New York Health and Safety Rules
Infection control is the heart of New York's health and safety code and a major focus of salon inspections. This chapter covers how tools, surfaces, and services must be handled to protect clients from the spread of disease.
Cleaning, Disinfection, and Single-Use Items
New York rules distinguish between cleaning, which removes visible debris, and disinfection, which kills pathogens using an EPA-registered disinfectant labeled for salon use. Nonporous, reusable implements such as metal shears and nippers must be cleaned and then disinfected before each new client, while porous single-use items such as files, wooden sticks, and wax applicators must be discarded after one use because they cannot be reliably disinfected. Rinsing, wiping, or airing tools is not disinfection. Following this cleaning-then-disinfection sequence between every client is a core inspection standard.
Blood Exposure and Standard Precautions
Because blood and body fluids can transmit disease, New York requires standard precautions whenever a client is cut or bleeds. The correct response is to stop the service, put on gloves, care for and cover the wound, then clean and disinfect any surfaces or reusable tools that contacted blood and discard contaminated single-use items. Shared towels and ignoring small injuries both create real infection risk. Treating every client's blood as potentially infectious keeps both the client and the practitioner safe.
Foot Spas, Basins, and Facility Sanitation
Foot spas and whirlpool basins trap skin, oils, and debris in warm water where bacteria that cause skin infections can multiply, so New York rules require cleaning and disinfecting the basin, jets, and filters after every client, with periodic deeper disinfection. Work surfaces, linens, and product containers must also be kept clean, and clean supplies must be stored separately from used ones. These are public-health requirements, not cosmetic preferences, and lapses have caused documented outbreaks. Consistent facility sanitation is what makes professional services safe.
State-specific details
State exam facts
- Exam vendor
- New York Department of State (state-administered)
- Prelicensing education
- 1,000 hours
- Time limit
- 150 minutes
How many training hours does New York require for a cosmetology license?
New York requires 1,000 hours of approved training.
Who licenses cosmetologists in New York?
The New York State Department of State, Division of Licensing Services, licenses cosmetologists under its Appearance Enhancement program and administers its own written and practical exams (no PSI, Prov, or NIC vendor).
Does New York still require a practical exam?
Yes. New York requires both a written exam (with a 150-minute limit) and a hands-on practical exam administered by the Department of State.
Sources: https://dos.ny.gov/cosmetology1, https://dos.ny.gov/become-cosmetologist
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