Indiana Laws and Administrative Rules
Who regulates whom
Indiana cosmetology is governed by statute (IC 25-8) and the rules of the State Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners in 820 IAC 3, administered through the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (PLA). The Board licenses individuals - cosmetologist, barber, esthetician, manicurist, electrologist, and instructor - and licenses the shop itself. Local health department rules can add requirements; they do not replace state rules.
What the rules require in practice
- Practice only in a licensed shop, under a valid license, with the license available for inspection.
- Sanitation: a wet sanitizer holding an EPA-registered disinfectant at the correct strength, a clean dry covered storage area for disinfected implements, receptacles for soiled linens, and single-use items discarded after one client. Blood and body-fluid cleanup follows the tuberculocidal standard.
- Training hours and apprenticeship terms are set in statute and rule; cosmetic and chemical services must stay within the scope of the license held. Verify current hour totals and renewal/continuing-education requirements with the PLA before relying on a number.
Traps
Assuming shop rules only matter to the owner - every licensee is responsible. Assuming an unlicensed assistant may perform a service. Assuming a local ordinance overrides state law, when both apply. Assuming a lapsed license is fine while renewal is pending.
Worked example
An inspector finds implements sitting overnight in an unlabeled jar of blue liquid. Three failures: the solution is not verifiably an EPA-registered disinfectant, contact time cannot be confirmed, and disinfected implements are not in clean dry covered storage. Correct practice is to mix per label, immerse for the full contact time, then move to a clean covered container.