Rhode Island Code of Regulations
Title 216 - Department of health
Chapter 40 - Professional licensing and facility regulation
Subchapter 05 - Professional Licensing
Part 4 - Barbers, Hairdressers/Cosmeticians, Manicurists, Estheticians, and Instructors
Section 216-RICR-40-05-4.4 - License Requirements

Universal Citation: 216 RI Code of Rules 40 05 4.4

Current through September 18, 2024

A. No person shall practice barbering, hairdressing/cosmetic therapy, esthetics, or manicuring in this State, unless the person shall have first obtained a license from the Department or has been registered as an apprentice barber as provided by the Act and this Part.

B. No person shall engage in barbering instruction, hairdressing/cosmetic therapy instruction, manicuring instruction or esthetics instruction in any school as defined in § 4.3(A)(18) of this Part unless the person shall have first obtained an instructor license as provided by the Act and this Part.

C. Students enrolled in programs of hairdressing/cosmetic therapy or barbering may enter into a work-study arrangement after they have completed at least one thousand (1,000) hours of classroom instruction.

1. Students participating in a work study arrangement shall be under the direct supervision of a licensed hairdresser/cosmetician, or barber.

2. The level of hairdressing/cosmetic therapy or barbering procedures performed by the student shall be as determined by the registered manager or owner/manager, of the hair design shop, who shall be responsible for all procedures performed by the student.

3. Students shall wear a name tag that clearly identifies the person as a student.

4. No classroom hours of instruction credit shall be granted for a student's participation in a work-study arrangement.

5. No student shall work at any time while the school he/she is enrolled in is in session.

6. The work study arrangement shall not continue beyond the student's graduation from school or completion of course work.

4.4.1 Exemptions

Exemption from this Part is pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-10-29.

4.4.2 General Qualifications for All Applicants

A. In addition to the qualifications for licensure specified by R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-10-8, all applicants for licensure under this Part must meet the following requirements:
1. Have satisfactorily completed a course of instruction in an approved school of barbering, hairdressing/cosmetic therapy, manicuring, or esthetics as outlined in §4.4.3 of this Part; and

2. Have satisfactorily passed a written and practical examination as outlined in §4.5.2 of this Part to determine the fitness of the applicant to receive a license; and

3. Have complied with §4.4.3 of this Part and other requirements stated in this Part.

4.4.3 Classes of Licenses

A. Hairdresser/Cosmetician
1. The Department shall issue a hairdresser/cosmetician license to an individual who meets the requirements of §4.4.2 of this Part and who meets the following requirements:
a. Has completed a course of instruction in hairdressing/cosmetic therapy consisting of not less than one thousand (1,000) hours of continuous study and practice in an approved school.
(1) Students participating in a hairdressing/cosmetic therapy course of instruction in an approved school prior to June 22, 2017 must complete one thousand five hundred (1,500) hours of continuous study and practice.

B. Manicurist. The license requirements for manicurists are pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-10-9(3).

C. Esthetician
1. The Department shall issue an esthetician license to an individual who meets the requirements of §4.4.2 of this Part and meets the following requirements:
a. Has completed a course of instruction in esthetics consisting of not less than six hundred hours (600) of continuous study and practice over a period of not less than four (4) months in an approved school of hairdressing/cosmetic therapy; or

b. Holds a diploma or certificate from a skin care school that is recognized as a skin care school by the State or nation in which it is located, provided that the skin care school required at least six hundred (600) hours of continuous study and practice in order to graduate.

D. Barber
1. The Department shall issue a barber license to an individual who meets the requirements of R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 5-10-9(5)(i) through (ii) and §4.4.2 of this Part. Alternatively, the Department shall issue a barber license to an individual who meets the following requirement:
a. Has successfully completed one thousand (1,000) hours of barber instruction in an approved school and has completed a minimum of eight hundred and forty (840) hours of barber on-the-job training, as a registered barber apprentice, obtained within a minimum of six (6) months as a registered apprentice.

E. Apprentice Barber
1. The Department shall issue an apprentice barber registration to an individual who meets the following requirements:
a. Submits acceptable evidence that any training the apprentice receives shall be conducted by and under the direct supervision of a licensed barber in a licensed hair design shop.

b. Apprentice barbers shall be under the direct supervision of a licensed barber who must be on the premises with the apprentice barber.

c. The number of apprentice barbers which a licensed barber may supervise in a licensed hair design shop serving the general public shall be no more than one (1) apprentice barber to one (1) licensed barber.

d. The number of inmates, registered as apprentice barbers, which a licensed barber may supervise in a licensed hair design shop serving the inmate population of the Department of Correction's inmate facilities or a detention center shall be no more than fifty (50).

F. Hairdresser/Cosmetician, Barber, Manicurist, or Esthetician Instructor
1. The Department shall issue a hairdresser/cosmetician, barber, manicurist or esthetician instructor license to an individual who meets the requirements of §4.4.2 of this Part, and who meets the following requirements:
a. Has held a licensed hairdresser's/cosmetician's license, a barber's license, a manicurist's license or an esthetician's license, issued under the laws of this State, or another State, for at least three (3) years preceding the date of application for an instructor's license; and

b. Has satisfactorily completed three hundred (300) hours of instruction in hairdressing/cosmetic therapy, barber, manicurist, or esthetician teacher training approved by the Department.

c. Passed an examination approved by the Department.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Rhode Island may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.