Yes, you need a license to do lashes in California. State law treats applying eyelash extensions as cosmetology or skin care work, so you must hold either an Esthetician license or a Cosmetologist license issued by the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology before you can charge anyone for the service. There is no standalone lash technician credential in California.
Which License You Need
Under Business and Professions Code Section 7316, applying eyelashes falls inside the scope of practice for both cosmetology and esthetics.1California Legislative Information. California Code, BPC 7316 Either license lets you legally do the work.
The Esthetician license is the shorter path if lashes, brows, skin care, and hair removal are the services you plan to offer. The Cosmetologist license covers all of that plus hair and nails, so it fits if you want a broader menu.
Private Certification Is Not a License
Lash brands and private academies sell “lash certification” courses, and the technique training can be good. The certificate itself gives you no legal authority to perform lash services for pay in California. Only the state Esthetician or Cosmetologist license does that, and relying on a private certificate puts you in the same position as someone with no training at all if the Board comes calling.
Training Hours and Who Qualifies
You have to complete your training at a school approved by the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. To enroll, you must be at least 17 and have finished the 10th grade or its equivalent.2California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. License Requirements
- Esthetician: 600 hours minimum, of which 50 hours are dedicated to lash and brow beautification.3California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. 2026 Board of Barbering and Cosmetology Act and Regulations
- Cosmetologist: 1,000 hours minimum. This was reduced from 1,600 hours effective January 1, 2022.4California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. Cosmetology Course Minimum Requirements
Applying and Taking the Exam
Once your hours are done, you apply to the Board for permission to take the state exam. Fees depend on the license:
- Esthetician: $75 application and examination fee, plus a $40 initial license fee.
- Cosmetologist: $125 combined application, examination, and initial license fee (non-refundable).5Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. Cosmetologist Application for Examination and Initial License Fee
After the Board approves your application, you schedule the written exam. California dropped the practical hands-on exam for all license types on January 1, 2022, so the written portion is the only test you take.6California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. Information Regarding the Written and Practical Examinations Pass it and the Board issues your license.
If You’re Already Licensed in Another State
California has a reciprocity process, so you don’t have to repeat training. You submit a reciprocity application through the Board’s online portal, a certification letter from your current state confirming your license is active and in good standing, and a government-issued photo ID.7California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. Reciprocity Application Instructions and Checklist for All License Types The Board reviews each applicant individually and can deny the application. If approved, you visit a PSI testing center in California for a photo and license issuance. No California exam is required on this path, but the application fee still applies.
The Location Needs Its Own License Too
Your personal license lets you perform lash services. The place you perform them needs a separate Board-issued establishment license, whether that’s a commercial salon, a rented suite, or a studio in your home.8California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. Home Salons Home studios have added physical requirements, including a separate entrance from the private living quarters, hot and cold running water, hand-washing facilities, and potable drinking water. Local city or county rules on zoning and business permits sit on top of the Board’s requirements, so check those before setting up.
Renewal
California licenses are valid for two years. The renewal fee is $50, and the state does not currently require continuing education for renewal.7California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. Reciprocity Application Instructions and Checklist for All License Types Letting the license lapse and continuing to take clients puts you in the same legal position as someone who never had a license.
What Happens If You Work Without One
Business and Professions Code Section 7317 makes it unlawful to practice cosmetology or skin care for compensation without a valid, unexpired license. The Board enforces this with administrative citations and mandatory fines that cannot be waived.
- Unlicensed individual performing services: $1,000 per violation, whether first, second, or third offense.9Legal Information Institute. California Code of Regulations Title 16, Section 974 – Schedule of Administrative Fines
- Unlicensed establishment: $500 for a first violation, $1,000 for subsequent ones.
- Employing someone unlicensed: $1,000 per violation against the establishment owner.
- Licensed technician working in an unlicensed location: $250 to $500.
None of these are waivable, meaning the Board has determined they can’t be fixed after the fact to avoid the fine. Unlicensed practice can also be pursued criminally as a misdemeanor on top of the administrative penalty.