Hair Braider Licensing | Education Requirements (2024)

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What Are the Education Requirements for Getting Licensed as a Hair Braider?

Hair braiding is one of the newest specialties in the beauty industry, although the techniques of this field have been around for hundreds of years. As this specialty has spread across the United States, it has been integrated into the field of cosmetology.

You may get several types of education and experience, depending on which part of the country you live in and what the licensing requirements are in your state. If you live in a state where hair braiding is not licensed, you can get any type of training or education you feel you need, including informal training. If hair braiding is licensed in your state, you need to choose an accredited program. Most of these programs are part of cosmetology schools.

Throughout your education, you may explore several different topics. Many states require training in sanitation and hygiene. You may also learn about different braiding techniques, such as locking, weaving, and cornrowing.

Hair braiding programs may be as short as a few hours or as long as several weeks. The length of your program depends on whether you need to learn braiding techniques to become licensed or just sanitation training.

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Initial Licensing Requirements For Hair Braiders

Before you select a hair braiding program in your state, you definitely want to look into the licensing requirements for your state. Not only do requirements vary quite a bit between states, they are still changing in quite a few parts of the United States. Since this field is relatively new, many states are still figuring out how this career should be licensed. In some states, you have to complete a full cosmetology program before you can legally braid hair. In others, this career path is completely exempt from licensure. In between these two extremes, you may find states that require the completion of a short braiding-only program or states that require sanitation and hygiene training.

It’s important to note that licensure requirements may change between now and whenever you decide to pursue your license. Advocates and experts in braiding are pushing for fair licensing requirements across the United States, so it is very important to ensure that the school you choose prepares you to earn your license.

How Do I Renew My Hair Braiding License?

When you obtain your first hair braiding license, you should immediately look into license renewal requirements. Just like with your initial license, requirements vary quite a bit from state to state. If you live in a state where licensing is required, you will likely need to renew your license at set periods for as long as you want to work in this industry. Most states require renewal every two years, but there are states with one year and three-year renewal periods.

To renew your license, you may need to complete continuing education hours. In this particular specialty, most states that do require continuing education only require you to learn about sanitation and hygiene. If you are not expected to complete continuing education to renew your license, you typically just have to fill out a short renewal form and pay a license renewal fee to the licensing agency in your state.

Can I Use My Braiding License in Another State?

Reciprocity can be difficult to obtain in this specialty. Most beauty fields have fairly similar expectations across state lines, so practitioners only have to complete a little bit of education or just transfer their license to another state. In the case of hair braiding, requirements are so incredibly different from state to state that it is difficult to transfer your license. However, if the licensing requirements of the state you’re moving to are similar to the licensing requirements of the state you are from, you may be able to transfer your license or take advantage of license reciprocity.

As hair braiding becomes a more established part of the cosmetology industry, this may change. For example, in states where braiders are required to obtain a cosmetology license before practicing, advocates for hair braiding are fighting for more reasonable restrictions regarding licensing and education. As more states adopt specific licensing procedures for hair braiders or deregulate the field entirely, license reciprocity may become a much easier process.

If you are excited about the opportunities available in the field of hair braiding, find out more about the educational options in your state! Contact schools near you for more information.

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Cameo Beauty Academy – Accredited

Oak Lawn, IL

Cosmetology / Esthetics/Skin Care / Hair Braiding / Teacher Training

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Houston, TX

Cosmetology / Esthetics/Skin Care / Barbering / Nail Technology / Hair Braiding / Teacher Training

– Accredited

Grand Prairie, TX

Barbering / Hair Braiding

– Accredited

Fort Worth, TX

Barbering / Hair Braiding

AAction Barber and Styling College – Accredited

Garland, TX

Barbering / Hair Braiding

Academy of Hair Design – Accredited

Anchorage, AK

Esthetics/Skin Care / Barbering / Nail Technology / Hair Design / Hair Braiding / Teacher Training

Apex Beauty Academy

Charlotte, NC

Esthetics/Skin Care / Hair Braiding / Nail Technology / Permanent Make-Up

Ayanna Beauty and Business Academy

Monaca, PA

Cosmetology / Esthetics/Skin Care / Hair Braiding

Bailey's Institute of Beauty

Radcliff, KY

Continuing Education / Cosmetology / Hair Braiding / Nail Technology / Teacher Training

Barber and Beauty Academy of Pennsylvania – Accredited

Harrisburg, PA

Cosmetology / Esthetics/Skin Care / Barbering / Nail Technology / Hair Braiding / Teacher Training

Barber Institute of Texas - Lewisville – Accredited

Lewisville, TX

Barbering / Nail Technology / Hair Braiding / Teacher Training

Barber Institute of Texas - Longview – Accredited

Longview, TX

Barbering / Nail Technology / Hair Braiding / Teacher Training

Barstow Community College – Accredited

Barstow, CA

Cosmetology / Esthetics/Skin Care / Barbering / Nail Technology / Hair Braiding

Bennett Career Institute – Accredited

Washington, DC

Cosmetology / Esthetics/Skin Care / Barbering / Make-Up Artist Training / Hair Braiding / Teacher Training / Salon Management

Better Hair Education – Accredited

Tucson, AZ

Cosmetology / Hair Design / Hair Braiding / Teacher Training

Blueprint Hair Academy – Accredited

Huntsville, AL

Cosmetology / Esthetics/Skin Care / Barbering / Nail Technology / Hair Braiding / Teacher Training

Braiding with a Twist Salon Academy

Petersburg, FL

Hair Braiding

CDRS Academy of Beauty – Accredited

Clarksville, TN

Cosmetology / Esthetics/Skin Care / Nail Technology / Hair Braiding / Teacher Training

Destiny Beauty Academy – Accredited

Springdale, OH

Cosmetology / Nail Technology / Hair Braiding

Diamond Venom Braids

Richmond, VA

Nail Technology / Hair Braiding

Dudley Beauty College - Chicago – Accredited

Chicago, IL

Cosmetology / Esthetics/Skin Care / Barbering / Nail Technology / Hair Braiding / Teacher Training

Erwin Technical College – Accredited

Tampa, FL

Cosmetology / Barbering / Massage Therapy / Hair Braiding

Expozure Salon and Training Institute

Chattanooga, TN

Hair Braiding

Franklin Institute - North Houston

Houston, TX

Cosmetology / Barbering / Hair Braiding

Franklin Institute - South Houston

Houston, TX

Cosmetology / Barbering / Hair Braiding

Franklin Institute - Texas City

Texas City, TX

Cosmetology / Barbering / Hair Braiding

Fusion Natural Hair Braid Academy

Joliet, IL

Hair Braiding

Gobty Institute

Raleigh, NC

Hair Design / Hair Braiding / Teacher Training / Continuing Education

– Accredited

Hampton, VA

Cosmetology / Barbering / Hair Braiding

Haircare Resource Institute – Accredited

Birmingham, AL

Cosmetology / Nail Technology / Hair Braiding / Teacher Training

House of Transformation Beauty Center – Accredited

Anchorage, AK

Hair Braiding

Ibeauty Academy – Accredited

Longview, TX

Esthetics/Skin Care / Hair Braiding

– Accredited

Milan, TN

Hair Braiding / Teacher Training

Kay Moriah International School of Beauty

Merrillville, IN

Barbering / Cosmetology / Esthetics/Skin Care / Hair Braiding / Nail Technology

Kingdom Kuts Christian Cosmetology School – Accredited

Wakefield, VA

Cosmetology / Nail Technology / Hair Braiding

– Accredited

Garland, TX

Barbering / Hair Braiding / Teacher Training

LaTouch Cosmetology Institute – Accredited

Cincinnati, OH

Cosmetology / Nail Technology / Hair Design / Hair Braiding

LB Beauty Academy – Accredited

Richmond, VA

Cosmetology / Esthetics/Skin Care / Barbering / Nail Technology / Permanent Make-Up / Hair Braiding / Teacher Training

Level Up Beauty Academy

East York, PA

Barbering / Cosmetology / Esthetics/Skin Care / Hair Braiding / Nail Technology / Teacher Training

Level Up Beauty Academy

East York, PA

Barbering / Cosmetology / Esthetics/Skin Care / Hair Braiding / Nail Technology / Teacher Training

Love My Hair School of Cosmetology – Accredited

University Heights, OH

Esthetics/Skin Care / Hair Design / Hair Braiding

Mark Anthony's School Of Cosmetology – Accredited

Columbia, TN

Cosmetology / Esthetics/Skin Care / Nail Technology / Hair Braiding / Teacher Training

Maya's Hair Braiding Certification Classes

St. Petersburg, FL

Hair Braiding

– Accredited

Anchorage, AK

Esthetics/Skin Care / Nail Technology / Hair Design / Hair Braiding

MiNX Natural Hair Academy – Accredited

Antioch, TN

Hair Braiding

Natural Hair Course Nyc

New York, NY

Hair Braiding

Phat's Institute Of Beauty – Accredited

Tyler, TX

Hair Braiding

Pittsburgh Multicultural Cosmetology Academy – Accredited

Pittsburgh, PA

Cosmetology / Hair Braiding / Teacher Training

Professional Academy of Cosmetology

Norristown, PA

Cosmetology / Esthetics/Skin Care / Hair Braiding / Teacher Training

Queen Beauty Academy

Philadelphia, PA

Cosmetology / Esthetics/Skin Care / Hair Braiding / Nail Technology / Teacher Training

– Accredited

Humble, TX

Cosmetology / Esthetics/Skin Care / Barbering / Nail Technology / Hair Braiding

Ross Beauty Academy

Jacksonville, FL

Hair Braiding / Continuing Education

Sandra Rossi Education Center – Accredited

Arlington Heights, IL

Cosmetology / Esthetics/Skin Care / Barbering / Nail Technology / Massage Therapy / Permanent Make-Up / Hair Braiding / Teacher Training / Continuing Education

Shears Cosmetology School

Carlisle, PA

Cosmetology / Esthetics/Skin Care / Nail Technology / Hair Braiding / Teacher Training

Studio 75 Hair Academy – Accredited

Millington, TN

Cosmetology / Esthetics/Skin Care / Nail Technology / Hair Braiding / Teacher Training

SweetHead Naturals Institute – Accredited

Saint Louis, MO

Cosmetology / Esthetics/Skin Care / Nail Technology / Hair Braiding / Teacher Training

The Prevalent Institute

Columbia, SC

Cosmetology / Esthetics/Skin Care / Hair Braiding

Touched By An Angel Beauty School

Jonesboro, GA

Cosmetology / Esthetics/Skin Care / Barbering / Nail Technology / Make-Up Artist Training / Hair Design / Hair Braiding / Teacher Training

Transitions Academy of Barbering School

Lexington, SC

Barbering / Hair Braiding

Trenz Beauty Academy - Calumet City – Accredited

Calumet City, IL

Cosmetology / Esthetics/Skin Care / Nail Technology / Hair Braiding / Teacher Training / Continuing Education

Trenz Beauty Academy - Chicago – Accredited

Chicago, IL

Cosmetology / Esthetics/Skin Care / Nail Technology / Hair Braiding / Teacher Training / Continuing Education

Troy School of Cosmetology – Accredited

Troy, AL

Cosmetology / Hair Braiding / Teacher Training

Universal Naturals Institute For Hair

North Charleston, SC

Hair Braiding

Veva School Of Beauty

West Allis, WI

Make-Up Artist Training / Permanent Make-Up / Hair Braiding

Yahweh Beauty Academy – Accredited

Killeen, TX

Cosmetology / Barbering / Nail Technology / Hair Braiding / Teacher Training

Your School of Beauty Culture – Accredited

Chicago, IL

Cosmetology / Barbering / Nail Technology / Hair Braiding / Teacher Training / Continuing Education

School Accreditation

You must attend a school that is approved by your state to provide training in the discipline you want to practice. Check with the school and the state board to be sure that your program of study will prepare you for any applicable state licensure.

Hair Braider Licensing | Education Requirements (2024)
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