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PLA > Professions > State Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners  > Manicurists & Manicurist Salons Manicurists & Manicurist Salons

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NOTE: LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATIONS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD FROM THIS PAGE. BLANK LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE BY CLICKING HERE. YOU CAN ALSO RENEW YOUR LICENSE ONLINE WITH A CREDIT OR DEBIT CARD BY CLICKING ON THE "LICENSE EXPRESS" OPTION ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THIS SCREEN.

Requirements and Instructions

All applications must be complete and accurate upon receipt to be fully processed.

All applications must be accompanied by the $40.00 application fee.

All applications must include a current and clear head-and-shoulder photo that is a minimum of 2”x3”.

All documentation must be in English or accompanied by a certified translation in English.


Manicurist License by Reciprocity

• Applicant must have a valid equivalent license in another jurisdiction*
• Applicant must be at least 18 years of age
• Applicant must have completed an eighth grade education or equivalent
• Applicant must provide a license certification from their jurisdiction.  If applicant’s jurisdiction’s board offers online license verification, this is acceptable 
• Applicant’s jurisdiction must require 450 hours** of manicurist education in a cosmetology school.***  If not, one of the following would also qualify:
 1)  If applicant has been licensed for LESS THAN 20 years; one (1) year of licensed experience is equal to one hundred (100) hours of education to an applicant who has completed a minimum of 300 hours of education in a cosmetology school.
 2)  If applicant has been licensed for MORE THAN 20 years; one (1) year of licensed experience is equal to one hundred (100) hours of education to an applicant who has completed a minimum of 100 hours of education in a cosmetology school.
• Applicant's jurisdiction must require at least 70% passing on both written and practical licensing exams
• For Jurisdictions outside the United States only:  Please submit high school diploma (or record of last year attended) and cosmetology school transcript.  If the original documents are in a foreign language, a certified translation in English must accompany the original documents.

* If the applicant’s jurisdiction does not issue a license to practice manicuring the applicant may apply for a provisional manicurist license (see below). 

** If the applicant’s jurisdiction accepts apprenticeship hours as an option for licensure, the applicant should submit documentation showing proof of completing the education requirement; this may include a transcript from the applicant’s cosmetology school, an official certification from the original jurisdiction that indicates the applicant received 450 hours of education from a cosmetology school, or a letter from the jurisdiction indicating that the applicant received 450 hours of education from a cosmetology school.  The number of hours reflects the applicant’s state’s minimum education requirement rather than the actual number of hours that were obtained.  If the applicant completed extra hours above and beyond the state’s minimum requirement, the extra hours would not apply.

*** If the applicant attended a nail school (and has not been licensed in another state which requires graduation from a manicurist program in a cosmetology school), the applicant does not meet minimum reciprocity requirements.

If an applicant comes from a jurisdiction that issues a manicurist license but does not meet Indiana’s minimum reciprocity requirements, they may transfer their hours from their original out-of-state school to a cosmetology school in Indiana.  The applicant would need to graduate from the Indiana-approved cosmetology school and then apply by examination.  Cosmetology schools may accept hours from out-of-state schools, but are not required by the board to do so.


Manicurist License by Examination

• Applicant must be at least 18 years of age
• Applicant must have completed an eighth grade education or equivalent
• Applicant must have obtained 450 hours of manicuring education and graduated within 3 years from the date of enrollment from an approved cosmetology school.  The three year rule may be waived due to a rule change effective January 18, 2008.  Please email for further information at pla12@pla.in.gov.  


Provisional Manicurist License

• Applicant’s jurisdiction does not issue a license to practice Manicuring (has only a school certificate to practice in the jurisdiction)
• Applicant must provide proof of sufficient training or experience as a manicurist*
• Applicant who has been granted an initial provisional license must work under the supervision of a licensed cosmetologist or manicurist

* Applicant must provide proof of experience, such as proof of salon experience.  An affidavit of work experience may be used.  Applicant must submit transcript of training from a cosmetology school.  All transcripts must be accompanied by a certified translation in English.


Temporary Manicurist Permit

• A temporary permit is not available to applicants for a provisional license
• A temporary permit is available to examination applicants who have submitted a complete application and have not taken the licensing examination
• A temporary permit is available to reciprocity applicants who have submitted a complete application and for whom the board is not able to make a decision on licensure within fifteen (15) days
• All applicants for a temporary permit must indicate that they will be working under a supervising cosmetologist or manicurist with at least six (6) months experience


Manicuring Salon License

• Applicant must select a site for the salon; if the site is in the same building as a residence, it must be separated from the residence by a substantial floor to ceiling partition and have a separate entry
• Applicant must obtain any building permit, certificate of occupancy, or other approval action required under IC 22-15-3 and IC 36-7-4 to operate the Manicuring salon
• Applicant must install the furnishings and obtain the salon equipment required under rules adopted by the board
• Applicant must submit a verified statement on a form prescribed by the board that the manicuring salon will be under the personal supervision of a person who has at least six (6) months active experience as a cosmetologist or manicurist before the application was submitted

Mobile Salon License

• A mobile salon/shop may be;
(1) a self-contained facility that may be moved, towed, or transported from one location to another and in which cosmetology, electrology, esthetics, manicuring or barbering is practiced, or;
(2) A business in which cosmetology, electrology, esthetics, manicuring, or barbering equipment is transported to and used on a temporary basis at a location other than a selected salon site, including:
(A) other cosmetology, electrology, esthetic, manicuring, or barbering salons/shops;
(B) clients' homes; and
(C) nursing homes.
• Applicant comply with the rules adopted by the board (820 IAC 2-1, 3-1, and 3-2)
• Mobile salon must be under the personal supervision of a person who has at least six (6) months active experience as a beauty culture professional before the application is submitted.

APPLICATIONS

Manicurists

Manicurist Salons