To become a licensed or certified cosmetologist, you need to receive an education in cosmetology from an accredited school. However, the type of education you need to receive may differ depending on your current state of residence. In addition to training requirements, you also need to be aware of state specific guidelines on continuing education units (CEUs), license renewal periods and fees, license reciprocity or transfer, etc.

 

Alabama

• Barber – 1000 hours for Class II
• Cosmetologist – 1500 hours or 3000 apprenticeship hours
• Esthetician – 1500 hours or 3000 apprenticeship hours
• Nail Technician – 750 hours or 1200 apprenticeship hours
• Instructor – 1500 hours, unless you have a manager’s license, then it’s 650 hours. You have to be licensed for one year to receive a manager’s license.

 

Alaska

• Barber – 1650 hours or 2000 apprenticeship hours
• Esthetician – 350 hours
• Hairdresser – 1650 hours or 2000 apprenticeship hours
• Instructor – 600 hours if licensed between 1-3 years. If licensed over 3 years, no additional training hours are needed.
• Manicurist – 250 hours, plus 12 hours of additional instruction

 

Arizona

• Aesthetician – 600 hours
• Barber – 1500 hours
• Cosmetologist – 1600 hours
• Manicurist – 400 hours
• Cosmetologist Instructor – 650 hours
• Aesthetic Instructor – 500 hours
• Nail Technician Instructor – 350 hours

 

Arkansas

• Barber – 1500 hours
• Cosmetologist – 1500 hours
• Electrologist – 600 hours or 350 hours with 1500 cosmetologist hours
• Esthetician – 600 hours
• Manicurist – 600 hours
• Instructor – cosmetologist, manicurist, esthetician must have a current license and accrue 600 hours

 

California

• Cosmetologist – 1600 hours or 3200 apprenticeship hours
• Barber – 1500 hours
• Electrologist – 600 hours or 2-year apprenticeship
• Esthetician – 600 hours
• Manicurist – 400 hours

 

Colorado

• Cosmetologist – 60 semester hours (1,800)
• Hairstylist – 40 semester hours (1,200)
• Barber – 50 semester hours (1,500)
• Nail Technology – 20 semester hours (600)
• Esthetician – 20 semester hours (600)

 

Connecticut

• Cosmetician/Hairdresser – 1500 hours or 3000 apprenticeship hours
• Barber – 1000 hours
• Electrologist – 600 hours

 

Delaware

• Cosmetologist – 1500 hours
• Barber – 1500 hours; Master Barbers require an addition 600 hour apprenticeship
• Electrologist – 300 hours or 600 apprenticeship hours
• Esthetician – 600 hours
• Nail Technology – 300 hours
• Instructor – 250 hours with two years or more experience licensed and practicing; 500 hours with less than two years

 

District of Columbia

• Cosmetologist – 1500 hours
• Nail Technician – 350 hours
• Skin Care – 125 hours

 

Florida

• Cosmetologist – 1200 hours
• Barber – 1200 hours
• Electrologist – 320 hours
• Nails – 240 hours
• Skin – 260 hours
• Full Specialist – 500 hours
• Hair Braider – 2-day course (16 hours)
• Hair Wrapper – 1-day course (6 hours)

 

Georgia

• Cosmetology – 1500 hours or 3000 apprenticeship hours
• Barber – Master Barber 1500 hours; Barber II 1140 hours
• Esthetician – 1000 hours
• Nail Technician – 525 hours
• Hair Design –1000 hours
• Teacher – 750 hours, one year of experience at the master level
• Cosmetology Clinic Teacher – 500 hours of teacher training and two years of experience, licensed or 1000 hours of teacher training

 

Hawaii

• Cosmetology – 1800 hours of 3600 apprenticeship hours
• Esthetics – 550 hours or 1100 apprenticeship hours
• Nail Technician – 350 hours
• Barber – 1500 hours
• Instructor – 600 hours and one year of active licensed experience

 

Idaho

• Cosmetology – 2000 hours or 4000 apprenticeship hours
• Electrologist – 500 hours, plus 300 skin care hours or 1600 apprenticeship hours
• Esthetics – 600 hours or 1200 apprenticeship hours
• Barber – Barber-stylist 1800 hours; Barber (no chemicals) 900 hours
• Nail Technology – 400 hours or 800 apprenticeship hours
• Instructor – 6 month teacher’s course; 3 month teacher’s course with two years licensed experience; 5 years licensed experience immediately preceding application for license

 

Illinois

• Cosmetology – 1500 hours; 150 internship hours can be counted towards this total
• Barber – 1500 hours
• Instructor – 500 hours with two years of licensed experience or 1000 hours
• Electrologist – 600 hours
• Esthetician – 750 hours
• Massage Therapist – 500 hours
• Nail Technician – 350 hours
• Hair Braider – 300 hours

 

Indiana

• Cosmetologist – 1500 hours
• Barber – 1500 hours
• Instructor – 1000 hours
• Electrologist – 300 hours, plus 1500 hours of “Beauty Culture” courses or 700 hours of Esthetics course, plus license
• Esthetician – 700 hours
• Manicurist/Nail Technologist – 450 hours
• Shampooer – 300 hours

 

Iowa

• Cosmetologist – 2100 hours
• Barber – 2100 hours
• Electrologist – 450 hours
• Esthetician – 600 hours
• Nail Technologist – 325 hours
• Cosmetology Arts & Science Intsructor – 1000 hours

 

Kansas

• Cosmetology – 1500 hours
• Barber – 1500 hours
• Esthetician – 1000 hours
• Nail Technician – 350 hours
• Electrologist – 500 hours
• Instructor – 300 hours with one year of licensed experience, or 450 hours

 

Kentucky

• Cosmetologist – 1800 hours
• Barber – 1500 hours
• Nail Technician – 600 hours
• Esthetician – 1000 hours
• Instructor – 1000 hours

 

Louisiana

• Cosmetology – 1500 hours
• Barber – 1500 hours
• Electrologist – 600 hours
• Esthetics – 750 hours
• Nail Technology – 500 hours
• Instructor – 500 hours and one year licensed experience

 

Maine

• Cosmetologist – 1500 hours or 2500 apprenticeship hours
• Barber – 1500 hours
• Aesthetician – 600 hours or 1250 apprenticeship hours
• Electrologist – 600 hours
• Manicurist – 200 hours or 400 apprenticeship hours
• Instructor – 1000 hours, 1500 hours as a licensed professional, and 12 credits from a post-secondary school

 

Maryland

• Cosmetologist – 1500 hours or 2 years of an apprenticeship
• Barber – 1200 hours
• Esthetician – 600 hours
• Electrologist – 600 hours
• Nail Technician – 250 hours
• Senior Cosmetologist – Two years of experience as a licensed cosmetologist, passing grades on the Senior Cosmetologist Exam and the Cosmetologist Exam
• Owner Salon: Submit approved use and occupancy permit from local zoning agency with license application.
• Owner Limited Practice – Owner Limited Practice license is issued for either manicuring or esthetician. Submit approved use and occupancy permit from  local zoning agency with license application.
• Apprentice Cosmetologist – Limited to 1 one-year original license & 2 one-year renewals; Must complete an application and sponsorship form which must be signed by a senior cosmetologist.  Must complete 24 months of training with at least 20 hours per week. Licensees are required to mail monthly training reports to the Board each month.
• Apprentice Esthetician – Limited to 1 one-year original license & 1 one-year renewal; Must complete an application and sponsorship form which must be signed by a senior cosmetologist or a 2 year licensed esthetician. Must complete 12 months of training with at least 20 hours per week. Licensees are required to mail monthly training reports to the Board each month.
• Apprentice Nail Technician – Limited to 1 one-year original license; Must complete an application and sponsorship form which must be signed by a licensed senior cosmetologist or 2 year licensed nail technician. Must complete 8 months of training with at least 20 hours per week. Licensees are required to mail monthly training reports to the Board each month.

 

Massachusetts

• Cosmetologist/Hairdresser – 1000 hours
• Barber – 1000 hours
• Aesthetician – 300 hours
• Electrologist – 1100 hours, exams 2 times/year
• Manicurist – 100 hours

 

Michigan

• Cosmetologist – 1500 hours or 2 years of an apprenticeship
• Barber – 1800 hours
• Electrologist – 400 hours or 6-month apprenticeship
• Esthetician – 400 hours
• Manicurist – 400 hours
• Natural Hair Culturist – 400 hours
• Cosmetology Instructor – 500 hours
• Instructor (all others) – 300 hours

 

Minnesota

• Cosmetologist – 1550 hours
• Barber – 1500 hours
• Esthetician – 600 hours
• Manicurist – 350 hours
• Instructor – 2700 hours of licensed practice

 

Mississippi

• Cosmetology – 1500 hours
• Barber – 1500 hours
• Esthetics – 600 hours
• Manicuring – 350 hours
• Wigology – 300 hours
• Instructor – 750 hours, 12 semester hours in college courses, 2 years licensed practice; or 2000 hours

 

Missouri

• Cosmetologist – 1500 hours or 3000 apprenticeship hours
• Barber – 1000 hours
• Esthetician – 750 hours or 1500 apprenticeship hours
• Manicurist – 400 hours or 800 apprenticeship hours
• Instructor Training – 300 to 600 hours (depending on experience)

 

Montana

• Cosmetologist – 2000 hours
• Barber – 1500 hours with chemicals; 1000 without chemicals
• Barber Supplemental – 150 hours
• Electrologist – 600 hours
• Esthetician – 650 hours
• Manicurist – 400 hours (as of Oct. 2014)
• Microdermabrasion – 50 hours (must have a cosmetologist or esthetician license)
• Instructor – 650 hours with 1 year of licensed practice; or 3 years of licensed practice

 

Nebraska

• Cosmetology – 2100 hours
• Barber – 2100 hours
• Esthetician – 600 hours
• Electrologist – 600 hours
• Nail Technician – 300 hours
• Instructor – 925 hours

 

Nevada

• Cosmetologist – 1600 hours
• Barber – 1500 hours
• Aesthetician – 600 hours
• Electrologist – 500 hours or 1000 apprenticeship hours
• Hair Designer – 1200 hours
• Manicurist – 500 hours
• Instructor – 500-1000 hours and one year of licensed experience

 

New Hampshire

• Cosmetologist – 1500 hours or 3000 apprenticeship hours
• Barber – 1500 hours or 3000 apprenticeship hours; 800 hours for non-chemical barbers
• Electrologist – 1100 hours
• Esthetician – 600 hours
• Manicurist – 300 hours
• Instructor – 800 hours; 500 hours with 12 months licensed practice; or 8 years of licensed practice

 

New Jersey

• Cosmetologist – 1200 hours
• Electrologist – 600 hours
• Manicurist – 300 hours
• Skin Care Specialist – 600 hours
• Instructor – 500 hours

 

New Mexico

• Cosmetologist – 1600 hours
• Barber – 1200 hours
• Esthetician – 600 hours
• Electrologist – 600 hours
• Manicurist/Pedicurist – 350 hours
• Manicurist/Esthetician – 600 hours
• Instructor – 1000 hours

 

New York

• Cosmetology – 1000 hours
• Barber – each school determines the length of study
• Esthetics – 600 hours
• Nail Specialty – 250 hours
• Natural Hair Styling – 300 hours
• Waxing – 75 hours
• Instructor – 2 years of licensed practice

 

North Carolina

• Cosmetologist – 1500 hours or 1200 hours with a 6 month apprenticeship program
• Barber – 1528 hours
• Esthetician – 600 hours
• Electrologist – 600 hours
• Manicurist – 300 hours
• Cosmetologist Instructor – 800 hours, 5-years full-time work
• Esthetician Instructor – 650 hours, 3-years full-time work
• Manicurist Instructor – 320 hours, 2-years full-time work

 

North Dakota

• Cosmetology – 1800 hours
• Barber – 1550 hours
• Electrologist – 600 hours
• Esthetics – 600 hours
• Manicurist – 350 hours
• Instructor – 160-960 hours depending on length of licensed practice

 

Ohio

• Cosmetologist – 1500 hours, 150 of which can be internship hours
• Managing Cosmetologist – 1800 hours
• Barber – 1800 hours
• Electrologist – 600 hours
• Esthetician – 600 hours
• Hair Designer – 1200 hours
• Manicurist – 200 hours
• Natural Hair Stylist – 450 hours
• Instructor – 1000 hours or 1800 hours of licensed practice

 

Oklahoma

• Cosmetologist – 1500 hours or 3000 apprenticeship hours
• Barber – 1500 hours
• Cosmetician – 600 hours
• Electrologist – 600 hours
• Esthetician/Facialist – 600 hours
• Hair braiding Technician – 600 hours
• Manicurist – 600 hours
• Instructor – 1000 hours or 300 hours with 2 years licensed practice

 

Oregon

• Hair Design – 1700 hours
• Barbering – 1100 hours
• Electrologist – 600 hours
• Facial Technology – 500 hours
• Nail Technology – 600 hours
• Hair Design, Esthetics and Nail Technology – 2300 hours
• Hair Design and Esthetics – 1950 hours
• Hair Design and Nail Technology – 2050 hours
• Nail Technology and Esthetics  – 850 hours
• Instructor – two years of licensed practice or two years of instructor training

 

Pennsylvania

• Cosmetologist – 1250 hours or 2000 apprenticeship hours
• Barber – 1250 hours or 2000 apprenticeship hours
• Esthetician – 300 hours
• Nail Technician – 200 hours
• Massage Therapy – 600 hours
• Educators – 500 hours

 

Rhode Island

• Hairdresser, Cosmetician – 1500 hours
• Barber – 1500 hours
• Electrologist – 650 hours
• Esthetician – 600 hours
• Manicurist – 300 hours
• Instructor – 300 hours

 

South Carolina

• Cosmetology – 1500 hours
• Nail Technology – 300 hours
• Esthetics – 450 hours
• Hair Braiding – 1-day course (6 hours)
• Instructor – If person has been licensed and practicing for MORE THAN two years, then he/she must take a 45 Hour Methods of Teaching Course.  If a person has been licensed and practicing for LESS THAN two years, then he/she must take a 750 Hour Instructor Training Program as well as a 45 Hour Methods of Teaching Course.

 

South Dakota

• Cosmetology – 2100 hours or 3000 apprenticeship hours
• Barber – 1500 hours
• Esthetician – 600 hours
• Nail Technician – 400 hours
• Instructor – 1012 hours and 1000 hours of licensed practice

 

Tennessee

• Cosmetologist – 1500 hours
• Barber – 1500 hours
• Esthetician – 750 hours
• Electrologist – 600 hours
• Manicurist – 600 hours
• Natural Hair Stylist – 300 hours
• Shampoo Technician – 300 hours
• Instructor – 300 hours

 

Texas

• Cosmetologist – 1500 hours
• Barber – 1500 hours
• Barber Technician – 300 hours
• Manicurist – 600 hours
• Facial Specialist – 750 hours
• Instructor – 500-750 hours depending on length of licensed practice

 

Utah

• Cosmetologist – 1600 hours or 2500 apprenticeship hours
• Barber – 1000 hours or 1500 apprenticeship hours
• Electrologist – 600 hours
• Esthetics – 600 hours
• Master Esthetician – 1200 hours
• Nail Technologist – 300 hours
• Instructor – 400 hours, or 3000 hours in licensed practice

 

Vermont

• Cosmetologist – 1500 hours or 2000 apprenticeship hours
• Barber – 1000 hours or 2000 apprenticeship hours
• Esthetician – 300 hours
• Manicurist – 150 hours
• Instructor – 3 full-time years in licensed practice

 

Virginia

• Cosmetologist – 1500 hours or 3000 apprenticeship hours
• Barber – 1500 hours
• Hair Braider – 170 hours
• Nail Technician – 150 hours
• Wax Technician – 150 hours
• Esthetician – 600 hours
• Master esthetician – 600 hours

 

Washington

• Cosmetologist – 1600 hours or 2000 apprenticeship hours
• Barber – 1000 hours
• Esthetician – 600 hours
• Manicurist – 600 hours
• Instructor – 500 hours

 

West Virginia

• Cosmetologist – 1800 hours
• Barber – 1500 hours with chemical services, 1200 hours without chemical services
• Master Esthetics – 1200 hours
• Esthetician – 750 hours
• Manicurist – 400 hours
• Instructor – 5 years of licensed practice

 

Wisconsin

• Cosmetologist – 1550 hours or 4000 apprenticeship hours
• Barbering – 1000 hours
• Manicurist – 300 hours
• Esthetician – 450 hours
• Electrologist – 450 hours
• Instructor Trainer – 150 hours and 2000 hours of licensed practice

 

Wyoming

• Cosmetology – 1600 hours
• Barber – 1250 hours with chemical services, 1000 without chemical services
• Nail Technology – 400 hours
• Esthetics – 600 hours
• Instructor – 500 hours