How Do I Apply for a Barbering & Cosmetology Certification?

It is important that licensees and establishment owners review the following regulations prior to providing any of the services listed above.  

• Iowa Code section 157.3A, "License requirements - additional training"
• Iowa Administrative Code 481--940.4, "Criteria for licensure in prescribed practice disciplines"
• Iowa Administrative Code 481--940.5, "Prescribed practice training requirements"
• Iowa Administrative Code 481--940.6, "Licensure restrictions relating to practice"

• A licensed esthetician, who intends to provide services involving microdermabrasion, laser, intense pulsed light (IPL), having received additional training, shall submit an application and proof of additional training and certification for approval by the board. Training shall be specific to the service provided or certified laser product used. 

Note: A barber and cosmetologist licensed after July 1, 2005, is not eligible to be certified in chemical peels, microdermabrasion, laser or IPL and shall not provide those services. 

• Barbering and cosmetology licensees must hold a shaving certificate, or the license will be restricted from the practice of shaving. 

Note: A barber with an Iowa license that was issued before July 1, 2023, is exempt from the shaving certificate requirement.

Documentation and questions may be submitted by email: plpublic@idph.iowa.gov.

The application fee for each certification is $25 and may be paid online. All application fees are nonrefundable.

Note: Licensed estheticians are not required to obtain an additional certification for chemical exfoliation.

To be eligible to perform chemical peels, a cosmetologist who was licensed prior to July 1, 2005 must submit documentation or evidence of the following:

• Complete 21 hours of training specific to the process and products to be used for chemical peels. 
  • Before an additional process or product is utilized in the licensee’s practice, the licensee shall provide official certification of training on the new process or product.
• Obtain from the program a certification of training that contains the following information:
  • Date, location, and course title;
  • Number of contact hours; 
  • Specific identifying description of the chemical peel process and products covered by the course; and 
  • Evidence that the training program includes a safety training component that provides a thorough understanding of the procedures to be performed. The training program shall address fundamentals of potential hazards, management and employee responsibilities relating to control measures, and regulatory requirements.

A cosmetologist who was licensed on or before July 1, 2005, an electrologist, or an esthetician must submit documentation or evidence of the following:

• Complete 40 hours of training specific to each IPL machine, model or device to be used for IPL hair removal services. 
  • Before an additional machine, model or device is utilized in the licensee’s practice, the licensee shall submit official certification of training on the new machine, model or device.
• Obtain from the program a certification of training that contains the following information:
  • Date, location, and course title;
  • Number of contact hours specific to the laser machine, model or device; 
  • Name of the approved manufacturer or institute of laser technology that provided the training; 
  • Specific identifying description of the IPL hair removal equipment; and 
  • Evidence that the training program includes a safety training component that provides a thorough understanding of the procedures to be performed. The training program shall address fundamentals of non-beam hazards, management and employee responsibilities relating to control measures, and regulatory requirements.

A cosmetologist who was licensed on or before July 1, 2005, an electrologist, or an esthetician must submit documentation or evidence of the following:

• Complete 40 hours of training specific to each laser machine, model or device to be used for laser services. 
  • Before an additional machine, model or device is utilized in the licensee’s practice, the licensee shall submit official certification of training on the new machine, model or device.
• Obtain from the program a certification of training that contains the following information:
  • Date, location, and course title; 
  • Number of contact hours specific to the laser machine, model or device; 
  • Name of the approved manufacturer or institute of laser technology that provided the training; 
  • Specific identifying description of the laser equipment; and 
  • Evidence that the training program includes a safety training component that provides a thorough understanding of the procedures to be performed. The training program shall address fundamentals of non-beam hazards, management and employee responsibilities relating to control measures, and regulatory requirements.

To be eligible to perform microdermabrasion services, the licensee submit submit documentation or evidence of the following:

• Complete 14 contact hours of education specific to the material or apparatus used for microdermabrasion. 
  • Before an additional material or apparatus is utilized in the licensee’s practice, the licensee shall provide official certification of training on the material or apparatus.
• Obtain from the program a certification of training that contains the following information:
  • Date, location, and course title
  • Number of contact hours; 
  • Specific identifying description of the microdermabrasion machine covered by the course; and 
  • Evidence that the training program includes a safety training component that provides a thorough understanding of the procedures to be performed. The training program shall address fundamentals of potential hazards, management and employee responsibilities relating to control measures, and regulatory requirements.

Shaving shall only be used for hair removal on the scalp, face or neck. In order to receive board certification and be eligible to perform shaving for hair removal services, the licensee must complete a shaving program or pass an exam as outlined below:

• Provide evidence of passing the National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology, Inc. (NIC) barber practical exam or a national barber practical exam; or
• Complete a 40-hour shaving program from an Iowa-licensed school, or a program sponsored by an Iowa-licensed school, that is conducted by a licensed instructor who has specialized education, training and experience by reason of which said licensed instructor should be considered qualified concerning the subject matter of the program, then obtain from the program a certification of training that contains the following information: 
  • Date, location, and course title; 
  • Name and license number of the instructor; 
  • Name and license number of the school; 
  • Number of contact hours; 
  • Evidence that the training program includes a safety training component that provides a thorough understanding of the procedures to be performed. The training program shall address fundamentals of skin care, blood-borne pathogens and infection control.

Note: A barber with an Iowa license issued before July 1, 2023, is exempt from the shaving certificate requirement.