Foreign High School Diploma Translation & Authentication Policy
A Kentucky State-Licensed and State-Accredited Beauty College
Effective Date: March 6, 2025
Subject to Revision Based on Kentucky State Board of Cosmetology (KBC) Updates
Policy Statement
Louisville Beauty Academy operates as a fully state-licensed and state-accredited beauty college in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. In compliance with KRS 317A and 201 KAR 12, the Academy follows strict guidelines for verifying educational credentials, including high school diplomas earned outside of the United States.
Louisville Beauty Academy will not accept, enroll, or award credit hours to any student who fails to provide complete, verifiable, and properly translated documentation of their foreign high school diploma. The Academy does not make exceptions to this requirement under any circumstances. This policy is in alignment with regulations set forth by the Kentucky State Board of Cosmetology (KBC).
Student Responsibility
It is the sole responsibility of the student to obtain, prepare, and submit all required documentation related to their foreign high school education. Louisville Beauty Academy is not responsible for obtaining, translating, or authenticating these documents on behalf of the student.
To be eligible for enrollment, students with foreign diplomas must provide:
- Original High School Diploma – In the official language of the issuing country.
- Certified English Translation – Completed by a recognized, certified, and professional translation service.
Approved and Recognized Translation Services
To ensure compliance with KBC rules, Louisville Beauty Academy only accepts translations completed by the following officially recognized and/or preferred agencies:
KBC-Recognized and Preferred Providers (As of 2025)
✅ AEQUO International (Officially Recognized)
150 Fourth Ave. North, Suite 850
Nashville, TN 37219
Website: aequointernational.com/translation-service – [email protected]
✅ Languages Unlimited (Preferred)
7401 Springvale Dr
Louisville, KY 40241
Phone: 502-243-5379 (Call First)
✅ Catholic Charities of Louisville (Preferred)
2911 South 4th St
Louisville, KY 40208
Website: languagecclou.org
✅ Cincilingua Translation Service
322 East 4th St
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Phone: 513-721-8782
✅ International Language Bank
P.O. Box 145
Cleveland, OH 44030
Phone: 440-599-9999
✅ Ameri-Lingua (Spanish Focus)
312 Deerfield Ln
Lexington, KY 40511
Phone: 859-509-4195
✅ Translations Unlimited
1951 Fallbrook Ln
Cincinnati, OH 45240
Phone: 513-674-0716
Non-Negotiable Requirement for Enrollment
Louisville Beauty Academy will only accept enrollment applications from students who provide both the original diploma and the certified English translation at the time of application. Incomplete, unverified, or uncertified translations will not be accepted under any circumstances.
Students who fail to meet these requirements will not be permitted to:
- Enroll in any program.
- Attend classes.
- Earn any credit hours toward program completion.
NOTICE REGARDING FOREIGN HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA TRANSLATIONS – 03-12-2025
Per guidance from the Kentucky State Board of Cosmetology (KBC), any high school diploma issued from a foreign country must be authenticated and translated by a provider certified by the American Translators Association (ATA).
Even if a diploma has already been translated into English in its country of origin, KBC does not accept such translations for enrollment purposes. KBC does not have the resources to authenticate foreign documents and requires all foreign high school diplomas to be verified through an ATA-certified translation service.
To ensure compliance and prevent delays in enrollment, all prospective students with foreign diplomas must submit documentation that adheres to this requirement before proceeding with their application.
For further inquiries or clarification, please contact the Kentucky State Board of Cosmetology directly.
Ongoing Compliance & Record Retention
Once accepted, all student files containing foreign diplomas and translations will be permanently retained in compliance with KBC regulations. These documents will be made available for review during:
- KBC audits.
- School inspections.
- Any official state review processes.
If any document is later determined to be invalid, falsified, or improperly translated, the student’s enrollment and all associated hours will be voided immediately, with no recourse.
Legal Basis
This policy exists pursuant to:
- KRS 317A – Kentucky Cosmetology Licensing Law
- 201 KAR 12 – Administrative Regulations Governing Cosmetology Schools and Licensing
Student Certification
By applying to Louisville Beauty Academy, students certify under penalty of perjury that all documents provided are authentic, accurate, and fully compliant with KBC requirements. Providing false or incomplete documentation will result in:
- Immediate dismissal.
- Loss of any hours earned.
- Reporting of the incident to the Kentucky State Board of Cosmetology for further action.
Contact Information for Official State Guidance
For the most current and legally binding rules regarding high school diploma requirements, students should contact KBC directly:
Kentucky State Board of Cosmetology
1049 US HWY 127 S – ANNEX #2
Frankfort, KY 40601
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (502) 564-4262
Website: kbc.ky.gov
Disclaimer – Information Only
This page is published by Louisville Beauty Academy solely for informational purposes. While we make every effort to ensure this page reflects the latest requirements, Louisville Beauty Academy does not control or set official state policies or laws. This page does not replace or override any regulation, directive, or legal requirement issued by the Kentucky State Board of Cosmetology.
Louisville Beauty Academy assumes no liability for changes made by KBC after the date of publication. Students are fully responsible for verifying all official rules directly with KBC.
KY STATE BOARD OF COSMETOLOGY UPDATES – AS OF 12-13-2023
