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Are you drawn to rewarding professions where you can help other people look and feel their best? A cosmetology or barber license provides opportunities to work in salons and spas or even start your own business.

If you’ve already obtained your Colorado cosmetology or barber license from the Colorado Division of Professions and Occupations Office of Barber & Cosmetology Licensure, you should know that professional licenses expire periodically and must be renewed. What renewal requirements should you be aware of?

License Renewal Timeline

In Colorado, barber licenses expire every two years, on March 31 of even-numbered years. Cosmetology licenses expire every year on April 30.

If you specifically hold a hairstylist, esthetician, or nail technician license (instead of the broader cosmetology license), your renewal period is the same as for barbers, with licenses expiring every two years on March 31.

Renewal Requirements

To renew your cosmetology or barber license in Colorado, you must submit a renewal application and pay applicable fees before your license expires. You must also provide proof of identity. If you obtain your license within 120 days of the upcoming renewal date, you will be issued a license that is valid until the following renewal date.

What Happens if My License Expires?

If you miss your license renewal date, you must apply for reinstatement and pay additional fees. Colorado has a 60-day grace period after your license expires during which you may continue to work while you apply for reinstatement, but after that date, you may not legally practice until your license is reinstated.

If your license has been expired for more than two years but less than five years and you wish to reinstate it, you must complete 16 hours of approved continuing education (CE). If your license has been expired for more than five years, you must complete 24 hours of suitable CE for reinstatement.

Approved CE for reinstating a barber’s license could include topics like:

• Treatment of hair and scalp
• Shaving services and techniques
• Haircutting
• Hairstyling
• Chemical hair or texture services
• Hair coloring and hair tinting or lightening
• Scalp care (shampooing, rinsing, and conditioning)
• Laws, rules, and regulations
• Management, ethics, interpersonal skills, and salesmanship
• Disinfection, cleaning, and safe work practices
• Workplace safety and compliance
• Workplace and business ethics
• Customer interactions, relations, and services
• Client/business recordkeeping
• Employer/employee responsibilities
• Occupational hazards and materials
• Use of personal protective equipment
• Barbicide
• Infection control
• Blood spill procedure/first aid
• Communicable diseases

Approved CE for reinstating a cosmetology license may include the same topics (minus shaving services and techniques), as well as:

• Manicuring or pedicuring services and techniques
• Application of artificial nails and nail enhancement techniques
• Nail tools/implements (usage, cleaning, and safety)
• Facial massage and treatments and skin care services
• Skin care tools/devices (usage, cleaning, and safety)
• Exfoliation, chemical peels, and microdermabrasion
• Lash services and techniques
• Facial makeup (including permanent makeup)
• Hair removal

The important thing is to find an approved CE program that ensures eligibility for reinstatement.

Finding the Best CE Program for Working Professionals

The right CE program will provide 24/7 online access to course materials so you can complete them when it’s convenient for you. If you need to meet CE requirements for a cosmetology or barber license in Colorado, contact RocketCert now to get started.