Pennsylvania Cosmetology License Requirements

Official licensing links · Checked October 10, 2026

Pennsylvania State Board: choose your next step

Find the official Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology links for an application, renewal or exam appointment.

Schedule your exam after you receive eligibility and approval-to-test notices. For renewal, check your license’s expiration date against the Board’s current instructions.

Studying for a licensing exam? Compare the three license requirements, then choose your written-exam practice.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Cosmetology, Nail Technician and Esthetician Requirements

Compare training hours, written and practical exam requirements, and verified guide status for the three Pennsylvania beauty licenses.

Practice after you verify the path

Choose the written exam you are preparing for

Use the state requirements first, then start the matching course with 10 free questions and explanations.

700+ questions · PennsylvaniaNail Technician practiceSanitation, nail anatomy, manicure, pedicure, acrylic, gel and wraps.

200 hrs · Written: required · Practical: not required

Try 10 free questions →Open full guide
500+ questions · PennsylvaniaEsthetician practiceSkin science, infection control, facials, hair removal, makeup and machines.

300 hrs · Written: required · Practical: not required

Try 10 free questions →Open full guide

At a glance

Compare Pennsylvania requirements side by side

These owner-verified hour and exam flags come from the state dataset. Open a full guide for source-linked fees, renewal, reciprocity and exam details where approved.

RequirementCosmetologyNail TechnicianEsthetician
Training hours1,250 hrsTraining200 hrsTraining300 hrsTraining
Written examRequiredExam statusRequiredExam statusRequiredExam status
Practical examNot requiredExam statusNot requiredExam statusNot requiredExam status

Cosmetology

Training hours
1,250 hrsTraining
Written exam
RequiredExam status
Practical exam
Not requiredExam status
Open full guide →

Nail Technician

Training hours
200 hrsTraining
Written exam
RequiredExam status
Practical exam
Not requiredExam status
Open full guide →

Esthetician

Training hours
300 hrsTraining
Written exam
RequiredExam status
Practical exam
Not requiredExam status
Open full guide →

Licensing board

Who issues these licenses

Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology Licenses renew every 2 years.

Pennsylvania board website →

Full guides

Open the verified guide for your license

1,250 hrs · Written: required · Practical: not requiredPennsylvania Cosmetology guideExam details, official sources, fees where verified, and the matching course next step.Open full guide →200 hrs · Written: required · Practical: not requiredPennsylvania Nail Technician guideExam details, official sources, fees where verified, and the matching course next step.Open full guide →300 hrs · Written: required · Practical: not requiredPennsylvania Esthetician guideExam details, official sources, fees where verified, and the matching course next step.Open full guide →

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