Professions / Cosmetology

Occupational licensing · Cosmetology · 51 state boards

Cosmetologist Licensing Requirements by State

Cosmetologist licensing rules differ by state. This registry compares education hours, initial and renewal fees, exams, background checks and reciprocity notes across 51 boards. Its source trail records the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) compilation and responsible boards. Use the table to compare differences, then verify the current rule with the responsible board before applying.

Cosmetologist across 51 state boards. Nearest coverage peers (51-state band): Barber, Body Piercer, Electrologist.

By ·Compiled from official state licensing boards

States regulated
51
Avg initial fee
$104
Require an exam
100%
Avg education hours
1,276
View saved licenses

Board Pathway Strip

Cosmetologist: 51 boards · ~1,276 avg pre-licensure hrs · exam on 100% · background check on 100% · avg first fee $104. Same-lane boards: Barber, Body Piercer, Electrologist.

Cosmetologist1276 hrsBarber1230 hrsLicensed Practical Nurse (LP…1230 hrsParamedic1567 hrsMassage Therapist659 hrs
Pre-licensure hour neighbourhood for Cosmetologist

Provides hair, skin, and nail care services. Required in all 50 states.

Cosmetologist initial fees swing $35 (NH) to $183 (CA), a $148 spread across 51 boards ; Barber often lands on a different fee band.

Board thresholds for Cosmetologist drift board-to-board; the same pattern shows up on Barber and Body Piercer in cosmetology. Methodology notes live on our methods page.

Cosmetologist states

51

Coverage band near Barber

Cosmetologist edu hrs

1,276 hrs

Contrast with Body Piercer

Cosmetologist first fee

$104

Fee shape vs Electrologist

Board gates for Cosmetologist: exam on 51/51 (100%), background check on 51/51 (100%) , most boards skip mandated CE hours . Stack that against Barber / Body Piercer before calling this license soft or hard.

Cosmetologist: nationwide coverage neighbours

Coverage band

Hour load

Cheapest vs priciest jurisdiction for Cosmetologist

A $148 fee spread for the same credential

Initial licensing fees in New Hampshire ($ 35) and California ($ 183) bracket the field, a 5.2× spread for identical practice rights.

NH

New Hampshire

$35 initial licensing fee
Renewal cycle
2 years

CA

California

$183 initial licensing fee
Renewal cycle
2 years

Cosmetologist boards vs Barber / Body Piercer - state table

51 states
State Edu. Hours Exam Init. Fee Renewal Cycle CE Hrs Lic. Fee Process Same-board peer
Alabama 1,186 Yes $82 $45 2 yrs 0 $35 2 wks Also Locksmith · Nail Technician
Alaska 1,089 Yes $57 $35 2 yrs 0 $50 3 wks Also Licensed Professional Counselor · Mortgage Loan Originator
Arizona 1,499 Yes $160 $79 2 yrs 0 $50 3 wks Also Pest Control Applicator · Plumber
Arkansas 1,146 Yes $71 $41 2 yrs 0 $60 2 wks Also Mortgage Loan Originator · Paramedic
California 1,592 Yes $183 $89 2 yrs 0 $75 4 wks Also Process Server · Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist
Colorado 1,511 Yes $163 $80 2 yrs 0 $65 3 wks Also Secondary School Teacher · Tattoo Artist
Connecticut 1,405 Yes $136 $69 2 yrs 0 $50 3 wks Also Substitute Teacher · Veterinary Technician
Delaware 1,332 Yes $118 $61 2 yrs 0 $30 2 wks Also Tattoo Artist · Amusement Ride Operator
District of Columbia 1,344 Yes $121 $62 2 yrs 0 $100 4 wks Also Substitute Teacher · Veterinary Technician
Florida 1,373 Yes $128 $65 2 yrs 0 $50 2 wks Also Hearing Aid Specialist · Landscape Architect
Georgia 1,276 Yes $104 $55 2 yrs 0 $45 2 wks Also Land Surveyor · Massage Therapist
Hawaii 1,474 Yes $153 $76 2 yrs 0 $40 2 wks Also Physician Assistant · Radiologic Technologist
Idaho 1,081 Yes $55 $34 2 yrs 0 $50 2 wks Also Respiratory Therapist · Septic System Installer
Illinois 1,551 Yes $173 $85 2 yrs 0 $35 2 wks Also Sign Language Interpreter · Tow Truck Operator
Indiana 1,259 Yes $100 $53 2 yrs 0 $30 2 wks Also Substitute Teacher · Veterinary Technician
Iowa 1,114 Yes $63 $37 2 yrs 0 $55 2 wks Also Real Estate Broker · School Librarian / Media Specialist
Kansas 1,105 Yes $61 $36 2 yrs 0 $40 2 wks Also Funeral Director / Embalmer · HVAC Technician
Kentucky 1,162 Yes $76 $43 2 yrs 0 $50 3 wks Also Home Inspector · Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Louisiana 1,438 Yes $144 $72 2 yrs 0 $75 3 wks Also Food Handler / Food Safety Certification · Home Inspector
Maine 1,016 Yes $39 $27 2 yrs 0 $35 2 wks Also Mobile Home Installer · Painter (Contractor)
Maryland 1,397 Yes $134 $68 2 yrs 0 $70 3 wks Also Medical Lab Technician · Optometrist
Massachusetts 1,381 Yes $130 $66 2 yrs 0 $75 3 wks Also Marriage and Family Therapist · Notary Public
Michigan 1,284 Yes $106 $56 2 yrs 0 $25 2 wks Also Occupational Therapist · Pharmacist
Minnesota 1,211 Yes $88 $48 2 yrs 0 $70 3 wks Also Pest Control Applicator · Plumber
Mississippi 1,178 Yes $80 $44 2 yrs 0 $55 2 wks Also Physical Therapist · Psychologist
Missouri 1,203 Yes $86 $47 2 yrs 0 $50 2 wks Also Pesticide Applicator (Commercial) · Private Investigator
Montana 1,454 Yes $149 $74 2 yrs 0 $55 2 wks Also Physician Assistant · Radiologic Technologist
Nebraska 1,097 Yes $59 $36 2 yrs 0 $55 2 wks Also Private Investigator · Real Estate Broker
Nevada 1,534 Yes $168 $83 2 yrs 0 $75 3 wks Also Septic System Installer · Taxi/Ride-Share Driver
New Hampshire 1,000 Yes $35 $25 2 yrs 0 $50 2 wks Also Professional Geologist · Respiratory Therapist
New Jersey 1,389 Yes $132 $67 2 yrs 0 $60 3 wks Also Radiologic Technologist · School Bus Driver
New Mexico 1,462 Yes $151 $75 2 yrs 0 $60 3 wks Also Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist · Secondary School Teacher
New York 1,354 Yes $123 $63 2 yrs 0 $40 3 wks Also Substitute Teacher · Veterinary Technician
North Carolina 1,268 Yes $102 $54 2 yrs 0 $70 3 wks Also Physician Assistant · Radiologic Technologist
North Dakota 1,065 Yes $51 $32 2 yrs 0 $60 2 wks Also Plumber · Real Estate Agent / Salesperson
Ohio 1,308 Yes $112 $58 2 yrs 0 $50 2 wks Also Substitute Teacher · Veterinary Technician
Oklahoma 1,122 Yes $65 $38 2 yrs 0 $50 2 wks Also Tax Preparer · Animal Breeder
Oregon 1,564 Yes $176 $86 2 yrs 0 $50 3 wks Also Animal Breeder · Bartender / Alcohol Server
Pennsylvania 1,341 Yes $120 $62 2 yrs 0 $35 2 wks Also Animal Breeder · Bartender / Alcohol Server
Rhode Island 1,446 Yes $146 $73 2 yrs 0 $75 3 wks Also Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) · Mobile Home Installer
South Carolina 1,130 Yes $67 $39 2 yrs 0 $40 2 wks Also Occupational Therapist · Pharmacist
South Dakota 1,049 Yes $47 $30 2 yrs 0 $40 2 wks Also Optician (Dispensing) · Pharmacy Technician
Tennessee 1,227 Yes $92 $50 2 yrs 0 $60 2 wks Also Secondary School Teacher · Tattoo Artist
Texas 1,316 Yes $114 $59 2 yrs 0 $50 2 wks Also Tow Truck Operator · Armed Security Guard
Utah 1,170 Yes $78 $43 2 yrs 0 $50 3 wks Also Body Piercer · Court Reporter / Stenographer
Vermont 1,024 Yes $41 $28 2 yrs 0 $50 3 wks Also Esthetician · Hair Braider
Virginia 1,243 Yes $96 $51 2 yrs 0 $70 3 wks Also Barber · Childcare Center Director
Washington 1,486 Yes $157 $78 2 yrs 0 $90 3 wks Also Elevator Installer · General Contractor
West Virginia 1,170 Yes $78 $43 2 yrs 0 $50 2 wks Also Locksmith · Nail Technician
Wisconsin 1,195 Yes $84 $46 2 yrs 0 $60 2 wks Also Glazier · Interior Designer
Wyoming 1,032 Yes $43 $29 2 yrs 0 $60 2 wks Also Medical Assistant · Optician (Dispensing)

Cheapest / fastest Cosmetologist boards (then check Barber)

Fee and processing extremes for Cosmetologist. Same-lane peers Barber and Body Piercer can land on different boards even when the practice looks similar.

Lowest Cosmetologist fee
Highest Cosmetologist fee
Fastest Cosmetologist process
Data sourced from NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), and state licensing board websites. For informational purposes only; not professional licensing advice. Verify current requirements with your state board before making career decisions.

Every figure on PlainCredential is rendered directly from NCSL and state occupational- licensing board data, no number is typed in by an editor. Cosmetologist requirements from NCSL and state board schedules: 51 rows, no hand-typed figures. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.