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