IN PLA cosmetology renewal: Indiana 2026
Regulated by the Indiana Cosmetology and Barber Board (IN PLA)
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Indiana cosmetology licenses are valid for 2 years. There is no continuing education requirement. You renew through the Indiana Cosmetology and Barber Board (IN PLA). The current renewal fee is $40.
Indiana is genuinely one of the easiest states to stay licensed in: zero continuing education hours, a $40 renewal fee, and a two-year clock. The Professional Licensing Agency even mails you a notice 90 days before expiration. What makes Indiana worth paying close attention to is not the renewal itself but the reinstatement ladder that kicks in the moment you let it slip. The penalties escalate in two hard steps, and the five-year mark triggers an exam retake.
Indiana does not require any continuing education to renew a cosmetology, esthetician, manicurist, or electrologist license. You renew every two years at mylicense.in.gov, pay the $40 fee, and you are done. The Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (PLA) mails a reminder about 90 days before your expiration date.
All four credentials fall under the state's Individual Beauty Culture License, administered by the Indiana Cosmetology and Barber Board through the PLA. None of them require a sanitation hour, a bloodborne pathogens course, or any self-study to renew.
What renewal involves
- Renewal cycle: 2 years (biennial)
- CE hours required: 0 for every license type
- Renewal fee: $40
- Renewal portal: mylicense.in.gov
- Renewal notice: Mailed approximately 90 days before expiration
Compare this to Indiana's neighbors: Illinois requires 14 CE hours per two-year cycle for cosmetologists, and Ohio requires 4 hours. Michigan and Kentucky require none, same as Indiana. If you work across state lines, that difference matters for your CE budget and scheduling.
The reinstatement ladder (this is the part to plan around)
Because there is no CE to track, almost every license problem in Indiana traces back to someone missing the renewal deadline. The reinstatement rules are straightforward but escalate quickly.
- Expired, less than three years: Reinstatement fee is $80 (the $40 current renewal fee plus the $40 application fee). No additional training required.
- Expired more than three years: $80 reinstatement fee, plus board-approved remediation and additional training. The board specifies the training; you cannot self-select it.
- Expired five or more years: $80 fee, plus you must retake and pass the written licensing examination. The board mails an eligibility letter with exam registration details. You have one year from the date of your reinstatement application to pass.
The $80 reinstatement fee is the same at every tier. The extra cost at the three-year and five-year marks is time and training, not money. That makes the calculus clear: renew on time, or reinstate as quickly as possible after lapsing.
How to renew step by step
- Watch for the PLA's mailed notice, which arrives roughly 90 days before your expiration date. Do not rely solely on the mail; look up your own expiration date in mylicense.in.gov.
- Log in to mylicense.in.gov and confirm your contact details are current. A stale mailing address means a missed notice.
- Submit the renewal application online and pay the $40 fee before your expiration date.
- Print or save your confirmation. The board does not issue a physical license by mail; your digital confirmation is your record.
Even with no CE requirement, the board's sanitation and health standards apply to every licensed practice in the state. Renewal paperwork is separate from compliance with those day-to-day standards.
Does Indiana require CE for cosmetology renewal?
Indiana 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 Indiana license expire?
Indiana Beauty Culture (cosmetology, esthetician, manicurist, electrologist) licenses renew on the state's biennial cycle. The Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (PLA) mails a renewal notice approximately 90 days before the expiration date, and renewals are processed online through mylicense.in.gov.
Fees
- Renewal: $40
- Reinstatement: $80
What if my Indiana license is already expired?
If your Indiana Beauty Culture license expires, the reinstatement fee is $80 (the current $40 renewal fee plus the $40 application fee). Licenses expired more than three years require board-approved remediation and additional training. If expired five or more years, you must retake and pass the written licensing examination within one year of your reinstatement application.
Indiana state board contact info
- Board: Indiana Cosmetology and Barber Board (IN PLA)
- Phone: 1-800-457-8283
- Email: pla12@pla.in.gov
- Address: Indiana Government Center South, Room W072, 402 West Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204
- Website: https://www.in.gov/pla/professions/cosmetology-and-barber-home/
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 Indiana cosmetology renewal
Does Indiana require CE for cosmetology or esthetician renewal?
Indiana does not require continuing education for estheticians, cosmetologists, manicurists, and electrologists. You renew every 2 years by application and fee only. No CE hours or courses are required.
Can I complete Indiana cosmetology CE online?
Indiana has no CE requirement, so there are no online CE hours to complete. Renewal is by application and fee only.
How often does a Indiana cosmetology license need to be renewed?
Indiana estheticians, cosmetologists, manicurists, and electrologists licenses renew every 2 years. No CE is required; renewal is by application and fee.
What happens if my Indiana cosmetology license lapses?
If you miss your Indiana 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 Indiana require continuing education to renew a cosmetology license?
No. Indiana requires 0 CE hours for cosmetologists, estheticians, manicurists, and electrologists. You renew every two years by submitting the application and paying the $40 fee at mylicense.in.gov. There is nothing to log or report.
How much does it cost to renew an Indiana Beauty Culture license in 2026?
The renewal fee is $40 for the Individual Beauty Culture License, which covers cosmetologists, estheticians, manicurists, and electrologists. If the license lapses, reinstatement costs $80, made up of the $40 renewal fee plus the $40 application fee.
How will I know when my Indiana license is about to expire?
The Indiana Professional Licensing Agency mails a renewal notice approximately 90 days before your expiration date. You can also look up your expiration date directly in mylicense.in.gov. Do not rely on the mailed notice alone; keep your address current with the PLA so you actually receive it.
What happens if my Indiana license lapses for more than three years?
Reinstatement after more than three years requires board-approved remediation and additional training, on top of the $80 reinstatement fee. The board specifies the training program; it is not something you choose yourself. The longer you wait past expiration, the more the board requires.
Do I have to retake the licensing exam if my Indiana license lapsed five or more years ago?
Yes. Under Indiana's reinstatement rules, a license expired for five or more years requires you to retake and pass the written licensing examination. The board sends an eligibility letter with exam registration details, and you must pass within one year of submitting your reinstatement application. The $80 reinstatement fee also applies.
How does Indiana compare to neighboring states for cosmetology CE requirements?
Indiana requires no CE, which puts it in the same category as Michigan and Kentucky (also zero). Ohio requires 4 CE hours per two-year cycle, and Illinois requires 14 hours per two-year cycle for cosmetologists. If you hold licenses in multiple Midwest states, those differences affect your planning every renewal period.
Can I renew my Indiana cosmetology license online?
Yes. Indiana processes all Individual Beauty Culture License renewals online through mylicense.in.gov. There is no mail-in option required. Log in, confirm your information, and pay the $40 fee before your expiration date.
How much does it cost to renew an Indiana cosmetology license in 2026?
The Indiana Professional Licensing Agency charges $40 to renew an Individual Beauty Culture License, which covers cosmetologists, estheticians, manicurists, and electrologists. If your license expires, the reinstatement fee is $80 (the $40 current renewal fee plus the $40 application fee).
How do I contact the Indiana State Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners?
You can reach the Indiana State Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners through the Professional Licensing Agency at 1-800-457-8283 or by email at pla12@pla.in.gov. The board office is located at Indiana Government Center South, Room W072, 402 West Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204.
Does Indiana require continuing education for cosmetology license renewal?
No. Indiana does not require any continuing education hours for cosmetologists, estheticians, manicurists, or electrologists to renew. You renew by submitting the application and paying the $40 fee at mylicense.in.gov. The Indiana Professional Licensing Agency mails a renewal notice approximately 90 days before your expiration.
What happens if my Indiana Beauty Culture license has been expired for more than five years?
If your Indiana Beauty Culture license has been expired more than five years, reinstatement requires taking and passing the written licensing examination again. The board will issue an eligibility letter with exam registration information. You must pass the exam within one year of submitting your reinstatement application, plus pay the $80 reinstatement fee.