What Happens When My Cosmetology License Expires?

For many beauty professionals, life gets so busy that important things like license renewal dates can slip by without notice. If you’re a cosmetologist, it’s not uncommon to look up one day and realize your license isn’t active anymore. The next question that pops into your mind is: what happens when a cosmetology license expires?

What Happens When a Cosmetology License Expires: What You Can Expect

When your license expires, the state puts it into “lapsed” or “inactive” status. You’re not allowed to perform services until the board processes your renewal. From there, most people move through a simple set of steps.

1. Check Your State’s Renewal Window

Every state handles late renewals differently. Some give you a grace period with a small late fee. Others switch you to reinstatement right away. A quick look at your state board status tells you exactly where you stand. You can check this directory to find your board, and then verify all information directly with your state board’s official website.

2. Get Your Continuing Education Finished

Most states ask for a certain number of continuing education (CE) hours before you renew. These usually cover key areas like:

• Sanitation

• Safety

• HIV/AIDS training

• Rule updates

If you missed the deadline, don’t worry. You can normally complete the hours before submitting your renewal.

3. Submit Your Renewal or Reinstatement

You’ll send in your application, your CE proof, and your fee. If your license has been inactive for a long time, the board may ask for additional documentation. Once everything is approved, your license goes right back to active status.

4. Don’t Work Under an Expired License

It’s tempting to keep taking clients, but it’s risky. Most boards issue fines for working without an active license. Press pause until you’re renewed. It protects you and keeps your record clean.

How an Expired Cosmetology License Affects Your Professional Protection

When your license isn’t active, you’re considered outside your legal scope of practice. If you perform services anyway, you’re unprotected professionally and legally. Liability coverage depends on lawful, licensed work, so staying current keeps your services within the boundaries of what insurance can support.

Once your license is active again, you’re free to book clients, grow your business, and enjoy the work you trained for.

Renew Your Coverage and Keep Your Practice Protected

When you’re licensed and back in action, it helps to have solid protection behind you. NACAMS Cosmetology Insurance gives you more than basic liability. It wraps professional liability, general liability, personal and advertising injury, and identity theft protection into one policy.

Coverage applies to over 500 beauty and wellness modalities, so you don’t have to stress about getting separate policies as your practice expands. With NACAMS insurance, you get an occurrence form policy that keeps you covered even if a claim comes in long after the appointment took place.

The coverage is available in all 50 states, giving you flexibility if you ever move, take travel-based work, or build a client base across different locations. This is the kind of safety net that lets you focus on clients instead of worrying about what-ifs.

If your license just expired and you’re getting things sorted out, this is a great time to renew your cosmetology insurance or get covered through NACAMS before you take your next client.

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