Board of Barbering and Cosmetology

What Board of Barbering and Cosmetology does

The California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology is a state government regulatory agency under the Department of Consumer Affairs and the Business and Consumer Services Agency, headquartered in Sacramento, California. Established in its current form in 1992 through the merger of the Board of Barber Examiners and the Board of Cosmetology, the Board licenses and regulates the state's barbering and beauty industry, currently overseeing more than 560,000 individual licensees across six categories (barber, cosmetologist, esthetician, electrologist, hairstylist, manicurist) and more than 50,000 establishments.

The Board executes its consumer protection mandate through licensing, examination administration (delivered via partnership with PSI), inspections, complaint investigation, and disciplinary actions. Its technology stack centers on the BreEZe online licensing portal (used for applications, renewals, verification, and payments), a public license verification search tool, and the CASafeSalon consumer resource. Outreach is delivered through the official website, multilingual publications in Korean, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Simplified Chinese, social media (Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube), email subscriptions, and public board meetings webcast under the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act. The Board operates with 104 employees and a budget exceeding $19 million, led by Executive Officer Kristy Underwood (appointed August 10, 2005) and a 13-member Board (7 public, 6 industry).

Revenue is generated through application and renewal license fees across individual and establishment categories, examination fees, ancillary charges such as $10 duplicate license and $10 certification fees, and a forthcoming 2.3% credit card service fee on online applications effective July 1, 2026. The Board's go-to-market is direct-to-stakeholder via digital self-service and in-person offices, with no private-sector competition given its statutory monopoly under the California Business and Professions Code.

Name

Board of Barbering and Cosmetology

Legal name

California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology

Website

https://barbercosmo.ca.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology is a state regulatory agency under the Department of Consumer Affairs that licenses and regulates more than 560,000 individual practitioners and 50,000 establishments in California's barbering and beauty industry. It operates from Sacramento with 104 employees and a budget exceeding $19 million.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Regulatory Services

NAICS

Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (92615), Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (926150), Cosmetology and Barber Schools (611511)

akta.pro primary industry

Labor, Employment Standards & Occupational Licensing Boards (BPAIAOAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Barbering (EDAOALAC), National/State Examination Boards & Testing Agencies (EDADAFAA)

Keywords

• Professional licensing services
• Barbering regulation
• Cosmetology regulation
• Consumer protection enforcement
• Health and safety inspection

Headquarters

HQ city

Sacramento

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. License Fees: The Board generates revenue through licensing fees for barbers, cosmetologists, electrologists, estheticians, hairstylists, manicurists, establishments, and personal service permits. Fees include application fees, renewal fees, duplicate license fees ($10), and certification fees ($10 per certification).
2. Credit Card Service Fee: Beginning July 1, 2026, online applications will include a 2.3% credit card service fee for processing transactions.
3. Examination Fees: Fees collected through PSI for examination administration, including initial exam applications and re-examination applications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology (BBC) is a state regulatory agency that protects consumers by licensing and regulating California's barbering and beauty industry. The Board issues individual licenses to barbers, cosmetologists, electrologists, estheticians, hairstylists, and manicurists, and licenses over 50,000 establishments. It administers state licensing examinations through PSI, conducts health and safety inspections, investigates complaints, and enforces disciplinary actions against licensees who violate statutes or regulations under the Barbering and Cosmetology Act.

Product overview

The California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology is a government regulatory body, not a technology product company. It does not offer a unified software platform but rather provides regulatory services including: (1) BreEZe Online Services for license applications and renewals, (2) licensing for six individual license categories (Barbers, Cosmetologists, Electrologists, Estheticians, Hairstylists, Manicurists) plus Establishment licensing, (3) examination administration through PSI, (4) enforcement and compliance services including complaint investigation and disciplinary actions, (5) inspection services for establishments and schools, (6) an Online Establishment Locator for consumer verification, and (7) apprenticeship program oversight. The Board oversees over 50,000 establishments and 560,000 individual licensees.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BreEZe Online Services Online licensing and regulatory management portal operated by the Board for license applications, renewals, verifications, examination scheduling, and complaint filings. Online processing is approximately 3 weeks faster than mail applications.
• Individual Professional Licensing Issuance and management of individual licenses for barbers, cosmetologists, electrologists, estheticians, hairstylists, and manicurists across California, covering more than 560,000 active individual licensees.
• Establishment Licensing Licensing and regulation of barbering and cosmetology establishments (more than 50,000 statewide), including mobile units and home-based salons.
• Examination Services State licensing examinations administered through PSI for barber, cosmetologist, esthetician, electrologist, hairstylist, and manicurist candidates. Written exams are 90-120 minutes depending on license type.
• Enforcement and Compliance Services Investigation of complaints involving gross negligence, unsanitary conditions, unlicensed practice, and misrepresentation, including disciplinary actions, citations, and the Disciplinary Review Committee appeal process.
• Inspection Services Random and targeted health and safety inspections of establishments and schools by the Board's Inspection Unit, including self-inspection worksheets and common violations resources.
• Online Establishment Locator Public search tool allowing consumers to locate licensed barbering and cosmetology establishments throughout California.
• Email Alert Subscription Service Mailing list subscription service providing updates on rules and regulation changes, proposed regulatory changes, public participation opportunities, important bulletins, and board meeting agendas.
• Apprenticeship Program Oversight Regulation and oversight of apprenticeship programs for barbers and cosmetologists, including program sponsor approvals and compliance monitoring.

Quantifiable outcome

• Licenses over 560,000 individuals and 50,000 establishments statewide

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Board operates under the Department of Consumer Affairs, which provides administrative oversight, leadership, and support services. DCA leadership includes Acting Director Christine Lally who oversees the Board and other regulatory programs within the department.
• Business and Consumer Services Agency (BCSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Board falls under the Business and Consumer Services Agency, with Agency Secretary Rohit Chopra providing executive oversight at the state level.
• PSI (Examination Services)coreTechnology or IntegrationPSI administers the Board's licensing examinations at locations throughout California. PSI handles examination scheduling, test administration, and reciprocity processing for out-of-state applicants. PSI written exam times: (877) 392-6422; PSI reciprocity: (800) 733-9267.
• Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBPPE handles complaints regarding fraud, contractual issues, and other matters not within the Board's jurisdiction. The Bureau also assists with transcripts for closed schools. Contact: (916) 574-8900 or (888) 370-7589.
• Expert Consultants (Industry Professionals)minorOthersLicensed professionals who serve as expert consultants for formal disciplinary cases involving consumer harm. They review case materials, prepare written opinions, and testify at administrative hearings. Compensation: $35/hour for general consultants, $150-200/hour for Doctor consultants.
• Subject Matter Experts (SMEs)minorOthersExperienced industry professionals who help develop fair, relevant, and up-to-date licensing exams through occupational analyses and exam development workshops. Eligibility requires current California license, active work in licensed establishment, and no BBC violations in past 5 years.
• Office of Administrative LawcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegulatory oversight body that approves the Board's disciplinary guidelines and other regulations. On May 6, 2026, approved the Board's Disciplinary Guidelines regulation effective July 1, 2026.
• State Bar of CaliforniaminorOthersFor licensees seeking legal advice about statutes and rules governing their licensure, the Board refers to the State Bar of California for information on hiring a lawyer.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation - Cosmetology Program: The Texas state regulatory program that licenses cosmetologists, barbers, and related practitioners — a direct functional peer performing equivalent individual and establishment licensing, examination administration, and enforcement for one of the largest U.S. state beauty workforces.
• Illinois Board of Barber and Cosmetology: Illinois state licensing board for barbers, cosmetologists, estheticians, and nail technicians operating under the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Comparable scope and licensing model to the California Board.
• New York State Board for Barbering and Cosmetology: New York State's licensing authority for barbers and cosmetologists, administering examinations and enforcing professional standards — a direct peer for a high-population state regulatory body covering the same professions.
• Florida Board of Cosmetology: Florida's state licensing board for cosmetology and related specialties. Operates within the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation and performs licensing, examination, and enforcement functions analogous to the California Board.

Broad incumbents

• Medical Board of California: Another large California licensing and enforcement entity under DCA. While focused on physicians, it shares the same operational model — licensing, examination, discipline, and consumer protection — under the same statutory framework.
• California Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA): The parent California state agency that administers the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology along with dozens of other licensing boards (medical, dental, nursing, etc.). Comparable as a broad state-government regulatory umbrella overseeing professional licensing at scale.

Regional players

• Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers: Georgia's combined licensing board for cosmetology and barbering professionals, operating under the Secretary of State's Professional Licensing Boards Division. Functionally equivalent to the California Board but serving a different state jurisdiction.

Others

• National Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC): National organization that develops standardized cosmetology licensure examinations used by many state boards, including California's partner PSI. Functions as a peer-ecosystem participant that influences examination content and reciprocity across states.
• Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE): California state bureau that regulates private postsecondary schools, including those approved by the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. Adjacent regulatory peer within the California consumer-protection ecosystem with overlapping school-approval responsibilities.
• PSI (PSI Services LLC): Third-party examination administrator that delivers licensing exams for the California Board and many other state regulatory bodies. Adjacent ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor — a vendor, but a key operational dependency.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CA_BBC
• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PL8A525BE338F5CD37
• Facebookfacebook.com/100068869178078
• Instagraminstagram.com/cabarbercosmo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/board-of-barbering-and-cosmetology

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Board of Barbering and Cosmetology