About Us

History

The Board was created by an act of the legislature in 1955 to regulate the practice of Cosmetology. The Cosmetology Code requires the Board to:

• Regulate the vocation of cosmetic therapy;
• Develop and maintain a curriculum of study;
• Develop and conduct examinations for registration and licensing of applicants;
• Register and regulate the conduct and sanitation of cosmetological establishments and schools;
• Adopt rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of the Code and determine penalties for violation of the Code and regulations of the Board.

The Board currently licenses more than 25,000 individuals, 4,500 salons and 56 cosmetology schools. These individuals and businesses represent the various branches of the cosmetology industry, which include cosmetology, manicuring, aesthetics, and electrology.

It is the mission of the Arkansas State Board of Cosmetology to carry out and enforce the provisions of the Cosmetology Code at a level that will protect the health and safety of the Public, to perform these duties and responsibilities in the most cost-effective and functionally-efficient manner, and to continually strive to provide the highest quality of service to the public and to those individuals who are regulated by the Board.