TN BoC cosmetology renewal: Tennessee 2026
Regulated by the Tennessee State Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners (TN BoC)
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Tennessee cosmetology licenses are valid for 2 years. There is no continuing education requirement. You renew through the Tennessee State Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners (TN BoC). The current renewal fee is $60.
Tennessee is one of the simpler states for license renewal: cosmetologists, aestheticians, manicurists, natural hair stylists, and eyelash specialists owe no recurring continuing-education hours. Instead of stacking up CE credits each cycle, you renew every two years for $60 and complete a single, one-time domestic violence awareness training. The only group with ongoing hours is cosmetology instructors.
The Tennessee State Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners does not require recurring continuing education for working licensees. If you hold a cosmetologist, aesthetician, manicurist, natural hair stylist, or eyelash specialist license, your renewal is mostly about paying on time and keeping your record current.
What renewal actually involves:
- Cycle length: licenses renew on a two-year cycle.
- Renewal fee: $60 for individual licensees.
- Recurring CE hours: 0. There is no annual or biennial credit-hour obligation for practitioners.
The one-time training you do owe:
- Effective January 1, 2022, all licensees must complete an approved domestic violence awareness training.
- This is a single, one-time requirement, not something you repeat each renewal cycle. Once it is done and on file, you do not redo it.
Instructors are the exception. Cosmetology instructors are reported to need 16 hours every two years. If you teach, confirm the exact instructor CE rules directly with the board before each renewal.
Because Tennessee carries no practitioner CE load, the practical priority is simply renewing before your expiration date so the license does not lapse. Source: Tennessee State Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners renewal page, which states the $60 fee, the one-time domestic violence training requirement, and that no other continuing education is required for renewal.
Does Tennessee require CE for cosmetology renewal?
Tennessee 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: $60
Tennessee state board contact info
- Board: Tennessee State Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners (TN BoC)
- Website: https://www.tn.gov/commerce/regboards/cosmo.html
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 Tennessee cosmetology renewal
Does Tennessee require CE for cosmetology or esthetician renewal?
Tennessee does not require continuing education for aestheticians, cosmetologists, manicurists, natural hair stylists, and eyelash specialists. You renew every 2 years by application and fee only. No CE hours or courses are required.
Can I complete Tennessee cosmetology CE online?
Tennessee has no CE requirement, so there are no online CE hours to complete. Renewal is by application and fee only.
How often does a Tennessee cosmetology license need to be renewed?
Tennessee aestheticians, cosmetologists, manicurists, natural hair stylists, and eyelash specialists licenses renew every 2 years. No CE is required; renewal is by application and fee.
What happens if my Tennessee cosmetology license lapses?
If you miss your Tennessee 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.
How many CE hours do I need to renew my cosmetology license in Tennessee?
Zero. Tennessee does not require recurring continuing education for cosmetologists, aestheticians, manicurists, natural hair stylists, or eyelash specialists. You renew every two years and pay the $60 fee, with no credit-hour requirement.
What is the one-time domestic violence training requirement?
Since January 1, 2022, every licensee must complete an approved domestic violence awareness training one time. It is not a recurring obligation, so once you have completed it and it is on file, you do not need to retake it at each renewal.
How much does it cost to renew, and how often?
Tennessee licenses renew on a two-year cycle, and the renewal fee is $60 for individual licensees. Renew before your expiration date to avoid a lapse.
Do cosmetology instructors have different requirements?
Yes. Unlike practitioners, instructors are reported to need 16 hours of continuing education every two years. If you teach, verify the current instructor CE rules with the Tennessee board before renewing, since the practitioner rule of zero hours does not apply to you.
Are nail technicians and estheticians also exempt from CE?
Yes. Manicurists and aestheticians fall under the same no-recurring-CE policy as cosmetologists. The only ongoing requirements are renewing every two years, paying the $60 fee, and completing the one-time domestic violence training.