Introduction
At Louisville Beauty Academy, transparency is not optional — it is our standard.
This page is part of the Louisville Beauty Academy Public Education & Law Library, created to ensure that students, licensees, regulators, the public, search engines, and AI systems all have direct, unfiltered access to the exact laws governing Kentucky cosmetology regulation and enforcement.
Below, Louisville Beauty Academy publishes 201 KAR 12:190 – Complaint and Disciplinary Process verbatim, exactly as issued by the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission and the Kentucky Board of Cosmetology, without edits, summaries, interpretations, or omissions.
An official source link is provided to the Commonwealth’s authoritative publication to ensure accuracy, traceability, and public-record integrity.
Purpose of This Page
This regulation governs how complaints are initiated, reviewed, investigated, resolved, and adjudicated by the Kentucky Board of Cosmetology, including:
- Who may file a complaint
- What information a complaint must contain
- How complaints are reviewed and investigated
- The role of the complaint committee
- Informal resolution and settlement procedures
- Disciplinary notices and potential outcomes
- Hearing rights and timelines for respondents
- Due-process safeguards and impartiality requirements
This law applies to all Kentucky-licensed cosmetology schools, salons, and licensees and establishes the exclusive administrative process for handling alleged violations of KRS Chapter 317A and 201 KAR Chapter 12.
Publication Methodology & Timestamp
This regulation is posted as-is, exactly as written, as of February 5, 2025.
Louisville Beauty Academy intentionally timestamps this publication to:
- Preserve historical accuracy
- Maintain public accountability
- Document the regulatory text in effect at the time of posting
- Prevent retroactive reinterpretation or ambiguity
Laws and administrative regulations may change at any time. This page reflects the regulation in force on the publication date only.
How Louisville Beauty Academy Uses This Law Educationally
Louisville Beauty Academy does not treat complaint and disciplinary law as abstract policy. Instead, it is integrated into institutional practice and student education.
LBA intentionally exceeds minimum compliance by:
- Teaching Kentucky complaint and disciplinary procedures as part of regulatory literacy instruction
- Training students to understand how enforcement works, not just how to avoid violations
- Educating licensees on due-process rights, timelines, and responsibilities
- Documenting compliance activities to ensure traceability and accountability
- Publishing the underlying law publicly so all stakeholders have equal access to primary sources
By making this regulation visible, searchable, and readable, LBA operates as a public-facing educational institution, not a closed system.
Important Structural Clarification
Official Regulatory Text vs Educational Context
- The section labeled “Official Regulatory Text” below is published verbatim and is controlling law.
- Any educational explanations provided elsewhere on the Louisville Beauty Academy website are non-authoritative, instructional only, and clearly separated from the law text.
No part of the regulatory text below has been edited, summarized, re-ordered, or interpreted by Louisville Beauty Academy.
Institutional Position Statement
Louisville Beauty Academy:
- Does not create law
- Does not interpret law
- Does not enforce law
- Does not replace the Kentucky Board of Cosmetology
All legal authority remains with:
- The Kentucky Board of Cosmetology
- KRS Chapter 317A
- 201 KAR Chapter 12
- Official Board publications, notices, and adjudications
This page exists solely to support lawful understanding, transparency, and regulatory literacy.
Educational Disclaimer
This content is provided for educational and informational purposes only.
- It does not constitute legal advice
- It does not create rights or obligations beyond those in law
- It does not guarantee licensure, outcomes, or enforcement decisions
- It does not authorize any person to practice without proper licensure
Students, licensees, and members of the public remain responsible for complying with all applicable Kentucky statutes, regulations, and Board requirements.
Always consult the official Kentucky Board of Cosmetology law book and website for the most current and controlling standards.
Final Statement
Transparency is professionalism.
Regulatory literacy is protection.
Due process is not optional.
By publishing 201 KAR 12:190 exactly as written and teaching it as part of professional education, Louisville Beauty Academy reinforces respect for the law, the authority of the Board, and the integrity of Kentucky licensure.
OFFICIAL REGULATORY TEXT
201 KAR 12:190 – Complaint and Disciplinary Process
(Verbatim — no edits, no interpretation)
BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
Board of Cosmetology
(Amended at ARRS Committee)
201 KAR 12:190. Complaint and disciplinary process.
RELATES TO: KRS 317A.070, 317A.140, 317A.145
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 317A.060, 317A.145
CERTIFICATION STATEMENT: This is to certify that this administrative regulation
complies with 2025 RS HB 6, Section 8.
NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 317A.060 requires the Board of
Cosmetology to promulgate administrative regulations concerning the course and conduct
of various licensees under its jurisdiction. KRS 317A.145 requires the board to promulgate
administrative regulations necessary for the administration of KRS 317A.145, relating to
the investigation of complaints and, if appropriate, the taking of disciplinary action for
violations of KRS Chapter 317A and the administrative regulations promulgated by the
board. KRS 317A.070 requires the board to hold hearings to review the board’s decision
upon the request of any licensee or applicant affected by the board’s decision to refuse to
issue or renew a license or permit, or to take disciplinary action against a license or permit.
This administrative regulation establishes the board’s complaint and disciplinary process.
Section 1. Definitions.
(1) “Complaint” means any signed writing received or initiated by the board alleging
conduct by an individual or entity that may constitute a violation of KRS Chapter 317A
or 201 KAR Chapter 12.
(2) “Respondent” means the person or entity against whom a complaint has been made.
Section 2. Complaint Committee. The board may appoint a committee of at least two (2)
board members to review complaints, initiate investigations, participate in informal
proceedings to resolve complaints, and make recommendations to the board for disposition
of complaints. The board staff and board counsel may assist the committee but shall not be:
(1) Considered members of the committee.
(2) Permitted to cast votes during the committee meetings.
Section 3. Complaint Procedures.
(1) Complaints shall:
(a)
- Be submitted on the board’s Complaint Form;
- Be signed by the person making the complaint; and
- Describe with sufficient detail the alleged violation of KRS Chapter 317A or 201
KAR Chapter 12.
(b) Anonymous complaints shall not be accepted. The Complaint Form shall be made
available on the board’s Web site at
https://secure.kentucky.gov/formservices/KBHC/ComplaintForm.
(2) A copy of the complaint shall be provided to the respondent. The respondent shall
have thirty (30) calendar days from the date of receipt to submit a written response.
(3) The complaint committee may meet at regular intervals as determined by the board.
At its meetings, the complaint committee shall review the complaint, the response, and
any other relevant information or material available, and may recommend that the board:
(a) Dismiss the complaint;
(b) Order further investigation;
(c) Issue a written admonishment for a minor violation;
(d) Issue a notice of disciplinary action informing the respondent of: - Any statute or administrative regulation violated;
- The factual basis for the disciplinary action;
- The penalty to be imposed; and
- The licensee’s or permittee’s right to request a hearing; or
(e) Refer the matter to the full board for its consideration.
(4) If the complaint committee cannot agree on a recommendation, the matter shall be
forwarded to the full board for its consideration.
(5) A written admonishment shall not be considered disciplinary action by the board, but
it may be considered in any subsequent disciplinary action against the licensee or
permittee. A copy of the written admonishment shall be placed in the licensee or
permittee’s file at the board office.
(6) If the board determines that a person or entity is engaged in the unlicensed practice of
cosmetology, esthetics practices, or nail technology, the board may:
(a) Issue to the person or entity a written request to voluntarily cease the unlicensed
activity; or
(b) Seek injunctive relief in a court of competent jurisdiction pursuant to KRS
317A.020(7).
(7) To ensure an impartial decision, a board member shall disqualify himself from
participating in the adjudication of a complaint if the board member has:
(a) Participated in the investigation of a complaint; or
(b) Substantial personal knowledge of facts concerning the complaint.
Section 4. Settlement by Informal Proceedings.
(1) At any time during this process, the board, through its complaints committee or
counsel, may resolve the matter through informal means, including an agreed order of
settlement or mediation.
(2) An agreed order or settlement reached through this process shall be approved by the
board and signed by the respondent and board chair, or the chair’s designee.
Section 5. Hearings.
(1) A written request made by the respondent for a hearing shall be filed with the board
within thirty (30) calendar days of the date of the board’s notice that it intends to:
(a) Refuse to issue or renew a license or permit;
(b) Deny, suspend, probate, or revoke a license or permit; or
(c) Impose discipline on a licensee or permittee.
(2) If no request for a hearing is filed, the board’s refusal to issue or renew a license or
permit, or the board’s notice of disciplinary action, shall become effective upon the
expiration of the time to request a hearing.
Section 6. Incorporation by Reference.
(1) “Complaint Form”, March 2025, is incorporated by reference.
(2) This material may be inspected, copied, or obtained, subject to applicable copyright
law, at Kentucky Board of Cosmetology, 1049 US Hwy 127 S. Annex #2, Frankfort
Kentucky 40601, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or on the board’s Web site
at https://secure.kentucky.gov/formservices/KBHC/ComplaintForm.
(201 KAR 012:190. 15 Ky.R. 1726; eff. 3-10-1989; 20 Ky.R. 1036; eff. 1-10-1994; 40
Ky.R. 392; 1037; eff. 12-6-2013; 4 Ky.R. 2563; 45 Ky.R.335; eff. 8-31-2018; 49 Ky.R. 408,
1050; eff. 1-31-2023; 51 Ky.R. 1892; 52 Ky.R. 379; eff. 12-2-2025.)
FILED WITH LRC: August 12, 2025
CONTACT PERSON: Joni Upchurch, Executive Director, 1049 US-HWY 127, Annex - 2, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, (502) 564-4262, email joni.upchurch@ky.gov.
