Cosmetology Licensing Requirements by State
It can be difficult to find the basic requirements for cosmetology licensure for your state, all the more so because they can change. Our editors have compiled the latest information as of spring 2022.
Jump to Cosmetology Licensing Requirements in My State
Cosmetology Licensing Requirements in All States
| Alabama | |
| Minimum Age & Education: | 16 & 10th grade completion |
| Program Hours: | 1,500 (3,000 apprentice hours) |
| Cost: | $205 |
| Renewal Period: | 2 years |
| CE Hours: | 0 |
| State Board: | Alabama Board of Cosmetology & Barbering |
| Alaska | |
| Minimum Age & Education: | 17 |
| Program Hours: | 1,650 (2,000 apprentice hours) |
| Cost: | $390 |
| Renewal Period: | 2 years |
| CE Hours: | 0 |
| State Board: | Alaska Board of Barbers and Hairdressers |
| Arizona | |
| Minimum Age & Education: | 16 & 10th grade completion |
| Program Hours: | 1,600 (3,000 apprentice hours) |
| Cost: | $240 |
| Renewal Period: | 2 years |
| CE Hours: | 0 |
| State Board: | Arizona State Board of Cosmetology |
| Arkansas | |
| Minimum Age & Education: | 16 & 10th grade completion |
| Program Hours: | 1,200 |
| Cost: | $175 |
| Renewal Period: | 2 years |
| CE Hours: | 0 |
| State Board: | Arkansas Department of Health |
| California | |
| Minimum Age & Education: | 16 & 10th grade completion |
| Program Hours: | 1,000 (3,200 apprentice hours) |
| Cost: | $125 |
| Renewal Period: | 2 years |
| CE Hours: | 0 |
| State Board: | California Board of Barbering & Cosmetology |
| Colorado | |
| Minimum Age & Education: | 16 |
| Program Hours: | 1,500 or 50 credits |
| Cost: | $225 |
| Renewal Period: | 2 years |
| CE Hours: | 0 |
| State Board: | Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure |
| Connecticut | |
| Minimum Age & Education: | 9th grade completion |
| Program Hours: | 1,500 |
| Cost: | $130 |
| Renewal Period: | 2 years |
| CE Hours: | 0 |
| State Board: | Connecticut Department of Public Health |
| Delaware | |
| Minimum Age & Education: | 16 & 10th grade completion |
| Program Hours: | 1,500 (3,000 apprentice hours) |
| Cost: | $225 |
| Renewal Period: | 2 years |
| CE Hours: | 0 |
| State Board: | Delaware Board of Cosmetology and Barbering |
| Florida | |
| Minimum Age & Education: | 16 or have a high school diploma |
| Program Hours: | 1,200 |
| Cost: | $63.50 |
| Renewal Period: | 2 years |
| CE Hours: | 10 |
| State Board: | Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation |
| Georgia | |
| Minimum Age & Education: | 17 |
| Program Hours: | 1,500 (3,000 apprentice hours) |
| Cost: | $30 |
| Renewal Period: | 2 years |
| CE Hours: | 5 (beginning with second renewal) |
| State Board: | Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers |
| Hawaii | |
| Minimum Age & Education: | 16 & high school diploma or GED |
| Program Hours: | 1,800 (3,600 apprentice hours) |
| Cost: | $165 |
| Renewal Period: | 2 years |
| CE Hours: | 0 |
| State Board: | Hawaii Board of Barbering and Cosmetology |
| Idaho | |
| Minimum Age & Education: | 10th grade completion |
| Program Hours: | 1,600 (3,200 apprentice hours) |
| Cost: | $325 |
| Renewal Period: | 1 year |
| CE Hours: | 0 |
| State Board: | Idaho Barber and Cosmetology Services Licensing Board |
| Illinois | |
| Minimum Age & Education: | 16 & high school diploma or GED |
| Program Hours: | 1,500 |
| Cost: | $195 |
| Renewal Period: | 2 years |
| CE Hours: | 14 |
| State Board: | Illinois Cosmetology Board |
| Indiana | |
| Minimum Age & Education: | 18 & 10th grade completion |
| Program Hours: | 1,500 |
| Cost: | $40 |
| Renewal Period: | 2 years |
| CE Hours: | 0 |
| State Board: | Indiana State Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners |
| Iowa | |
| Minimum Age & Education: | High school diploma or GED |
| Program Hours: | 2,100 |
| Cost: | $60 |
| Renewal Period: | 2 years |
| CE Hours: | 6 |
| State Board: | Iowa Board of Cosmetology Arts & Sciences |
| Kansas | |
| Minimum Age & Education: | 17 & high school diploma or equivalent |
| Program Hours: | 1,500 (1,500 apprentice hours) |
| Cost: | $60 |
| Renewal Period: | 2 years |
| CE Hours: | 0 |
| State Board: | Kansas Board of Cosmetology |
| Kentucky | |
| Minimum Age & Education: | 18 & 12th grade completion |
| Program Hours: | 1,500 |
| Cost: | $125 |
| Renewal Period: | 1 year |
| CE Hours: | 0 |
| State Board: | Kentucky Board of Cosmetology |
| Louisiana | |
| Minimum Age & Education: | 16 & 10th grade completion |
| Program Hours: | 1,500 |
| Cost: | $68 |
| Renewal Period: | 1 year |
| CE Hours: | 0 |
| State Board: | Louisiana Board of Cosmetology |
| Maine | |
| Minimum Age & Education: | 16 & 10th grade completion |
| Program Hours: | 1,500 (2,500 apprentice hours) |
| Cost: | $41 |
| Renewal Period: | 1 year |
| CE Hours: | 0 |
| State Board: | Maine Barbering and Cosmetology Licensing |
| Maryland | |
| Minimum Age & Education: | 17 & 9th grade completion |
| Program Hours: | 1,500 (24-month apprenticeship) |
| Cost: | $104 |
| Renewal Period: | 2 years |
| CE Hours: | 6 |
| State Board: | Maryland Board of Cosmetologists |
| Massachusetts | |
| Minimum Age & Education: | 17 & 10th grade completion |
| Program Hours: | 1,000 (1,000 apprentice hours) |
| Cost: | $218 |
| Renewal Period: | 2 |
| CE Hours: | 0 |
| State Board: | Massachusetts Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering |
| Michigan | |
| Minimum Age & Education: | 17 & 9th grade completion |
| Program Hours: | 1,500 (2 years of apprenticeship) |
| Cost: | $230 |
| Renewal Period: | 2 years |
| CE Hours: | 0 |
| State Board: | Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs |
| Minnesota | |
| Minimum Age & Education: | 17 |
| Program Hours: | 1,550 |
| Cost: | $195 |
| Renewal Period: | 3 years |
| CE Hours: | 8 |
| State Board: | Minnesota Board of Cosmetology |
| Mississippi | |
| Minimum Age & Education: | 17 & high school education or GED |
| Program Hours: | 1,500 |
| Cost: | $50 |
| Renewal Period: | 2 years |
| CE Hours: | 0 |
| State Board: | Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology |
| Missouri | |
| Minimum Age & Education: | 17 & 10th grade completion |
| Program Hours: | 1,500 (3,000 apprentice hours) |
| Cost: | $143 |
| Renewal Period: | 2 years |
| CE Hours: | 0 |
| State Board: | Missouri Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners |
| Montana | |
| Minimum Age & Education: | 18 & high school graduation or equivalent |
| Program Hours: | 1,500 |
| Cost: | $80 |
| Renewal Period: | 2 years |
| CE Hours: | 0 |
| State Board: | Montana Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists |
| Nebraska | |
| Minimum Age & Education: | 17 & high school diploma or GED |
| Program Hours: | 1,800 |
| Cost: | $95 |
| Renewal Period: | 2 years |
| CE Hours: | 8 |
| State Board: | Nebraska Board of Cosmetology and Esthetics |
| Nevada | |
| Minimum Age & Education: | 18 & 10th grade completion |
| Program Hours: | 1,600 (3,200 apprentice hours) |
| Cost: | $85 |
| Renewal Period: | 2 or 4 years |
| CE Hours: | 0 |
| State Board: | Nevada State Board of Cosmetology |
| New Hampshire | |
| Minimum Age & Education: | High school completion or equivalent |
| Program Hours: | 1,500 (3,000 apprentice hours) |
| Cost: | $30 |
| Renewal Period: | 2 years |
| CE Hours: | 0 |
| State Board: | New Hampshire Board of Barbering, Cosmetology and Esthetics |
| New Jersey | |
| Minimum Age & Education: | 17 & high school completion |
| Program Hours: | 1,200 |
| Cost: | $140 |
| Renewal Period: | 2 years |
| CE Hours: | 0 |
| State Board: | New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling |
| New Mexico | |
| Minimum Age & Education: | 17 & 10th grade completion |
| Program Hours: | 1,600 |
| Cost: | $100 |
| Renewal Period: | 1 year |
| CE Hours: | 0 |
| State Board: | New Mexico Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists |
| New York | |
| Minimum Age & Education: | 17 |
| Program Hours: | 1,000 |
| Cost: | $70 |
| Renewal Period: | 4 years |
| CE Hours: | 0 |
| State Board: | New York State Board of Cosmetology |
| North Carolina | |
| Minimum Age & Education: | N/A |
| Program Hours: | 1,500 (1,200 apprentice hours at approved school) |
| Cost: | $49 |
| Renewal Period: | 1 year |
| CE Hours: | 8 |
| State Board: | North Carolina Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners |
| North Dakota | |
| Minimum Age & Education: | High school completion or equivalent |
| Program Hours: | 1,500 |
| Cost: | $40 |
| Renewal Period: | 1 year |
| CE Hours: | 0 |
| State Board: | North Dakota State Board of Cosmetology |
| Ohio | |
| Minimum Age & Education: | 16 & 10th grade completion |
| Program Hours: | 1,500 |
| Cost: | $108 |
| Renewal Period: | 2 years |
| CE Hours: | 8 |
| State Board: | Ohio Cosmetology and Barber Board |
| Oklahoma | |
| Minimum Age & Education: | 16 & 8th grade completion |
| Program Hours: | 1,500 (3,000 apprentice hours) |
| Cost: | $60 |
| Renewal Period: | 1 year |
| CE Hours: | 0 |
| State Board: | Oklahoma Board of Cosmetology and Barbering |
| Oregon | |
| Minimum Age & Education: | N/A |
| Program Hours: | 1,835 |
| Cost: | $270 |
| Renewal Period: | 2 years |
| CE Hours: | 0 |
| State Board: | Oregon Board of Cosmetology |
| Pennsylvania | |
| Minimum Age & Education: | 16 & 10th grade completion |
| Program Hours: | 1,250 (2,000 apprentice hours) |
| Cost: | $103 |
| Renewal Period: | 2 years |
| CE Hours: | 0 |
| State Board: | Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology |
| Rhode Island | |
| Minimum Age & Education: | 18 & High school graduation or equivalent |
| Program Hours: | 1,200 |
| Cost: | $100 |
| Renewal Period: | 2 years |
| CE Hours: | 0 |
| State Board: | Rhode Island Barbering, Hairdressing and Cosmetology |
| South Carolina | |
| Minimum Age & Education: | 16 & 10th grade completion |
| Program Hours: | 1,500 |
| Cost: | $177 |
| Renewal Period: | 2 |
| CE Hours: | 4 |
| State Board: | South Carolina Board of Cosmetology |
| South Dakota | |
| Minimum Age & Education: | 18 |
| Program Hours: | 1,500 |
| Cost: | $100 |
| Renewal Period: | 1 year |
| CE Hours: | 0 |
| State Board: | South Dakota Cosmetology Commission |
| Tennessee | |
| Minimum Age & Education: | 16 & two years of high school or 38% on GED/HiSET |
| Program Hours: | 1,500 (1,500 apprentice hours) |
| Cost: | $60 |
| Renewal Period: | 2 years |
| CE Hours: | 0 |
| State Board: | Tennessee Cosmetology and Barber Examiners |
| Texas | |
| Minimum Age & Education: | 17 & high school diploma or equivalent |
| Program Hours: | 1,000 |
| Cost: | $172 |
| Renewal Period: | 2 years |
| CE Hours: | 4 |
| State Board: | Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation |
| Utah | |
| Minimum Age & Education: | N/A |
| Program Hours: | 1,600 (2,500 apprentice hours) |
| Cost: | $234 |
| Renewal Period: | 2 years |
| CE Hours: | 0 |
| State Board: | Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing Cosmetology/Barbering |
| Vermont | |
| Minimum Age & Education: | High school diploma or GED |
| Program Hours: | 1,000 (1,500 apprentice hours) |
| Cost: | $100 |
| Renewal Period: | 2 years |
| CE Hours: | 0 |
| State Board: | Vermont OPR Barbers and Cosmetologists |
| Virginia | |
| Minimum Age & Education: | N/A |
| Program Hours: | 1,500 (3,000 apprentice hours) |
| Cost: | $191 |
| Renewal Period: | 2 years |
| CE Hours: | 0 |
| State Board: | Virginia Board for Barbers and Cosmetology |
| Washington | |
| Minimum Age & Education: | 17 |
| Program Hours: | 1,600 (2,000 apprentice hours) |
| Cost: | $324 |
| Renewal Period: | 2 years |
| CE Hours: | 0 |
| State Board: | Washington State Department of Licensing (Cosmetologists) |
| West Virginia | |
| Minimum Age & Education: | 18 & high school graduation or equivalent |
| Program Hours: | 1,800 |
| Cost: | $134 |
| Renewal Period: | 1 year |
| CE Hours: | 4 |
| State Board: | West Virginia Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists |
| Wisconsin | |
| Minimum Age & Education: | 18 or high school graduation |
| Program Hours: | 1,550 (4,000 apprentice hours) |
| Cost: | $11 |
| Renewal Period: | 2 years |
| CE Hours: | 0 |
| State Board: | State of Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (Cosmetologist) |
| Wyoming | |
| Minimum Age & Education: | N/A |
| Program Hours: | 1,600 |
| Cost: | $148 |
| Renewal Period: | 2 years |
| CE Hours: | 0 |
| State Board: | Wyoming Board of Cosmetology |