1. (a) To qualify for a limited license to practice cosmetology, an applicant shall be an individual who meets the requirements of this section.

2. (b) An applicant for a limited license to provide esthetic services shall:

   1. (1) be at least 17 years old;
   2. (2) have completed successfully a 9th grade education or the equivalent;

   3. (3) have received training by:

      1. (i) serving as a registered apprentice for at least 6 months as provided under §§ 5-404 and 5-405 of this title; or
      2. (ii) successfully completing at least 600 hours of instruction in providing esthetic services in a cosmetology school approved by the State Department of Education or the Maryland Higher Education Commission in consultation with the Board; and
   4. (4) have completed 1 hour of in-person or virtual training in domestic violence awareness under § 5-305.1 of this subtitle.

3. (c) An applicant for a limited license to provide eyelash extension services shall:

   1. (1) be at least 17 years old;
   2. (2) have completed successfully a 9th grade education or the equivalent; and

   3. (3)

      1. (i) have received training by:

         1. 1. serving as a registered apprentice for at least 3 months as provided under §§ 5-404 and 5-405 of this title; or
         2. 2. successfully completing at least 100 hours of instruction in providing eyelash extension services in a cosmetology school approved by the State Department of Education or the Maryland Higher Education Commission in consultation with the Board; or
      2. (ii) pass a practical and written examination administered by the Board.

4. (d) An applicant for a limited license to provide hair services shall:

   1. (1) be at least 17 years old;
   2. (2) have completed successfully a 9th grade education or the equivalent;

   3. (3) have received training by:

      1. (i) serving as a registered apprentice for at least 15 months as provided under §§ 5-404 and 5-405 of this title; or
      2. (ii) successfully completing at least 1,200 hours of instruction providing hair services in a cosmetology school approved by the State Department of Education or the Maryland Higher Education Commission in consultation with the Board; and
   4. (4) have completed 1 hour of in-person or virtual training in domestic violence awareness.

5. (e) An applicant for a limited license to provide hair services--blow drying shall:

   1. (1) be at least 17 years old;
   2. (2) have completed successfully a 9th grade education or the equivalent;
   3. (3) have received training by successfully completing at least 350 hours of instruction providing hair services--blow drying in a cosmetology school approved by the State Department of Education or the Maryland Higher Education Commission in consultation with the Board; and
   4. (4) have completed 1 hour of in-person or virtual training in domestic violence awareness.

6. (f) An applicant for a limited license to provide nail technician services shall:

   1. (1) be at least 17 years old;
   2. (2) have successfully completed a 9th grade education or the equivalent;

   3. (3) have received training by:

      1. (i) serving as a registered apprentice for at least 3 months as provided under §§ 5-404 and 5-405 of this title; or
      2. (ii) successfully completing at least 250 hours of instruction in providing nail technician services in a cosmetology school approved by the State Department of Education or the Maryland Higher Education Commission in consultation with the Board; and
   4. (4) have completed 1 hour of in-person or virtual training in domestic violence awareness under § 5-305.1 of this subtitle.
7. (g) If an applicant is licensed to practice as an esthetician, eyelash extension technician, hairstylist, hairstylist-blow drying technician, or nail technician in another state or foreign country, the applicant meets the training requirements of this section if the applicant has held a limited license in the other state or foreign country and has actively practiced in the other state or foreign country for a period of 6 months.
8. (h) An applicant for a limited license shall pass an examination given by the Board under this subtitle.

Added by Acts 1989, c. 3, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 1989. Amended by Acts 1989, c. 632, §§ 1, 3; Acts 1990, c. 6, § 2; Acts 1991, c. 481; Acts 1992, c. 22, § 1; Acts 1994, c. 14, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 1994; Acts 1999, c. 455, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 1999; Acts 2008, c. 18, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2008; Acts 2013, c. 412, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2013; Acts 2016, c. 434, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2016; Acts 2016, c. 435, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2016; Acts 2025, c. 354, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2025; Acts 2025, c. 355, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2025; Acts 2025, c. 286, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 2026.

Formerly Art. 56, §§ 481, 482, 483.