Cosmetology Instructor

A person who is licensed as a cosmetologist, aesthetician, manicurist, or natural hair stylist and is certified with the board as a cosmetology, aesthetician, manicuring, or natural hair stylist instructor. The person may not practice cosmetology, esthetics, manicuring, or natural hair styling as a profession within a school setting, but may practice as a cosmetologist, aesthetician, manicurist, or natural hair stylist elsewhere.

Prospective

A school of cosmetology must have at least one certified instructor and must have at least one certified instructor for each junior instructor employed by the school. A certified instructor must be on the premises whenever a cosmetology school (including public high school or state vocational technical school offering cosmetology, aesthetics, manicuring, or natural hair styling courses) is in operation. A cosmetology school must have at least one registered cosmetology (manicuring, aesthetics, or natural hair) instructor for every 20 students enrolled and must have one licensed instructor for each junior instructor being supervised.

Requirements

Certification Requirements
Hold a valid license as a cosmetologist, aesthetician, manicurist, natural hair stylist, and meet educational and experience requirements. The individual must hold a license in the field they are approved to teach for at least three (3) years in order to obtain an instructor license.

Education and Experience Requirements
Complete a Board-approved course in instructor training of at least 300 hours within a period of six months as an instructor trainee OR complete service as a junior instructor for a minimum of one year. (A junior instructor holds a valid cosmetologist's, aesthetician's, manicurist's, or natural hair stylist's license and engages in a course of training in practice teaching in a school under the personal supervision of a licensed instructor for a minimum of one year).

For an individual to receive an instructor license, they need to have been licensed for at least three years.

Examination Requirements
A written and practical (consisting of lesson plans) examination is required. For information on applications, registration, examinations, or fees, please contact our testing vendor, PSI, online at https://www.psiexams.com/test-takers/ or by phone at 855-340-3710.

Continuing Education Requirements
Attendance in a cosmetology instructor training program of at least sixteen (16) hours every two years at a session approved by the Board. They are held yearly, one in each Grand Division. For information, visit the Upcoming Continuing Education Seminars page.
 

Application & Fees

Complete the application online at core.tn.gov. The fee for the application is $80.