NC Cosmetology licensing

North Carolina cosmetology license requirements and exam prep

Confirm North Carolina cosmetology training hours, exam requirements, official board sources and the matching Cosmetology practice app.

At a glance

North Carolina Cosmetology facts

License type
Cosmetologist
School hours
1,500 hours
Written exam
Required
Practical exam
Required
Exam vendor
Prov, Inc.
Passing score
75%
Last verified
2026-08-07

Checked against 1 official source on 2026-08-07. Every figure on this page links to the document it came from.

Application path

What to verify before you apply

  1. 1Confirm the license categoryState boards may use different names for the same career path.
  2. 2Verify training and exam eligibilityCheck hours, application order, fees, IDs and vendor rules from official sources.
  3. 3Practice once your path is clearUse the state-aware course app for written-exam practice and weak-area review.

Exam details

Written and practical exam notes

Written exam

Status
Required
Passing score
75%

Practical exam

Status
Required

Renewal and transfer

Still to verifyNot published in the cited sources: written question count, written time limit, written exam languages, practical time limit, continuing education, transfer terms. Verify the current board page or candidate bulletin before scheduling or applying.

Study path

How to use this North Carolina cosmetology guide

Verify the licensing path here, then use the course app for active recall, answer explanations, weak-area drills and timed written-exam practice.

  1. Confirm eligibilityFinish 1,500 approved training hours before relying on exam practice as your only preparation step. This record also has a sourced apprenticeship path of 1,200 hours.
  2. Prepare for the written examUse timed practice against the published written-exam structure: passing standard 75%. The cited sources name Prov, Inc. as the exam vendor.
  3. Plan hands-on practiceNorth Carolina requires a practical exam for this license, so do not let written-question practice replace service practice and kit/exam-day preparation.
  4. Start the matching practice appBegin with the free questions, then unlock full access when your exam date is close enough that you will use the 90-day study window.

High-yield written topics

  • Safety and infection controlDisinfection, blood exposure, EPA labels, SDS and salon sanitation rules.
  • Hair color and chemistryLevels, developers, patch tests, chemical reactions and product safety.
  • Haircutting and texture servicesElevation, guidelines, relaxers, perms, neutralizers and service steps.
  • Skin, nails and state lawBasic services outside hair plus scope, licensing and board-rule questions.
Practice Cosmetology questions

Official sources

Source links used for this guide

North Carolina in context

What these North Carolina cosmetology rules mean for you

North Carolina requires 1,500 training hours for a cosmetology license. Of the 51 jurisdictions tracked here, 12 ask for fewer hours and 13 ask for more, against a range of 1,000 to 2,000 hours and a median of 1,500. Hour requirements matter beyond school cost: a license earned in a low-hour state is often harder to transfer into a high-hour one.

North Carolina requires both a written examination and a hands-on practical examination, so you need bench skills as well as theory. The examination is administered by Prov, Inc.. The published passing standard is 75%.

North Carolina Cosmetology licensing questions

How many hours do you need for a cosmetology license in North Carolina?
North Carolina requires 1,500 hours of approved training. That is more than 12 of the other jurisdictions tracked here and fewer than 13.
Is there a practical exam for the North Carolina cosmetology license?
Yes. North Carolina requires a hands-on practical examination in addition to the written examination.

Verify before applying. Licensing rules, fees, providers, and exam formats can change. Use the linked board source as the final authority.

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