LSBC cosmetology renewal: Louisiana 2026
Regulated by the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology (LSBC)
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Louisiana cosmetology licenses are valid for 2 years. There is no continuing education requirement. You renew through the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology (LSBC). The current renewal fee is $25. Late renewal incurs a $25 penalty.
Louisiana draws an unusual line: continuing education is required only of licensed instructors, not of working stylists. If you hold a cosmetologist, esthetician, manicurist, or shampoo assistant license, you have no CE hours to complete at renewal. Instructors are the lone exception, owing 16 board-approved hours every two years to keep their teaching status active.
For the people doing hair, skin, and nails behind the chair, Louisiana sets CE at 0 hours. The Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology does not require any continuing education to renew a cosmetologist, esthetician, manicurist, or shampoo assistant license.
The one group with a CE obligation is licensed instructors. Under LAC 46 §XXXI-505, each instructor must attend a board-approved seminar at least once every two years, totaling at least 16 hours of training in cosmetology and related fields, to maintain active instructor status. No parallel requirement exists for non-instructor licensees.
- Renewal cycle: 2 years (biennial)
- CE for cosmetologist, esthetician, manicurist, shampoo assistant: 0 hours
- CE for instructors: 16 hours every 2 years, board-approved seminar (LAC 46 §XXXI-505.D)
- Renewal fee: $25
- Late fee: $25
Because standard licenses carry no CE rule, there is nothing to track regarding online versus classroom hours, and no special required topic such as sanitation or bloodborne pathogens tied to renewal. For most licensees, renewal is administrative: confirm your details with the Board and pay the $25 fee before your license lapses, keeping in mind the $25 late fee if you miss the deadline.
Your day-to-day obligations still stand even without CE. You must work under a current, valid license and follow the health and sanitation standards the Board enforces. Instructors, by contrast, should plan ahead for their seminar so their teaching status does not drop to inactive between two-year cycles.
Does Louisiana require CE for cosmetology renewal?
Louisiana 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.
Fees
- Renewal: $25
- Late fee: $25
Exemptions
Instructors are a separate category: 16 CE hours every 2 years per LAC 46 §XXXI-505.
Louisiana state board contact info
- Board: Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology (LSBC)
- Website: http://www.lsbc.louisiana.gov/default.aspx
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 Louisiana cosmetology renewal
Does Louisiana require CE for cosmetology or esthetician renewal?
Louisiana does not require continuing education for estheticians, cosmetologists, manicurists, and shampoo assistants. You renew every 2 years by application and fee only. No CE hours or courses are required.
Can I complete Louisiana cosmetology CE online?
Louisiana has no CE requirement, so there are no online CE hours to complete. Renewal is by application and fee only.
How often does a Louisiana cosmetology license need to be renewed?
Louisiana estheticians, cosmetologists, manicurists, and shampoo assistants licenses renew every 2 years. No CE is required; renewal is by application and fee.
What happens if my Louisiana cosmetology license lapses?
If you miss your Louisiana 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.
Do I need continuing education to renew my Louisiana cosmetology license?
Not if you are a working licensee. Cosmetologists, estheticians, manicurists, and shampoo assistants need 0 CE hours. The only licensees with a CE requirement are instructors.
How much CE do instructors in Louisiana have to complete?
Licensed instructors must complete at least 16 hours of board-approved training in cosmetology and related fields every two years to keep active instructor status, per LAC 46 §XXXI-505.D.
How often do I renew, and what does it cost?
Renewal is on a two-year biennial cycle with a $25 fee. A $25 late fee applies if you renew after your license expires, so confirm your deadline with the Board.
Does the no-CE rule apply to estheticians and manicurists too?
Yes. The zero-hour requirement covers cosmetologists, estheticians, manicurists, and shampoo assistants alike. CE is tied to the instructor credential, not to any standard practice license.
I've seen sources say 16 hours annually. Which is correct?
The 16-hour figure applies to instructors every two years, not annually, and not to working stylists. Sources citing an annual CE requirement appear to conflate the instructor rule with standard licenses. Confirm with the Board if in doubt.