Licensing Requirements by state

State-By-State Licensure

We've compiled everything you need to know for obtaining your state license as a Cosmetologist, Esthetician, Nail Tech, Manicurist, Barber, and Cosmetology Teacher. The information below was compiled by BeautySchools.edu in developing this site; to ensure the most recent information, please check the state of interest board's website, as shown below.

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Alabama | Alaska | Arizona | Arkansas | California | Colorado | Connecticut | Delaware | District of Columbia | Florida | Georgia | Hawaii | Idaho | Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Kansas | Kentucky | Louisiana | Maine | Maryland | Massachusetts | Michigan | Minnesota | Mississippi | Missouri | Montana | Nebraska | Nevada | New Hampshire | New Jersey | New Mexico | New York | North Carolina | North Dakota | Ohio | Oklahoma | Oregon | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Carolina | South Dakota | Tennessee | Texas | Utah | Vermont | Virginia | Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin | Wyoming
Alabama

Alabama Board of Cosmetology

RSA Union Building, Suite 320
Montgomery, AL 36130
Phone: 334.242.1918
Fax: 334.242.1926
aboc.state.al.us

Program Required Hours Other Requirements
Cosmetologist 1500
N/A
Esthetician 1500
Nail Tech 750
Alaska

Division of Corporations,Business and Professional Licensing

P.O. Box 110806
Juneau, AK 99811
Phone:907.465.2550
Fax:907.465.2974
dced.state.ak.us/occ/pbah.htm

Program Required Hours Other Requirements
Hairdressing 1650 Additional license requirements are needed to perform other cosmetology services.
Barbering 1650
Esthetician 750
Alaska

Arizona Board of Cosmetology

1721 East Broadway
Tempe, AZ 85282
Phone:480.784.4539
cosmetology.state.az.us

Program Required Hours Other Requirements
Cosmetologist 1600 Must have at least two years of high school education or its equivalent and be at least 23 years of age.
Esthetician 600
Nail Tech 600
Arkansas

Arkansas State Board of Cosmetology

101 East Capital Avenue, Suite 108
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone:501.682.2168
Fax:501.682.5640
accessarkansas.org/cos/

Program Required Hours Other Requirements
Cosmetologist 1500
N/A
Esthetician 600
Nail Tech 600
California

Board of Barbering & Cosmetology

2420 Del Paso Road, Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95831
Phone:800.952.5210
Fax:916.575.7281
barbercosmo.ca.gov

Program Required Hours Other Requirements
Cosmetologist 1600 Must be at least 17 years old and completed 10th grade or equivalent.
Esthetician 600
Manicurist 400
Barber 1500
Colorado

Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetologist Licensing

1560 Broadway #1350
Sacramento, CA 95831
Phone:800.952.5210
Fax:916.575.7281
dora.state.co.us/Barbers_Cosmetologists

Program Required Hours Other Requirements
Cosmetologist 1800 Must be at least 16 years old.
Barbering 1500
Manicurist 1200
Connecticut

Connecticut Dept. of Public Health Cosmetology and Licensing

P.O. Box 340308
Hartford, CT 06134
Phone:860.509.8457
ct.gov/dph/cwp

Program Required Hours Other Requirements
Cosmetologist 1500 Must have completed 8th grade or equivalent.
Delaware

Delaware Board of Cosmetology

Cannon Building Suite 203
Dover, DE 19904
Phone:302.739.4522
dpr.delaware.gov/boards/cosmetology

Program Required Hours Other Requirements
Cosmetologist 1500
N/A
Esthetician 300
Nail Tech 125

Consumer & Regulatory Affairs, Occupational & Professional Licensing

941 North Capitol St. NE
Washington, DC 20002
Phone:202.442.4400
dcra.dc.gov/dcra/cwp

Program Required Hours Other Requirements
Cosmetologist 1500
N/A
Esthetician 125
Nail Tech 350
Florida

Florida Board of Cosmetology, Dept. of Business & Professional Regulation

1940 N. Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Phone:850.487.1395
myflorida.com

Program Required Hours Other Requirements
Cosmetologist 1200
N/A
Esthetician 260
Nail Tech 240
Georgia

Georgia State Board Of Cosmetology

166 Pryor St. S.W.
Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone:478.207.1430
Fax: 478.207.1363
sos.georgia.gov/plb/cosmetology

Program Required Hours Other Requirements
Cosmetologist 1500 Apprenticeship 3000 Apprenticeship 1500 Apprenticeship 640
Esthetician 1000
Nail Tech 525
Hawaii

Board of Barbering & Cosmetology

335 Merchant St. Rm. 301
Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone:808.586.3000
hawaii.gov/dcca/pvl

Program Required Hours Other Requirements
Cosmetologist 600
N/A
Esthetician 600
Nail Tech 350
Barbering 1500
Idaho

Idaho Board of Cosmetology

Idaho Board of Cosmetology
Owyhee Plaza
1109 Main St. Suite 220
Boise, ID 83702
Phone:208.334.3233
ibol.idaho.gov/cos.htm

Program Required Hours Other Requirements
Cosmetologist 2000 Must be at least 16 ½ years old with two years of high school completed.
Esthetician 600
Nail Tech 350
Illinois

Illinois Dept. of Professional Regulation

320 W. Washington St. 3rd Floor
Springfield, IL 62786
Phone:217.782.8556
Fax:217.782.7645
www.idfpr.com/dpr/WHO/cosmo.asp

Program Required Hours Other Requirements
Cosmetologist 1500 Must be at least 16 years old with a minimum of an 8th grade education and may be require to take the Ability to Benefit Test.
Esthetician 750
Nail Tech 350
Indiana

Indiana Professional Licensing Agency State Board of Cosmetology Examiners

402 W. Washington St. Rm. WO72
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Phone:317.232.2980
Fax:317.232.2312
in.gov/pla/bandc/cosmetology

Program Required Hours Other Requirements
Cosmetologist 1500 Must be at least 18 years old with a minimum of a 10th grade education. Must be at least 17.5 years old with an 8th grade education for the Nail Program.
Esthetician 750
Nail Tech 450
Iowa

Iowa Department of Public Health Cosmetology Board of Iowa

Lucas State Office Building
321 E. 12th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319
Phone:515.281.4416
idph.state.ia.us/licensure/board_home.asp?board=cos

Program Required Hours Other Requirements
Cosmetologist 2100
N/A
Esthetician 600
Nail Tech 325
Kansas

Kansas State Board of Cosmetology

714 S W Jackson, Suite 100
Topeka, KS 66603-3714
Phone:785.296.3155
Fax:785.296.3002
www.accesskansas.org/kboc

Program Required Hours Other Requirements
Cosmetologist 1500
N/A
Esthetician 650
Nail Tech 350
Kentucky

Kentucky State Board of Hairdressers & Cosmetologists

111 St. James Court
Frankfort, KY 40601
Phone:502.564.4262
Fax:502.564.0481
kbhc.ky.gov

Program Required Hours Other Requirements
Cosmetologist 1800 Must be at least 16 years old or completed two years of high school.
Esthetician 600
Louisiana

Board of Cosmetology

11622 Sunbelt Court
Baton Rouge, LA 70809
Phone:225.756.3404
Fax:225.756.3410
state.la.us

Program Required Hours Other Requirements
Cosmetologist 1500
N/A
Esthetician 750
Nail Tech 500
Maine

Maine State Board of Barbering & Cosmetology

State House Sta. 35
Augusta, ME 04333
Phone:207.624.8603
Fax:207.624.8637
maine.gov/pfr/professionallicensing/professions/barbers/index.htm

Program Required Hours Other Requirements
Cosmetologist 1500 Apprenticeship 2500 Hours Apprenticeship 2500 Hours Apprenticeship 1250 Hours Apprenticeship 400 Hours
Barbering 1500
Esthetician 750
Nail Tech 500
Maryland

Maryland State Board of Cosmetologists

500 N. Calvert St. Rm. 201
Baltimore, MD 21202
Phone:410.230.6320
dllr.state.md.us/license/cosmet

Program Required Hours Other Requirements
Cosmetologist 1500
N/A
Esthetician 600
Nail Tech 250
Massachusetts

Massachusetts Division of Professional Licensure

239 Causeway St.
Boston, MA 02114
Phone:617.727.9940
Fax:617.737.1627
www.mass.gov

Program Required Hours Other Requirements
Cosmetologist 1000
N/A
Esthetician 300
Nail Tech 100
Michigan

Michigan Bureau of Commercial Services-Board of Cosmetology

P.O. Box 30018
Lansing, MI 48909
Phone:517.241.9201
Fax: 517.241.9280
www.michigan.gov/cosmetology

Program Required Hours Other Requirements
Cosmetologist 1500 Must be 17 years old or have a minimum 9th grade education.
Esthetician 400
Nail Tech 400
Barbering 1750
Minnesota

Minnesota Dept. of Commerce Cosmetology Unit

133 E. Seventh St.
St. Paul, MN 55101
Phone:651.296.6319
Fax:651.296.2886
bceboard.state.mn.us

Program Required Hours Other Requirements
Cosmetologist 1550 Must have a 12th grade education or GED.
Esthetician 600
Nail Tech 350
Mississippi

Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology

3000 Old Canton Rd.
Ste 112
Jackson, MS 39296
Phone:601.987.6837
Fax:601.987.6840
msbc.state.ms.us/msbc/Cosmetology.nsf

Program Required Hours Other Requirements
Cosmetologist 1550 Must be 17 years old, able to read, write and speak English, and have a high school education or its equivalent.
Esthetician 300
Nail Tech 250
Missouri

State Board of Cosmetology

3605 Missouri Boulevard
P.O. Box 1062
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Phone:573.751-1052
Fax:573.751.8167
pr.mo.gov/cosmetology.asp

Program Required Hours Other Requirements
Cosmetologist 1500
N/A
Esthetician 750
Nail Tech 400
Montana

Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists

301 S. Park 4th Floor
P.O. Box 200513
Helena, MT 59620
Phone:406.841.2333
Fax:406.841.2309
mt.gov/dli/bsd/license/bsd_boards/cos_board/board_page.asp

Program Required Hours Other Requirements
Cosmetologist 2000
N/A
Esthetician 650
Nail Tech 350
Nebraska

Department of Health & Department of Health and Human Services

301 Centennial Mall South, Lincoln, NE 68509
Phone:402.471.2117
Fax:402.471.3577
hhs.state.ne.us/crl/mhcs/cosindex.htm

Program Required Hours Other Requirements
Cosmetologist 2100
N/A
Esthetician 600
Nail Tech 300
Nevada

Nevada State Board of Cosmetology

1785 East Sahara Ave. Suite 255
Las Vegas, NV 89104
Phone:702.486.6542
Fax:702.369.8064
cosmetology.nv.gov

Program Required Hours Other Requirements
Cosmetologist 1800 Must be at least 18 years old and completed a 10th grade education.
Esthetician 600
Nail Tech 500
New Hampshire

The Board of Barbering, Cosmetology & Esthetic

2 Industrial Park Drive
Concord, NH 03301
Phone:603.271.3608
Fax:603.271.8889
state.nh.us/cosmet

Program Required Hours Other Requirements
Cosmetologist 1800 Must have a high school diploma or GED.
Esthetician 600
Nail Tech 500
New Jersey

New Jersey Board of Cosmetology & Hairstyling

P.O. Box 45003
Newark, NJ 07101
Phone:973.504.6400
state.nj.us/lps/ca/nonmedical/coshair.htm

Program Required Hours Other Requirements
Cosmetologist 1200 A high school diploma is required.
Nail Tech 300
Teacher 500 (plus 30 hours of methods)
New Mexico

Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists

2550 Cerrillos Road
P.O. Box 25101
Santa Fe, NM 87504
Phone:505.476.4690
Fax:505.476.4665
rld.state.nm.us/barber_cosmo

Program Required Hours Other Requirements
Cosmetologist 1600 Must be 17 years old with at least a 10th grade education
Esthetician 600
Nail Tech 350
Barber 1200
New York

New York Dept. of State Division of Licensing Services

84 Holland Ave.
Albany, NY 12208
Phone:518.474.4429
Fax:518.473.6648
dos.state.ny.us/lcns/professions/appearance/appear.htm

Program Required Hours Other Requirements
Cosmetologist 1000
N/A
Esthetician 600
Nail Tech 250
North Carolina

North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners

1201 Front St. #110
Raleigh, NC 27609
Phone:919.733.4117
Fax:919.733.4127
cosmetology.state.nc.us

Program Required Hours Other Requirements
Cosmetologist 1500
N/A
Esthetician 600
Nail Tech 300
Teacher 800
North Dakota

Board of Cosmetology

P.O. Box 2177
Bismarck, ND 58502
Phone:701.224.9800
Fax:701.222.8756
governor.state.nd.us/boards

Program Required Hours Other Requirements
Cosmetologist 1800
N/A
Nail Tech 350
Ohio

Ohio State Board of Cosmetology

1929 Gateway Circle
Grove City, OH 43123
Phone:614.466.3834
Fax:614.644.6880
cos.ohio.gov

Program Required Hours Other Requirements
Cosmetologist 1500
N/A
Esthetician 600
Nail Tech 200
Oklahoma

State of Oklahoma Board of Cosmetology

2401 N.W. 23rd St., Ste 84
Oklahoma City, OK 73107
Phone:405.521.2441
Fax:405.528.8310
state.ok.us/~cosmo

Program Required Hours Other Requirements
Cosmetologist 1500 Must be over the age of 16 and must have completed 8th grade.
Esthetician 600
Nail Tech 600
Oregon

Oregon Health Licensing Agency

700 Summer St NE,
Ste 320
Salem, OR 97301
Phone:503.378-8667
Fax:503.370.9004
egov.oregon.gov/HLO/COS

Program Required Hours Other Requirements
Hair Design 1450
N/A
Esthetician 250
Nail Tech 350
Barber 1100
Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology

P.O. Box 2649
Harrisburg, PA 17105
Phone:717.783.7130
dos.state.pa.us/bpoa/cwp/view.asp?a=1104&q=432561

Program Required Hours Other Requirements
Cosmetologist 1250
N/A
Nail Tech 200
Rhode Island

Rhode Island Dept. of Health Division of Hairdressing & Barbering

3 Capitol Hill Rm. 104
Providence, RI 02908
Phone:401.222.2511
Fax:401.222.1272
health.ri.gov/hsr/professions/hair_barb.php

Program Required Hours Other Requirements
Cosmetologist 1500
N/A
Esthetician 600
Nail Tech 200
South Carolina

South Carolina Board of Cosmetology

110 Centerview Dr.
Columbia, SC 29210
Phone:803.896-4568
Fax:803.896.4484
llr.state.sc.us/POL/Cosmetology

Program Required Hours Other Requirements
Cosmetologist 1500
N/A
Esthetician 450
Nail Tech 300
South Dakota

South Dakota Cosmetology Commission

500 East Capitol
Pierre, SD 57501
Phone:605.773.6193
Fax:605.773.7175
state.sd.us/dol/boards/cos/

Program Required Hours Other Requirements
Cosmetologist 2100
N/A
Nail Tech 400
Tennessee

Tennessee State Board of Cosmetology

500 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37243
Phone:615.741.2515
Fax:615.741.1310
state.tn.us/commerce/boards/cosmo

Program Required Hours Other Requirements
Cosmetologist 1500 Must be at least 16 years old.
Esthetician 450
Nail Tech 300
Texas

Texas Dept. of Licensing and Regulations

920 Colorado
Austin, TX 78701
Phone:512.463.6599
Fax:512.475.2871
license.state.tx.us/cosmet/cosmet.htm

Program Required Hours Other Requirements
Cosmetologist 1500
N/A
Esthetician 750
Nail Tech 600
Utah

Division of Occupational & Professional Licensing

160 E. 300 St. South
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Phone:801.530-6628
Fax:801.530.6511
dopl.utah.gov/licensing/cosmetology_barbering.html

Program Required Hours Other Requirements
Cosmetologist 2000
N/A
Esthetician 600
Nail Tech 200
Vermont

Office of Secretary of State Office of Professional Regulation, Board of Barber & Cosmetologists

26 Terrace Street, Drawer 09
Montpelier, VT 05609
Phone:802.828.1134
Fax:802.828.2465
vtprofessionals.org/opr1/cosmetologists/

Program Required Hours Other Requirements
Cosmetologist 1500
N/A
Esthetician 600
Nail Tech 400
Virginia

Virginia Dept. of Professional & Occupational Regulation Board for Barbers and Cosmetology

3600 West Broad St.
Richmond, VA 23230
Phone:804.367.8509
dpor.virginia.gov/dporweb/bnc_main.cfm

Program Required Hours Other Requirements
Cosmetologist 1500
N/A
Barbering 1500
Nail Tech 150
Washington

State Department of Licensing, Cosmetology Licensing Program

405 Black Lake Blvd, SW
P.O. Box 9026
Olympia, WA 98507
Phone:360.664.6626
Fax:360.664.2550
dol.wa.gov/business/cosmetology

Program Required Hours Other Requirements
Cosmetologist 1600
N/A
Esthetician 600
Nail Tech 600
Barber 1000
West Virginia

Board of Barbers & Cosmetologists

1716 Pennsylvania Ave. Suite 7
Charleston, WV 25302
Phone:304.558.2924
Fax:304.558.3450
wvdhhr.org/bph/wvbc/mission.htm

Program Required Hours Other Requirements
Cosmetologist 2000
N/A
Esthetician 600
Nail Tech 400
Wisconsin

Wisconsin Dept. of Regulations & Licensing, Barbering and Cosmetology Examining Board

P.O. Box 8935
Madison, WI 53708
Phone:608.266.5511
Fax:608.267.3816
drl.wi.gov/boards/bac

Program Required Hours Other Requirements
Cosmetologist 1800
N/A
Esthetician 450
Nail Tech 300
Wyoming

Wyoming Board of Cosmetology

Peter Hansen Building
2515 Warren Ave. Ste 302
Cheyenne, WY 82002
Phone:307.777.3534
Fax:307.777.3681
state.wy.us

Program Required Hours Other Requirements
Cosmetologist 2000
N/A
Esthetician 600
Nail Tech 400
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