How many hours do you need for a cosmetology license in Arizona?

Arizona requires 1,500 hours of approved training. That is more than 12 of the other jurisdictions tracked here and fewer than 13.

How much does a Arizona cosmetology license cost?

Before tuition, expect $177 for the written exam and included in $177 PCS bundle for the practical exam.

How old do you have to be to get a cosmetology license in Arizona?

You must be at least 16 years old. The education requirement is At least two years of high school or equivalent, or an age-18 alternative.

AZ Cosmetology licensing

Arizona cosmetology license requirements and exam prep

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

At a glance

Arizona Cosmetology facts

License type: Cosmetologist
School hours: 1,500 hours
Written exam: Required
Practical exam: Not required
Exam vendor: Professional Credential Services (PCS)
Passing score: 75
Exam fees: Written $177
Minimum age: 16
Education: At least two years of high school or equivalent, or an age-18 alternative
Last verified: 2026-08-01

Checked against 3 official sources on 2026-08-01. Every figure on this page links to the document it came from.

Application path

What to verify before you apply

1Confirm the license categoryState boards may use different names for the same career path.
2Verify training and exam eligibilityCheck hours, application order, fees, IDs and vendor rules from official sources.
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
Fee: $177

Practical exam

Status: Not required

Arizona does not require a hands-on practical examination for this license, so there is no practical time limit, score or fee to prepare for.

Renewal and transfer

What it costs

Written exam: $177
Practical exam: included in $177 PCS bundle

PCS publishes a $177 fee for the combined theory and written practical examination. Arizona Board application/license fees are not included here because they were not verified from a stored official source.

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

Study path

How to use this Arizona 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.

Confirm eligibilityFinish 1,500 approved training hours before relying on exam practice as your only preparation step.
Prepare for the written examUse timed practice against the published written-exam structure: passing standard 75. The cited sources name Professional Credential Services (PCS) as the exam vendor.
Focus the exam study loopArizona does not require a practical exam for this license, so the course app can focus on written theory, explanations and timed drills.
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

A.R.S. 32-511 Cosmetologists; applications; qualifications ↗Arizona State Legislature · Accessed 2026-07-30Education, License type, Minimum age, Practical exam, Training hours, Written exam
A.R.S. 32-514 Examinations ↗Arizona State Legislature · Accessed 2026-07-30Written exam, Practical exam
Cosmetology & Barbering - Arizona ↗Professional Credential Services · Accessed 2026-07-30Exam vendor, Exam Fee, Passing Score, Candidate Bulletin

Arizona in context

What these Arizona cosmetology rules mean for you

Arizona 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.

Arizona requires a written examination but no hands-on practical examination for this license, which is unusual and means your preparation is entirely theory-based. The examination is administered by Professional Credential Services (PCS). The published passing standard is 75.

Arizona Cosmetology licensing questions

How many hours do you need for a cosmetology license in Arizona?: Arizona requires 1,500 hours of approved training. That is more than 12 of the other jurisdictions tracked here and fewer than 13.
How much does a Arizona cosmetology license cost?: Before tuition, expect $177 for the written exam and included in $177 PCS bundle for the practical exam.
Is there a practical exam for the Arizona cosmetology license?: No. Arizona does not require a hands-on practical examination for this license.
How old do you have to be to get a cosmetology license in Arizona?: You must be at least 16 years old. The education requirement is At least two years of high school or equivalent, or an age-18 alternative.

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