Chapter 9 of 1060% of exam

Alabama Laws, Rules & Licensing

This chapter covers the Alabama-specific legal framework that supplements your national cosmetology theory. It focuses on who regulates the profession in Alabama, the kinds of licenses issued, and the everyday rules every licensee must follow to keep a license in good standing.

The Regulating Authority

In Alabama, cosmetology is regulated by the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering.
It operates as an independent state licensing board.
The board sets the rules for licensing, sanitation, and professional conduct, and it can investigate complaints and discipline licensees.
Statutes and administrative rules—not individual salons—define what practitioners may legally do.

License Types & Scope of Practice

The board issues distinct credentials such as cosmetologist, manicurist, esthetician, natural hair stylist, instructor, and salon/shop licenses.
Each license defines a scope of practice; you may only perform services your license authorizes.
Practicing without a valid license, or beyond your scope, is prohibited and subject to discipline.
Salon/shop and individual practitioner credentials are separate—registering a salon does not license its workers.

Display, Renewal & Prohibited Practices

Keep your current license displayed or available at your work station as the board requires.
Licenses are issued for a set term and must be periodically renewed to remain valid.
Renewing on time and meeting any continuing-education the board requires keeps a license active.
Prohibited acts include unlicensed practice, exceeding scope, fraud, and unsanitary conditions.
Do not present unpublished figures (hours, fees, exam length, passing score) as official—verify them with the board.

State-specific details

State exam facts

State regulator
Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering
Exam vendor
PSI (NIC national exam)
Prelicensing education
1,500 clock hours (or a 3,000-hour apprenticeship; the two cannot be combined)
Passing score
70
Time limit
90 minutes
How many training hours does Alabama require for a cosmetology license?

Alabama requires 1,500 clock hours at a licensed school, or a 3,000-hour apprenticeship. The two pathways cannot be combined.

Who licenses cosmetologists in Alabama?

The Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering (ABOCB) licenses cosmetologists and contracts with PSI to deliver the NIC national exams.

Does Alabama still require a practical exam?

Yes. You must pass the written theory exam (70% to pass, 90-minute limit) and then a hands-on practical exam, which also requires 70%.

Sources: https://www.aboc.alabama.gov/exams/exam-requirements-fees, https://proctor2.psionline.com/media/programs/368.pdf

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