School and specialty school licensure
Wis. Stat. § 440.62
in effect(1) License required.
(a) No person may operate a school unless the school holds a current license as a school of barbering, cosmetology, aesthetics, electrology, or manicuring, as appropriate, issued by the department.
(b) No person may operate a specialty school unless the specialty school holds a current license as a specialty school of aesthetics, electrology or manicuring issued by the department.
(c) No school may use the title “school of barbering” or any similar title unless the school holds a current school of barbering license issued by the department.
(cm) No school may use the title “school of cosmetology” or any similar title unless the school holds a current school of cosmetology license issued by the department.
(d) No school may use the title “school of aesthetics” or any similar title unless the school holds a current school of aesthetics license issued by the department.
(e) No school may use the title “school of electrology” or any similar title unless the school holds a current school of electrology license issued by the department.
(f) No school may use the title “school of manicuring” or any similar title unless the school holds a current school of manicuring license issued by the department.
(g) No specialty school may use the title “specialty school of aesthetics” or any similar title unless the specialty school holds a current specialty school of aesthetics license issued by the department.
(h) No specialty school may use the title “specialty school of electrology” or any similar title unless the specialty school holds a current specialty school of electrology license issued by the department.
(i) No specialty school may use the title “specialty school of manicuring” or any similar title unless the specialty school holds a current specialty school of manicuring license issued by the department.
(2) Applications; license period; change of ownership.
(a) An application for initial licensure or renewal or reinstatement of a license under this section shall be submitted to the department on a form provided by the department and shall be accompanied by the applicable fee determined by the department under s. 440.03 (9) (a). Each application shall be accompanied by a surety bond acceptable to the department in the minimum sum of $25,000 for each location.
(b) The department may require additional information to be submitted to accompany or supplement an application if the department determines that the information is necessary to evaluate whether the school or specialty school meets the requirements in this subchapter.
(c) The department may require a school or specialty school to submit with an application a current balance sheet and income statement audited and certified by an independent auditor or certified public accountant. If the department receives a request to inspect a balance sheet, income statement or audit report, the department shall, before permitting an inspection, require the person requesting inspection to provide his or her full name and, if the person is representing another person, the full name and address of that person. Within 48 hours after permitting an inspection, the department shall mail to the person who submitted the balance sheet, income statement or audit report a notification that states the full name and address of the person who inspected the document and the full name and address of any person represented by the person who inspected the document. This paragraph does not apply to inspection requests made by state or federal officers, agents or employees which are necessary to the discharge of the duties of their respective offices.
(d) Any change of ownership shall be reported to the department by the new owner within 5 days after the change of ownership. A change of ownership shall be submitted to the department on a form provided by the department and shall be accompanied by the change of ownership fee specified by the department by rule.
(e) The department shall promulgate rules establishing the requirements for surety bonds under par. (a).
(3) School licenses.
(ag) School of barbering. The department shall issue a school of barbering license to each school that meets all of the following requirements:
1. Satisfies the conditions in sub. (2).
2. Requires as a prerequisite to graduation completion of a course of instruction in barbering of at least 1,000 training hours.
4. If the school offers a course of theoretical instruction for apprentices under s. 454.26, requires as a prerequisite to completion of the course of instruction for those apprentices the completion of at least 288 training hours in not less than 9 weeks and not more than 2 years.
5. Satisfies the requirements for schools of barbering established in rules promulgated under subs. (2) (e) and (5) (b) 2. and s. 440.64 (1) (b).
(ar) School of cosmetology license. The department shall issue a school of cosmetology license to each school that meets all of the following requirements:
1. Satisfies the conditions in sub. (2).
2. Requires as a prerequisite to graduation completion of a course of instruction in cosmetology of at least 1,550 training hours in not less than 10 months.
4. If the school offers a course of theoretical instruction for apprentices under s. 454.10, requires as a prerequisite to completion of the course of instruction for those apprentices the completion of at least 288 training hours in not less than 9 weeks and not more than 2 years.
4m. If the school offers a course of instruction in barbering, the course of instruction satisfies the requirements under par. (ag) 2.
5. If the school offers a course of instruction in aesthetics, the course of instruction satisfies the requirements under par. (b) 2.
6. If the school offers a course of instruction in electrology, the course of instruction satisfies the requirements under par. (c) 2.
7. If the school offers a course of instruction in manicuring, the course of instruction satisfies the requirements under par. (d) 2.
8. Satisfies the requirements for schools of cosmetology established in rules promulgated under subs. (2) (e) and (5) (b) 1. and s. 440.64 (1) (b).
(b) School of aesthetics license. The department shall issue a school of aesthetics license to each school that meets the following requirements:
1. Satisfies the conditions in sub. (2).
2. Requires as a prerequisite to graduation completion of a course of instruction in aesthetics of at least 450 training hours in not less than 11 weeks and not more than 30 weeks.
3. Satisfies the requirements for schools of aesthetics established in rules promulgated under subs. (2) (e) and (5) (b) and s. 440.64 (1) (b).
(c) School of electrology license. The department shall issue a school of electrology license to each school that meets the following requirements:
1. Satisfies the conditions in sub. (2).
2. Requires as a prerequisite to graduation completion of a course of instruction in electrology of at least 450 training hours in not less than 11 weeks and not more than 30 weeks.
3. Satisfies the requirements for schools of electrology established in rules promulgated under subs. (2) (e) and (5) (b) and s. 440.64 (1) (b).
(d) School of manicuring license. The department shall issue a school of manicuring license to each school that meets the following requirements:
1. Satisfies the conditions in sub. (2).
2. Requires as a prerequisite to graduation completion of a course of instruction in manicuring of at least 300 training hours in not less than 7 weeks and not more than 20 weeks.
3. Satisfies the requirements for schools of manicuring established in rules promulgated under subs. (2) (e) and (5) (b) and s. 440.64 (1) (b).
(4) Specialty school licenses.
(a) Specialty school of aesthetics license. The department shall issue a specialty school of aesthetics license to each specialty school that meets the following requirements:
1. Satisfies the conditions in sub. (2).
2. Requires as a prerequisite to graduation completion of a course of instruction in aesthetics of at least 450 training hours in not less than 11 weeks and not more than 30 weeks.
3. Satisfies the requirements for specialty schools of aesthetics established in rules promulgated under subs. (2) (e) and (5) (b) and s. 440.64 (1) (b).
(b) Specialty school of electrology license. The department shall issue a specialty school of electrology license to each specialty school that meets the following requirements:
1. Satisfies the conditions in sub. (2).
2. Requires as a prerequisite to graduation completion of a course of instruction in electrology of at least 450 training hours in not less than 11 weeks and not more than 30 weeks.
3. Satisfies the requirements for specialty schools of electrology established in rules promulgated under subs. (2) (e) and (5) (b) and s. 440.64 (1) (b).
(c) Specialty school of manicuring license. The department shall issue a specialty school of manicuring license to each specialty school that meets the following requirements:
1. Satisfies the conditions in sub. (2).
2. Requires as a prerequisite to graduation completion of a course of instruction in manicuring of at least 300 training hours in not less than 7 weeks and not more than 20 weeks.
3. Satisfies the requirements for specialty schools of manicuring established in rules promulgated under subs. (2) (e) and (5) (b) and s. 440.64 (1) (b).
(5) Requirements for courses of instruction.
(a) No specialty school may offer theoretical instruction for apprentices.
(b)
1. The cosmetology examining board shall promulgate rules prescribing the subjects required to be included in courses of instruction at schools of cosmetology and specialty schools and establishing minimum standards for courses of instruction and instructional materials and equipment at schools of cosmetology and specialty schools.
2. The department shall promulgate rules prescribing the subjects required to be included in courses of instruction at schools of barbering and establishing minimum standards for courses of instruction and instructional materials and equipment at schools of barbering.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/440.62Fetched: 10/7/2026