ABOC cosmetology renewal: Alabama 2026
Regulated by the Alabama Board of Cosmetology (ABOC)
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Alabama cosmetology licenses are valid for 2 years. There is no continuing education requirement. You renew through the Alabama Board of Cosmetology (ABOC). The current renewal fee is $100. Late renewal incurs a $54 penalty.
Alabama is one of the states where renewing your cosmetology license takes no continuing education at all. The Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering ties your renewal to your own birthday: personal licenses for cosmetologists, estheticians, manicurists, and natural hair stylists expire on the last day of your birth month in odd-numbered years. Get the $100 fee in on time and you are renewed, no class hours, no required courses, no proof of training.
Alabama requires 0 continuing education hours. There is no CE chapter anywhere in the Alabama Administrative Code (chapters 250-X-1 through 250-X-7), and the Alabama Cosmetology Act does not condition renewal on completing any courses. Renewal is purely about timing and fees.
How your renewal date works. Alabama does not use a fixed calendar deadline for everyone. Instead, the cycle follows your birthday:
- Cosmetologists, estheticians, manicurists, and natural hair stylists: your personal license expires on the last day of your birth month in odd-numbered years.
- Class 2 barbers: the license expires on the last day of the birth month in even-numbered years.
Renewal cycle and fees. The renewal period is 2 years. The personal renewal fee is $100. If your renewal is postmarked after your birth-month expiration date, the board adds a $54 late charge on top of the renewal fee.
License types covered. The same no-CE renewal applies across all personal license categories the board issues: cosmetologist, esthetician, esthetician/manicurist, manicurist, natural hair stylist, and barber. None of these has a separate continuing education obligation.
If your license lapses. An expired Alabama license can be reinstated within four years of expiration by paying the renewal fees for the lapsed period, the current renewal fee, and the late fee. If your license has been expired for more than four years, you cannot just pay back fees: you must provide proof of prior licensure, pass the appropriate examination again, and pay back renewal fees (capped at $300 total), the current renewal fee, and the late fee.
Source of the rules. The requirement to hold a personal license comes from the Code of Alabama 1975, § 34-7B-7, and Alabama Admin Code 250-X-2-.02; the fee schedule sits at 250-X-2-.01. None of these reference continuing education.
Does Alabama require CE for cosmetology renewal?
Alabama does not require continuing education for license renewal. You renew every 2 years by paying the fee and submitting any required documentation. Add your renewal date below and we'll email you 90, 60, and 30 days before your deadline.
When does my Alabama license expire?
Personal licenses for cosmetology, esthetics, manicuring, and natural hair styling expire on the last day of the licensee's birth month in odd-numbered years. Class 2 barber licenses expire on the last day of the birth month in even-numbered years. A renewal postmarked after the expiration date triggers the $54 late fee.
Fees
- Renewal: $100
- Late fee: $54
What if my Alabama license is already expired?
An expired Alabama license may be reinstated within four years of expiration by paying renewal fees for the lapsed period, the current renewal fee, and the late fee. Licenses expired more than four years require proof of prior licensure, passing the appropriate examination, and paying back renewal fees (capped at $300 total), the current renewal fee, and the late fee.
Alabama state board contact info
- Board: Alabama Board of Cosmetology (ABOC)
- Phone: 1-800-815-7453
- Email: cosmetology@aboc.alabama.gov
- Website: https://aboc.alabama.gov/
Other states with no CE requirement: Arizona, California, Massachusetts. See the full list of states with no CE requirement. Compare all 53 states.
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Frequently asked questions about Alabama cosmetology renewal
Does Alabama require CE for cosmetology or esthetician renewal?
Alabama does not require continuing education for estheticians, esthetician/manicurists, cosmetologists, manicurists, natural hair stylists, and barbers. You renew every 2 years by application and fee only. No CE hours or courses are required.
Can I complete Alabama cosmetology CE online?
Alabama has no CE requirement, so there are no online CE hours to complete. Renewal is by application and fee only.
How often does a Alabama cosmetology license need to be renewed?
Alabama estheticians, esthetician/manicurists, cosmetologists, manicurists, natural hair stylists, and barbers licenses renew every 2 years. No CE is required; renewal is by application and fee.
What happens if my Alabama cosmetology license lapses?
If you miss your Alabama renewal deadline, your license enters expired or inactive status. You may face late fees, a reinstatement application, and in some cases additional CE hours or re-examination. Set a free reminder on CEFinder so your deadline is never a surprise.
Does Alabama require continuing education to renew a cosmetology license?
No. Alabama requires zero continuing education hours for any personal license, including cosmetologist, esthetician, manicurist, and natural hair stylist. Renewal is about meeting your birth-month deadline and paying the fee, not completing courses.
When does my Alabama cosmetology license expire?
For cosmetologists, estheticians, manicurists, and natural hair stylists, your personal license expires on the last day of your birth month in odd-numbered years. Class 2 barber licenses expire on the last day of the birth month in even-numbered years.
How much does it cost to renew an Alabama cosmetology license in 2026?
The personal renewal fee is $100 for a two-year cycle. If you renew after your birth-month expiration date, the board adds a $54 late charge, bringing the total to $154.
My Alabama license expired. Can I still reinstate it?
Yes, if it has been expired for four years or less. You pay the renewal fees for the lapsed period, the current renewal fee, and the late fee. If it has been expired for more than four years, you must show proof of prior licensure, retake the appropriate examination, and pay back fees (capped at $300), the current renewal, and the late fee.
How do I contact the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering?
Call the ABOC at 1-800-815-7453 or email cosmetology@aboc.alabama.gov. The board site at aboc.alabama.gov has the current fee schedule, renewal forms, and the full text of the Alabama Cosmetology Act and Administrative Code chapter 250-X.
What is the ABOC license in Alabama?
ABOC is the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering, the agency that issues and renews every cosmetology, esthetician, manicurist, natural hair stylist, and barber personal license in the state. The current renewal fee for a personal license is $100 every two years, with a $54 late fee if you miss your birth-month deadline.
How much does it cost to renew an Alabama cosmetology license in 2026?
Alabama charges a $100 personal renewal fee every two years for cosmetology, esthetics, manicuring, and natural hair stylist licenses. If you renew after the last day of your birth month (in odd-numbered years), the board adds a $54 late charge on top of the renewal.
How do I contact the Alabama State Board of Cosmetology?
You can reach the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering at 1-800-815-7453 or by email at cosmetology@aboc.alabama.gov. The board's website is aboc.alabama.gov, which lists fee schedules, license forms, and the full text of the Alabama Cosmetology Act and Administrative Code chapter 250-X.
What if my Alabama cosmetology license has been expired for more than four years?
If your Alabama license has lapsed for more than four years, you cannot reinstate by simply paying back fees. You must furnish proof of prior licensure, pass the appropriate examination again, and pay back renewal fees (capped at $300), the current renewal fee, and the late fee. The board may purge records of any licensee inactive for four or more years.