The Maryland Department of Labor’s Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing announced plans Tuesday to introduce a limited license for eyelash extension technicians, offering a targeted credential that bypasses the need for full cosmetologist or esthetician certification. The change, effective through temporary credentials starting early next year, aims to regulate a burgeoning sector while reducing barriers to entry for practitioners across the state, including those in Southern Maryland’s salon communities.
House Bill 1223, passed during the 2025 legislative session, empowers the Maryland Board of Cosmetologists to create this specialized license. Until now, technicians applying synthetic lashes required either a cosmetology license, which demands 1,500 hours of training, or an esthetics license with 600 hours focused on skin care. The new option streamlines access, requiring applicants to be at least 17 years old and hold a ninth-grade education or equivalent for initial eligibility. “Establishing this license is an important step forward for both safety and opportunity in Maryland,” said Maryland Department of Labor Secretary Portia Wu. “We are supporting consumers by ensuring that a growing industry adheres to safety standards, while also offering a clear and affordable pathway for technicians to advance their careers.”
The temporary license, set to roll out in early 2026, serves as a bridge for current practitioners to maintain operations without interruption. Applicants must submit a form to the Board affirming that services will occur only in permitted salons, with no upfront training or exam needed. Holders can renew once for an additional year, providing time to prepare for the full license. By December 31, 2026, unlicensed technicians must pause services until meeting standard requirements, which include 100 hours of Board-approved eyelash instruction, a three-month apprenticeship or exam, and one hour of domestic violence awareness training. The permanent license follows in late 2026, with full details on curricula and testing forthcoming.
Compliance begins immediately for salons. Technicians must verify their workplace holds an active Board permit, covering sanitation, ventilation and equipment standards outlined in Board regulations. Those planning independent operations can apply for salon permits anytime, a process involving site inspections to ensure compliance with health codes like proper lash adhesive storage to prevent allergic reactions. Services outside permitted spaces risk fines up to $1,000 per violation under existing cosmetology laws. In Southern Maryland, where small-town salons in Leonardtown and La Plata often double as community hubs, this could prompt a wave of permit renewals; local establishments, such as those along Route 4 in Calvert County, already navigate similar oversight for hair and nail services.
The initiative addresses gaps in an industry projected to grow 16% nationally through 2032, driven by demand for low-maintenance beauty enhancements. In Maryland, cosmetology licenses number more than 30,000 statewide, with esthetics credentials nearing 10,000, though exact eyelash specialists remain untracked until the new system launches. For Southern Maryland’s roughly 5,000 beauty professionals in Charles, St. Mary’s and Calvert counties—many in family-run shops serving military families at Naval Air Station Patuxent River—the limited license lowers startup costs from thousands of dollars for full training to potentially under $500 for the temporary credential, including application fees yet to be set.
Board regulations emphasize client safety, mandating eye protection during applications and adhesive testing for sensitivities, common concerns in humid coastal areas like Solomons. Technicians must also complete continuing education on topics like infection control, aligning with broader efforts under the Division to standardize professional standards. The temporary phase allows the Board to refine processes based on feedback, potentially incorporating input from regional associations in Annapolis or Waldorf.
This builds on Maryland’s evolving cosmetology framework, rooted in 1981 laws that centralized licensing under the state. Recent expansions, like the 2019 addition of barbering scopes, reflect responses to workforce diversification. House Bill 1223, sponsored by Del. Brooke E. Queen, passed unanimously in April 2025 after hearings highlighted unlicensed risks, including subpar products causing eye irritation.
Applications open via the Board’s online portal in early 2026, with paper forms available for those without internet access. The Division plans webinars in January to guide submissions, focusing on salon verification steps. As the beauty sector rebounds post-pandemic, with Maryland salons reporting 12% revenue gains in 2025, this license positions the state to capture growth without overburdening small operators.
Southern Maryland residents can monitor updates through local chambers or contact the Board at 410-230-6226. The full rollout promises a safer, more accessible field, ensuring technicians from Charlotte Hall to Chesapeake Beach meet professional benchmarks while serving clients efficiently.