PA BOC cosmetology renewal: Pennsylvania 2026
Regulated by the Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology (PA BOC)
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Pennsylvania cosmetology licenses are valid for 2 years. There is no continuing education requirement. You renew through the Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology (PA BOC).
Pennsylvania is one of the states where individual cosmetology licensees do not complete any continuing education to stay licensed. Under 49 Pa. Code Section 7.43, renewal is handled on a two-year (biennial) cycle and turns on paying the renewal fee, not on logging classroom hours. If you hold a Pennsylvania license, your time is better spent confirming your renewal date and contact details than hunting for approved CE courses.
Pennsylvania does not mandate continuing education for cosmetology renewal. The State Board of Cosmetology renews licenses on a two-year cycle, and 49 Pa. Code Section 7.43 states that a license may be renewed for each succeeding two-year period upon payment of the renewal fee. There is no required hour total, no mandated topics, and no online or self-study limits to track, because there is no CE component at all.
- CE hours required: 0. The PA Cosmetology Law (63 P.S. Section 507 et seq.) and Chapter 7 of the regulations contain no continuing education mandate for practitioners.
- Renewal cycle: Every 2 years (biennial), tied to your license expiration date rather than the calendar year.
- License types covered: The same fee-only renewal applies to cosmetologists, estheticians, nail technicians, and cosmeticians.
- Instructors: Beauty schools in Pennsylvania may set continuing education expectations for teaching staff, but that is a school or instructor matter, not a CE requirement on the ordinary practitioner license.
- Special topics: None. There is no required hour for bloodborne pathogens, domestic violence, sanitation, or any other subject as a condition of renewal.
To renew, log in to your account through the Pennsylvania licensing system, confirm your information is current, and pay the fee before your expiration date. Because fee amounts and late penalties can change between cycles, the Board does not publish a fixed figure that stays accurate, so check the exact charge at the time you renew. Letting a license lapse generally means a reinstatement step rather than a simple renewal, so renew on time even though no coursework is involved.
Source: 49 Pa. Code Chapter 7, Section 7.43 (biennial renewal), administered by the Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology.
Does Pennsylvania require CE for cosmetology renewal?
Pennsylvania 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.
Pennsylvania state board contact info
- Board: Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology (PA BOC)
- Website: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dos/department-and-offices/bpoa/boards-commissions/cosmetology
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 Pennsylvania cosmetology renewal
Does Pennsylvania require CE for cosmetology or esthetician renewal?
Pennsylvania does not require continuing education for cosmetologists, estheticians, nail technicians, cosmeticians, and instructors. You renew every 2 years by application and fee only. No CE hours or courses are required.
Can I complete Pennsylvania cosmetology CE online?
Pennsylvania has no CE requirement, so there are no online CE hours to complete. Renewal is by application and fee only.
How often does a Pennsylvania cosmetology license need to be renewed?
Pennsylvania cosmetologists, estheticians, nail technicians, cosmeticians, and instructors licenses renew every 2 years. No CE is required; renewal is by application and fee.
What happens if my Pennsylvania cosmetology license lapses?
If you miss your Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania require continuing education to renew a cosmetology license?
No. Pennsylvania has no CE requirement for cosmetologists, estheticians, nail technicians, or cosmeticians. Renewal under 49 Pa. Code Section 7.43 is based on paying the renewal fee for each two-year period, not on completing hours.
How often do I renew my Pennsylvania cosmetology license?
Every two years. Pennsylvania uses a biennial cycle tied to your license expiration date. You renew by confirming your details and paying the fee before the deadline.
Do estheticians and nail technicians have different CE rules than cosmetologists in PA?
No. The fee-only, no-CE renewal applies the same way across cosmetologist, esthetician, nail technician, and cosmetician licenses in Pennsylvania.
Is there a bloodborne pathogens or sanitation course I have to take to renew in PA?
No. Pennsylvania does not require any specific course or topic for renewal. There is no mandated bloodborne pathogens, sanitation, or domestic violence hour for practitioners.
What happens if I let my Pennsylvania license expire?
An expired license usually has to be reinstated rather than simply renewed, which can involve additional steps and fees. Even though no coursework is required, it is best to renew before your expiration date to avoid practicing on an inactive license.