Cosmetology licensing
Cosmetology License Requirements by State (2026): Hours, Exams, Fees
Choose a state, scan the facts, then open the official board source before you enroll or apply.
Across every state
How cosmetology licensing differs by state
Every state licenses cosmetologists, but the requirements are not close to uniform. Training runs from 1,000 hours in California, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New York, Rhode Island, Texas and Virginia to 2,000 hours in Montana, West Virginia and Wyoming, against a median of 1,500 hours across the 51 jurisdictions tracked here. That spread is the single biggest thing to check before you enrol, because it also decides how hard your licence is to transfer later.
Examinations differ just as much: 39 jurisdictions require both a written and a hands-on practical examination, and 12 require a written examination only.
Cosmetology licensing at a glance
- Training hours
- 1,000-2,000 hours, median 1,500
- Written exam
- 51 of 51 jurisdictions
- Practical exam
- 39 of 51 jurisdictions
- Jurisdictions covered
- 51 states and DC
Training hours by state
- 1,000-1,099 hrs
- California, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New York, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia
- 1,100-1,199 hrs
- Oregon
- 1,200-1,299 hrs
- Florida, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Utah
- 1,500-1,599 hrs
- Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Washington D.C., Wisconsin
- 1,600-1,699 hrs
- Alaska, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Washington
- 1,800-1,899 hrs
- Hawaii, Nebraska
- 2,000-2,099 hrs
- Montana, West Virginia, Wyoming
Showing all 50 states + DC
Verify before applying. Licensing rules, fees, providers, and exam formats can change. Use the linked board source as the final authority.