Chapter 9 of 1060% of exam

Connecticut Laws, Rules & Licensing

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

The Regulating Authority

In Connecticut, cosmetology is regulated by the Connecticut Department of Public Health.
It operates as the Practitioner Licensing and Investigations Section of the Connecticut Department of Public Health.
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 hairdresser/cosmetician, barber, esthetician, and nail technician 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Do not present unpublished figures (hours, fees, exam length, passing score) as official—verify them with the board.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
Connecticut Department of Public Health (Examining Board for Barbers, Hairdressers and Cosmeticians)
Exam vendor
Prometric
Prelicensing education
1,500 hours at a DPH-approved school (or an equivalent apprenticeship)
Passing score
70
Scored questions
100
Time limit
120 minutes
How many training hours does Connecticut require for a cosmetology license?

Connecticut requires 1,500 hours at a Department of Public Health-approved school, or an equivalent apprenticeship. The occupation is licensed as 'Hairdresser and Cosmetician' rather than 'cosmetologist.'

Who licenses cosmetologists in Connecticut?

The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) licenses hairdressers and cosmeticians, advised by the Examining Board for Barbers, Hairdressers and Cosmeticians. The written exam is delivered by Prometric.

Does Connecticut still require a practical exam?

No. Connecticut requires only a written exam (100 questions, 120-minute limit, 70% to pass) — there is no hands-on practical.

Sources: https://portal.ct.gov/dph/practitioner-licensing--investigations/hairdresser/hairdresser-licensure-by-examination, https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_387.htm

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