Confirm Your Cosmetology Route, Then Practice.

Alabama (AL)

State board

Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering (ABOCB)

Exam

NIC exam (written theory + practical), commonly administered via PSI

Exam covers

Infection control and safety, chemical services, hair/skin/nail care, and Alabama law and rules

Training hours

~1,500 hours at a licensed school (confirm the current requirement with the board)

Alaska (AK)

State agency

Alaska Board of Barbers and Hairdressers (Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing)

Exam

NIC exam (written theory + practical), commonly via PSI

Training hours

1,650 hours for a hairdresser/cosmetology license (or a 2,000-hour apprenticeship)

Alaska's main cosmetology credential is titled 'hairdresser.'

Arizona (AZ)

State board

Arizona Barbering and Cosmetology Board

Exam

NIC exam (written theory + practical), commonly via PSI

Training hours

1,000 hours (reduced from 1,600)

Arizona merged its separate barber and cosmetology boards into one agency.

Arkansas (AR)

State agency

Arkansas Department of Health, Cosmetology Section

Exam

NIC-based written theory + practical, commonly via PSI

Exam covers

Sanitation and safety, chemical services, hair/skin/nail care, and Arkansas rules

Training hours

1,500 hours at a licensed school

Cosmetology in Arkansas is regulated by the state Department of Health, not a standalone board.

California (CA)

State board

California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology (Dept. of Consumer Affairs)

Exam

PSI — written theory only; 110 total items (100 scored + 10 pretest), 120 minutes; current Board pages reviewed 2026-09-26 do not publish a percentage threshold

Training hours

1,000 hours (reduced from 1,600 in 2022); apprenticeship route also available

Fee range

~$125 ($75 exam + $50 initial license)

Colorado (CO)

State agency

Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure, Division of Professions and Occupations (DORA)

Exam

PSI — written theory and practical

Training hours

1,500 contact hours (or 50 credit hours), or a Colorado-approved apprenticeship

Connecticut (CT)

State agency

Connecticut Department of Public Health (Hairdresser & Cosmetician licensing)

Exam

Connecticut has historically licensed on completion of approved training rather than a separate state board exam — confirm current requirements with DPH

Training hours

1,500 hours in a DPH-approved school

Connecticut licenses cosmetology under its Department of Public Health, which is unusual.

Delaware (DE)

State board

Delaware Board of Cosmetology and Barbering (Division of Professional Regulation)

Exam

NIC exam (written theory + practical), commonly via PSI

Training hours

1,500 classroom hours (or a 3,000-hour apprenticeship)

Florida (FL)

State board

Florida Board of Cosmetology, Dept. of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR)

Exam

Pearson VUE — written only (general theory + clinical), 75% each; no hands-on practical

Training hours

1,200 hours plus a required 4-hour HIV/AIDS course

Fee range

~$95–$140 in application, license, and exam fees

Georgia (GA)

State board

Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers, under the Secretary of State

Exam

PSI (NIC national exam) — written and practical

Training hours

1,500 hours of school (or a 3,000-hour apprenticeship)

Fee range

Exam ~$109 (theory + practical) plus a state application fee

Hawaii (HI)

State board

Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, Professional & Vocational Licensing (DCCA)

Exam

NIC exam (written theory + practical), commonly via PSI

Training hours

1,800 hours for a cosmetology license (or a 3,600-hour apprenticeship)

Idaho (ID)

State board

Barber and Cosmetology Services Licensing Board, Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL)

Exam

NIC exam (written theory + practical), commonly via PSI

Training hours

1,600 hours at a licensed school

Illinois (IL)

State agency

Illinois Dept. of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)

Exam

Continental Testing Services (delivered at PSI centers) — written theory only

Training hours

1,500 hours

Fee range

~$45 application plus exam (~$195); roughly $45–$240

Indiana (IN)

State board

State Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners, Professional Licensing Agency (PLA)

Exam

NIC exam (written theory + practical), commonly via PSI

Training hours

1,500 hours at a licensed school

Iowa (IA)

State board

Board of Barbering and Cosmetology Arts & Sciences, Dept. of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing (DIAL)

Exam

NIC exam (written theory + practical), commonly via PSI

Training hours

~1,550 hours — Iowa lowered its longstanding 2,100-hour requirement; confirm the current figure with the board

Kansas (KS)

State board

Kansas Board of Cosmetology

Exam

Written theory and practical, 75% to pass each, commonly via PSI

Training hours

1,500 clock hours at a licensed school

Kentucky (KY)

State board

Kentucky Board of Cosmetology (formerly Board of Hairdressers and Cosmetologists)

Exam

Written and practical exams

Training hours

1,500 hours at a licensed school

Louisiana (LA)

State board

Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology (LSBC)

Exam

Three exams — NIC national written, a Louisiana state written, and an LSBC practical

Training hours

1,500 hours (theory exam eligible at 1,000 hours; practical at 1,500)

Maine (ME)

State agency

Barbering and Cosmetology Licensing Program, Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation (OPOR)

Exam

NIC exam (written theory + practical), commonly via PSI

Training hours

1,500 hours (or a 2,500-hour apprenticeship)

Maryland (MD)

State board

Maryland Board of Cosmetologists (Dept. of Labor, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing)

Exam

NIC exam (written theory + practical), commonly via PSI

Training hours

1,500 hours at an approved school (or 24 months as a registered apprentice)

Massachusetts (MA)

State board

Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering (Division of Occupational Licensure)

Exam

PSI — written theory and practical

Training hours

1,000 hours for a cosmetologist license

Michigan (MI)

State agency

Michigan Dept. of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Board of Cosmetology

Exam

PSI — written and practical

Training hours

1,500 hours (or a 2-year apprenticeship)

Fee range

~$63 application plus exam (~$161); roughly $63–$225

Minnesota (MN)

State board

Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners

Exam

Written theory and a practical skills assessment

Training hours

1,550 hours at a Board-approved school

Mississippi (MS)

State board

Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering

Exam

NIC exam (written theory + practical), commonly via PSI

Training hours

1,500 hours over at least 9 months at an accredited school

Missouri (MO)

State board

Missouri State Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners

Exam

Prov (Provexam) — written and practical

Training hours

1,500 hours (or a 3,000-hour apprenticeship)

Montana (MT)

State board

Montana Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists (Dept. of Labor & Industry)

Exam

NIC exam (written theory + practical), commonly via PSI

Training hours

2,000 hours at a Board-approved school

Nebraska (NE)

State agency

Nebraska DHHS (Board of Cosmetology, Electrology, Esthetics, Nail Technology & Body Art)

Exam

NIC written theory exam only — Nebraska does not require a hands-on practical exam

Training hours

1,800 hours (reduced from 2,100)

Nevada (NV)

State board

Nevada State Board of Cosmetology

Exam

Three exams — a theory exam, a practical exam, and a Nevada state law exam

Training hours

1,600 hours (or a 3,200-hour apprenticeship)

New Hampshire (NH)

State board

Board of Barbering, Cosmetology and Esthetics, Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC)

Exam

NIC exam (written theory + practical), commonly via PSI

Training hours

1,500 hours (or 3,000 hours of documented apprentice/work experience)

New Jersey (NJ)

State board

New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling (Division of Consumer Affairs)

Exam

Prometric — written and practical

Training hours

1,200 hours for a cosmetology-hairstyling license

New Mexico (NM)

State board

New Mexico Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists (Regulation and Licensing Department)

Exam

NIC exam (written theory + practical), commonly via PSI

Training hours

1,600 clock hours (about 63 credit hours)

New York (NY)

State agency

New York Dept. of State, Division of Licensing Services (Appearance Enhancement)

Exam

State-run — written AND practical exams both required

Training hours

1,000 hours

Fee range

~$40–$70 (application plus written and practical exam fees)

North Carolina (NC)

State board

North Carolina Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners

Exam

NIC exam (via Provexam/PSI) — written and practical, 75% each

Training hours

1,500 hours (a 1,200-hour apprentice route also exists)

Fee range

~$49–$113 ($64 exam + $49 license application)

North Dakota (ND)

State board

North Dakota State Board of Cosmetology

Exam

NIC exam (written theory + practical), commonly via PSI

Training hours

1,500 hours (reduced from 1,800 in 2021)

Ohio (OH)

State board

Ohio State Cosmetology and Barber Board

Exam

State-run — written (100 questions) and practical

Training hours

1,500 hours (1,000 if already a licensed barber)

Fee range

Roughly $60–$165 in exam and license fees (verify current fees with the board)

Oklahoma (OK)

State board

Oklahoma State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering

Exam

NIC exam (written theory + practical), commonly via PSI

Training hours

1,000 hours (reduced from 1,500, effective July 1, 2025) or a 2,250-hour apprenticeship

Oregon (OR)

State agency

Board of Cosmetology, Health Licensing Office (Oregon Health Authority)

Exam

State theory and practical exams administered through the Health Licensing Office

Training hours

Hair design certification requires 1,110 hours; other fields (barber, esthetics, nails) are certified separately with their own hours

Oregon certifies by field of practice rather than issuing one broad 'cosmetology' license.

Pennsylvania (PA)

State board

Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology (Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs)

Exam

Pearson VUE — written theory and practical portions

Training hours

1,250 hours

Fee range

~$25 board application fee plus exam (~$185); roughly $25–$210

Rhode Island (RI)

State agency

Rhode Island Dept. of Health — Board of Barbering, Hairdressing and Cosmetology

Exam

NIC exam (written theory + practical), commonly via PSI

Training hours

1,500 hours at an approved school

Rhode Island regulates cosmetology through its Department of Health.

South Carolina (SC)

State board

South Carolina Board of Cosmetology, Dept. of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR)

Exam

NIC exam (written theory + practical), commonly via PSI

Training hours

1,500 hours — all at a licensed school (no apprenticeship route)

South Dakota (SD)

State agency

South Dakota Cosmetology Commission (Dept. of Labor and Regulation)

Exam

NIC exam (written theory + practical), commonly via PSI

Training hours

~1,500 hours — sources vary (some cite 2,100); confirm the current requirement with the Commission

Tennessee (TN)

State board

Tennessee Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners

Exam

Written and practical exams after training is complete

Training hours

1,500 hours at a school of cosmetology

Texas (TX)

State board

Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), Barbering & Cosmetology program

Exam

PSI — written AND practical exams both required

Training hours

1,000 hours

Fee range

~$50–$150 (TDLR fee plus PSI written and practical exam fees)

Utah (UT)

State agency

Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL), Dept. of Commerce

Exam

NIC exam (written theory + practical), commonly via PSI

Training hours

1,250 hours for the cosmetology/barber license (reduced from 1,600, effective January 1, 2026)

Vermont (VT)

State board

Vermont Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists, Office of Professional Regulation (Secretary of State)

Exam

NIC exam (written theory + practical), commonly via PSI

Training hours

1,500 hours (or a 2,000-hour apprenticeship)

Virginia (VA)

State board

Board for Barbers and Cosmetology, Dept. of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR)

Exam

NIC exam (written theory + practical), commonly via PSI

Training hours

1,500 hours in a formal program (or a 3,000-hour apprenticeship)

Washington (WA)

State agency

Washington State Department of Licensing (Cosmetology program)

Exam

NIC exam (written theory + practical), commonly via PSI

Training hours

1,600 hours (or a 3,000-hour apprenticeship plus 244 hours of instruction)

West Virginia (WV)

State board

West Virginia Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists

Exam

NIC exam (written theory + practical), commonly via PSI

Training hours

1,800 hours at a licensed school

Wisconsin (WI)

State board

Cosmetology Examining Board, Dept. of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS)

Exam

NIC exam (written theory + practical), commonly via PSI

Training hours

1,550 hours over at least 10 months at a licensed school

Wyoming (WY)

State board

Wyoming Board of Cosmetology

Exam

NIC exam (written theory + practical), commonly via PSI

Training hours

~1,600 hours — recent guidance cites 1,600 (down from a former 2,000); confirm the current requirement with the board

Washington D.C. (DC)

State agency

D.C. Board of Barber and Cosmetology, Dept. of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP)

Exam

NIC exam (written theory + practical), commonly via PSI

Training hours

1,500 hours (or a 2,000-hour apprenticeship curriculum)

Licensing moved from DCRA to the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP).