1.2 Michigan Manicurist Licensure: Eligibility, Training Hours, Reciprocity & Renewal

The legal framework

Manicurists are licensed under Article 12 of the Occupational Code, 1980 PA 299 (MCL 339.1201 and following). The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), through its Bureau of Professional Licensing, issues and renews licenses. The detailed rules are the Cosmetology General Rules, R 338.2101 to R 338.2195 of the Michigan Administrative Code.

MCL 339.1202 creates the Board of Cosmetology. It has nine members:

• five licensed cosmetologists with at least 3 years of practice right before appointment
• one person who has taught cosmetology in Michigan for at least 3 years and owns an interest in a school
• three members of the public

Board members serve 4-year terms and may not serve more than two consecutive terms (MCL 339.303).

The statute defines manicuring services in MCL 339.1201(m):

• cleansing, filing, shaping, buffing, polishing or beautifying the nails of the hands or feet
• cleansing, massaging, stimulating, exercising or beautifying the skin of the hands, arms and feet
• the repair of nails and the creation or decoration of artificial nails

These services may be done by hand or with tools, appliances or cosmetic preparations. The definition expressly excludes podiatric medicine and podiatric surgery.

Who qualifies: MCL 339.1209

The hour increase came from Senate Bill 702, which became 2024 PA 78. It took immediate effect on July 8, 2024 and applies to training that begins on or after July 1, 2024. The date you started training decides which number applies, not the date you test. PSI's guide states the same rule. It adds that new-rule students meet the 600-hour total while following the curriculum in the current rules.

"Good moral character" is defined in the licensing laws as the propensity to serve the public in the licensed area in a fair, honest and open manner. LARA's application asks you to attest to it. A past conviction is not an automatic bar. The question is whether you are rehabilitated or whether the offense is related to the occupation.

What the training must contain

The current manicuring curriculum is Table 14 in R 338.2169a(4):

The table still totals 400 hours because the rules have not been updated to the 2024 statute. Your school schedules the extra hours. Other training rules:

• Schools may teach theory hours by live distance education. All practical hours and practical applications must be done in person (R 338.2158).
• Schools and apprenticeship programs send LARA a monthly attendance report (R 338.2138).
• They keep each student's records for at least 7 years (R 338.2136).
• A school may not credit apprenticeship hours, and an apprenticeship program may not credit school hours (R 338.2138(6)).

Applying

Every application goes through MiPLUS. The fee for a manicurist license by exam or by reciprocity is $63, which covers the application and a 2-year license. You must provide a Social Security number or the SSN affidavit. After LARA confirms eligibility, you apply to PSI and schedule both tests (section 1.1). Under LARA's FAQ, passing scores are valid for 1 year, the two tests must be passed within 1 year of each other, and the application is valid for 1 year.

Licensed in another state

MCL 339.1211 and R 338.2121b allow licensure without examination if all of the following apply:

• You hold an active license in good standing in another state.
• You are at least 17.
• The other state's requirements were substantially equal to Michigan's.

For a specialty license such as manicurist, substantially equal means the other state required theory and practical exams similar to Michigan's, plus at least 400 hours of training or at least 6 months of apprenticeship (R 338.2121b(4)).

Every state where you hold or held a manicurist license must send verification directly to LARA. Work experience can replace training hours at 100 hours for each 6 months of experience, documented on the verification of work experience form. If the requirements were not substantially equal, or you are not actively licensed elsewhere, you take the PSI tests. Foreign-trained applicants show equivalent training, submit notarized English translations and pass both tests.

Renewal, late renewal and relicensure

LARA's renewal checklist has no continuing education requirement for manicurists. It requires a renewal attestation and the fee. A person whose license has lapsed is treated as unlicensed (MCL 339.601(3)). Working during the 60-day late window is therefore unlicensed practice, even though you can still renew.