work area of the independent licensee.
e. Allow the board or its designees entry to workspace or suite to conduct inspections whether or not an independent licensee is on the premises. The board or its designees may inspect outside of the establishment service practices and associated equipment upon reasonable notice or in response to a complaint.
3. Responsibilities of the licensed establishment: a. Maintain an active North Dakota establishment license in good standing.
b. Verify each licensee operating within the establishment's premises holds active NorthDakota individual and independent licensee licenses at all times.
c. Provide each independent licensee a workspace, as agreed to in the lease agreement, which meets all requirements outlined in title 32 and North Dakota Century Code chapter43-11 except that there may be common reception areas, common toilet facilities, common product dispensing area, and common entrances and exits.
d. Allow the board or its designees access to entire premises, including providing access to unattended independent licensee suites for inspection.
Establishment management.
1. Every establishment, upon request, shall provide documented hours for master license applications. An establishment or manager may not decline to provide documentation for master cosmetologist, manicurist, or esthetician licensure. Establishments shall keep documented hour records for at least two years after any separation of employment.
2. Except as otherwise provided, if the owner of an establishment is dually licensed in, or employs an individual at the owner's establishment to engage in an activity that is not under the jurisdiction of this board, such as, tattooing, body piercing and massage therapy, the establishment shall:
a. Obtain and keep active any required license from the regulatory body that governs the other professional license and remain subject to the laws and regulations of this state applicable to such profession as well as to the laws and regulations to laws and rules outlined in this chapter;
b. Verify individual's professional license is active and in good standing;
c. Tools, apparatuses and instruments specifically used in professions not under the jurisdiction of this board must be kept separate in an enclosed, locked cabinet when not in use.
d. Licenses must be displayed in clear view of clients receiving services.
Master Licenses.
Master license options are still available to those who wish to obtain one. The same provisions apply to obtaining a master license. You must work under a master licensee for 1000 to be eligible for a master license.
What Changed: A master license is no longer a requirement to obtain an independent licensee license and a master licensee does not need to be present when a non master licensee is working in the establishment.
Inspections/Re-inspections:An establishment, independent licensee, or school may be subject to additional inspections if the establishment, independent licensee, or school:
a. Had a violation in a previous inspection;
b. Changed ownership;
c. Did not timely renew the license; or
d. Is on probation because of disciplinary action from the board.
A re-inspection fee of $75 may be charged for additional inspections under a, c, or d above.
Advanced Esthetician/Advanced Esthetic Procedures:The Board now licenses Advanced Estheticians starting in 2026. The exemption if working under medical supervision no longer applies. Any individual performing advanced esthetic procedures must first obtain an advanced esthetics license unless otherwise exempt under NDCC 43-11-02 #6. There is a grandfather clause for existing licensed cosmetologists and estheticians who have held their ND license since January 1, 2025 or before. The Board is currently working on guidance pieces to help navigate this new license type. Currently you can find more information in statutes and administrative rules posted on homepage of this website.
The scope of practice for an esthetician only changed slightly. A licensed esthetician can only perform single layer application chemical exfoliant per visit. To perform multiple layer chemical exfoliants an advanced esthetics license is required. The remaining scope stayed the same.
Apprenticeship Programs:The Board now allows approved registered apprenticeship pathways for licensure for cosmetology, esthetics, and manicuring. The Board is currently working on guidance pieces to help establishments navigate this process.
There are 2 paths to start a registered apprenticeship program with the US Department of Labor:- 1. Build your own
- 2. Partner with a Sponsor (someone who already created a program you can use)
You can get more information here: https://www.apprenticeship.gov/employers/registered-apprenticeship-program/build
More information can be found in statutes and administrative rules posted on the homepage of this website.
Exemption from licensing requirement - Licensed nursing homes, basic care facilities, and assisted living centers. Any licensed nursing home, basic care facility, or licensed assisted living center that permits licensed cosmetologists to perform services to residents only, and does not advertise as an establishment, is not required to have an establishment license. A licensed cosmetologist located within a licensed nursing home, basic care facility, or assisted living center who performs cosmetology services on nonresidents of the facility must obtain an establishment license.
Licensee performing services in exempt facilities. Each licensee providing services for compensation within a facility that is exempt from cosmetology establishment licensure under North Dakota Century Code chapter 43-11 shall adhere to the following:
1. Licensees performing services only on residents of exempt facilities shall:
a. Maintain and display current individual license;
b. Provide the board written notice of providing services at an exempt facility; and
c. Comply with all applicable laws and rules including section 32-03-01-14.8.
2. Licensees performing services on residents and nonresidents of an exempt facility shall:
a. Obtain an establishment or independent licensee license for the facility location;
b. Maintain and display current individual and establishment licenses; and
c. Comply with all applicable laws and rules including section 32-03-01-14.
An exempt eligible facility may still obtain an establishment license or require a licensee to obtain one if they choose too. If the facility holds a current, valid establishment license, the licensee must obtain an independent licensee license if they accept compensation directly from residents.