The Number of Cosmetology School Hours Required for a State Board License – In Every State

The Number of Cosmetology School Hours Required for a State Board License – In Every State

To pass your state board licensing exam and become a practicing cosmetologist, esthetician, nail tech or barber, the first step is to complete the number of hours required by your state’s State Board.

The normal route is to complete the required number of hours in beauty school, which would be split between classroom instruction and practical experience. Alternatively, some states will allow you to take an apprenticeship instead – which will be cheaper, but take longer because the required number of hours is almost always higher.

After completing your hours, you can register for your state board exams – then once you pass, you’re ready to be issued your license and start your new career!

(Not sure if you’re ready to take your exam? We offer free practice tests for cosmetologists, estheticians, nail techs and barbers – with questions taken directly from the state board exam.)

Pick your state from the list below to see how many hours you’ll need to complete before you’re eligible for your state board license!

Alabama

Cosmetologists: 1500 school hours, or 3000 apprenticeship hours

Estheticians: 1500 school hours, or 3000 apprenticeship hours

Nail technicians: 750 school hours, or 1200 apprenticeship hours

Barbers: 1000 school hours, or 2000 apprenticeship hours

Alaska

Cosmetologists: 1650 school hours, or 2000 apprenticeship hours

Estheticians: 350 hours (school or apprenticeship)

Nail technicians: 120 school hours

Barbers: 1650 school hours, or 2000 apprenticeship hours

Arizona

Cosmetologists: 1600 school hours

Estheticians: 600 school hours

Nail technicians: 600 school hours

Barbers: 1500 school hours

Arkansas

Cosmetologists: 1500 school hours

Estheticians: 600 school hours

Nail technicians: 600 school hours

Barbers: 1500 school hours

California

Cosmetologists: 1600 school hours, or 3200 apprenticeship hours

Estheticians: 600 school hours

Nail technicians: 400 school hours

Barbers: 1500 school hours, or 3200 apprenticeship hours

Colorado

Cosmetologists: 1800 school hours

Estheticians: 600 school hours

Nail technicians: 600 school hours

Barbers: 1500 school hours

Connecticut

Cosmetologists: 1500 school hours

Estheticians: No license required

Nail technicians: No license required

Barbers: 1500 school hours

Delaware

Cosmetologists: 1500 school hours, or 3000 apprenticeship hours

Estheticians: 600 school hours, or 1200 apprenticeship hours

Nail technicians: 300 school hours, or 600 apprenticeship hours

Barbers: 1500 school hours, or 3000 apprenticeship hours

District of Columbia

Cosmetologists: 1500 school hours

Estheticians: 600 school hours

Nail technicians: 350 school hours

Barbers: 1500 school hours

Florida

Cosmetologists: 1200 school hours

Estheticians: 260 school hours

Nail technicians: 240 school hours

Barbers: 1200 school hours

Georgia

Cosmetologists: 1500 school hours, or 3000 apprenticeship hours

Estheticians: 1000 school hours, or 2000 apprenticeship hours

Nail technicians: 525 school hours, or 2050 apprenticeship hours

Barbers: 1500 school hours, or 3000 apprenticeship hours

Hawaii

Cosmetologists: 1800 school hours, or 3600 apprenticeship hours

Estheticians: 600 school hours, or 1200 apprenticeship hours

Nail technicians: 350 school hours, or 700 apprenticeship hours

Barbers: 1500 school hours, or 1500 apprenticeship hours

Idaho

Cosmetologists: 2000 school hours, or 4000 apprenticeship hours

Estheticians: 600 school hours, or 1200 apprenticeship hours

Nail technicians: 400 school hours, or 800 apprenticeship hours

Barbers: 900 school hours

Illinois

Cosmetologists: 1500 school hours

Estheticians: 750 school hours

Nail technicians: 350 school hours

Barbers: 1500 school hours

Indiana

Cosmetologists: 1500 school hours

Estheticians: 700 school hours

Nail technicians: 450 school hours

Barbers: 1500 school hours

Iowa

Cosmetologists: 2100 school hours

Estheticians: 600 school hours

Nail technicians: 325 school hours

Kansas

Cosmetologists: 1500 school hours

Estheticians: 1000 school hours

Nail technicians: 350 school hours

Barbers: 1500 school hours

Kentucky

Cosmetologists: 1800 school hours

Estheticians: 750 school hours

Nail technicians: 600 school hours

Barbers: 1500 school hours

Louisiana

Cosmetologists: 1500 school hours

Estheticians: 750 school hours

Nail technicians: 500 school hours

Barbers: 1500 school hours

Maine

Cosmetologists: 1500 school hours, or 2500 apprenticeship hours

Estheticians: 600 school hours, or 1000 apprenticeship hours

Barbers: 1500 school hours, or 2500 apprenticeship hours

Maryland

Cosmetologists: 1500 school hours, or 24 month apprenticeship

Estheticians: 600 school hours, or 12 month apprenticeship

Nail technicians: 250 school hours, or 8 month apprenticeship

Barbers: 1200 school hours, or 2250 apprenticeship hours

Massachusetts

Cosmetologists: 1000 school hours

Estheticians: 300 school hours

Nail technicians: 100 school hours

Barbers: 1000 school hours

Michigan

Cosmetologists: 1500 school hours, or 2 years apprenticeship

Estheticians: 400 school hours, or 6 months apprenticeship

Nail technicians: 400 school hours, or 6 months apprenticeship

Barbers: 2000 school hours

Minnesota

Cosmetologists: 1550 school hours

Estheticians: 600 school hours

Nail technicians: 350 school hours

Barbers: 1500 school hours

Mississippi

Cosmetologists: 1500 school hours

Estheticians: 600 school hours

Nail technicians: 350 school hours

Barbers: 1500 school hours

Missouri

Cosmetologists: 1500 school hours

Estheticians: 750 school hours

Nail technicians: 400 school hours

Barbers: 1000 school hours

Montana

Cosmetologists: 2000 school hours

Estheticians: 650 school hours

Nail technicians: 350 school hours

Barbers: 1500 school hours

Nebraska

Cosmetologists: 2100 school hours

Estheticians: 600 school hours

Nail technicians: 300 school hours

Barbers: 1800 school hours

Nevada

Cosmetologists: 1800 school hours

Estheticians: 900 school hours

Nail technicians: 600 school hours

Barbers: 1500 school hours

New Hampshire

Cosmetologists: 1500 school hours, or 3000 apprenticeship hours

Estheticians: 600 school hours, or 1200 apprenticeship hours

Nail technicians: 300 school hours, or 600 apprenticeship hours

Barbers: 800 school hours, or 1600 apprenticeship hours

New Jersey

Cosmetologists: 1200 school hours

Estheticians: 600 school hours

Nail technicians: 300 school hours

Barbers: 900 school hours

New Mexico

Cosmetologists: 1600 school hours

Estheticians: 600 school hours

Nail technicians: 350 school hours

Barbers: 1200 school hours

New York

Cosmetologists: 1000 school hours

Estheticians: 600 school hours

Nail technicians: 250 school hours

Barbers: 2 years apprenticeship

North Carolina

Cosmetologists: 1500 school hours

Estheticians: 600 school hours

Nail technicians: 300 school hours

Barbers: 1528 school hours

North Dakota

Cosmetologists: 1800 school hours

Estheticians: 600 school hours

Nail technicians: 350 school hours

Barbers: 1500 school hours

Ohio

Cosmetologists: 1500 school hours

Estheticians: 750 school hours

Nail technicians: 200 school hours

Barbers: 1800 school hours

Oklahoma

Cosmetologists: 1500 school hours

Estheticians: 600 school hours

Nail technicians: 600 school hours

Barbers: 1500 school hours

Oregon

Cosmetologists: 1450 school hours

Estheticians: 250 school hours

Nail technicians: 350 school hours

Barbers: 1100 school hours

Pennsylvania

Cosmetologists: 1250 school hours

Estheticians: 300 school hours

Nail technicians: 200 school hours

Barbers: 1250 school hours

Rhode Island

Cosmetologists: 1500 school hours

Estheticians: 600 school hours

Nail technicians: 300 school hours

Barbers: 1500 school hours, or 2 year apprenticeship

South Carolina

Cosmetologists: 1500 school hours

Estheticians: 600 school hours

Nail technicians: 400 school hours

Barbers: 1500 school hours, or 12 month apprenticeship

South Dakota

Cosmetologists: 2100 school hours

Estheticians: 600 school hours

Nail technicians: 400 school hours

Barbers: 1500 school hours

Tennessee

Cosmetologists: 1500 school hours

Estheticians: 750 school hours

Nail technicians: 600 school hours

Barbers: 1500 school hours

Texas

Cosmetologists: 1500 school hours

Estheticians: 750 school hours

Nail technicians: 600 school hours

Barbers: 1500 school hours

Utah

Cosmetologists: 2000 school hours

Estheticians: 600 school hours

Nail technicians: 300 school hours

Barbers: 1000 school hours, or 1250 apprenticeship hours

Vermont

Cosmetologists: 1500 school hours

Estheticians: 600 school hours

Nail technicians: 400 school hours, or 900 apprenticeship hours

Barbers: 1000 school hours

Virginia

Cosmetologists: 1500 school hours, or 3000 apprenticeship hours

Estheticians: 600 school hours

Nail technicians: 150 school hours, or 2000 apprenticeship hours

Barbers: 1500 school hours, or 3000 apprenticeship hours

Washington

Cosmetologists: 1600 school hours, or 2000 apprenticeship hours

Estheticians: 600 school hours, or 800 apprenticeship hours

Nail technicians: 600 school hours, or 800 apprenticeship hours

Barbers: 1000 school hours, or 1200 apprenticeship hours

West Virginia

Cosmetologists: 1800 school hours

Estheticians: 600 school hours

Nail technicians: 400 school hours

Barbers: 1800 school hours

Wisconsin

Cosmetologists: 1800 school hours, or 4000 apprenticeship hours

Estheticians: 450 school hours

Nail technicians: 300 school hours, or 300 apprenticeship hours

Barbers: 1800 school hours, or 2000 apprenticeship hours

Wyoming

Cosmetologists: 2000 school hours

Estheticians: 600 school hours

Nail technicians: 400 school hours

Barbers: 1000 school hours

Select Your State