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How to become a cosmetologist: license rules in every state

Each state sets its own rules for cosmetologists. Pick a state for who issues the license, training and exam rules, fees and the steps, all from official state sources.

StateState licenseTerm
AlabamaYes2 years; expires the last day of the lic
AlaskaYes2 years (biennial license period)
ArizonaYes2 years; renew on or before your birthda
ArkansasYes2 years; expires on the licensee's birth
CaliforniaYes2 years; renewal extends from the previo
ColoradoYesOfficial page states: "All Cosmetologist
ConnecticutYes2 years; expires per CGS 19a-88 (renewal
DelawareYes2 years; expires October 31 of each even
District of ColumbiaYesCosmetology licenses expire April 15 of
FloridaYes2 years; licenses expire October 31 of a
GeorgiaYesMaster cosmetologist licenses expire Mar
HawaiiYesLicenses expire December 31 of each odd-
IdahoYesNew licenses are issued for at least 2 y
IllinoisYes2 years; all cosmetologist licenses expi
IndianaYes4 years; licenses expire on a date set b
IowaYes2 years; the renewal period runs April 1
KansasYes2 years; the license expires two years f
KentuckyYesBiennial; beginning July 2026 renewals o
LouisianaYesRenewed on or before the licensee's date
MarylandYesTwo years from the date of issuance
MichiganYes2 years
MinnesotaYes3 years; individual licenses expire on t
MississippiYes2 years (renewed biennially); no renewal
MissouriYesBiennial; all licenses expire September
MontanaYesBiennial; individual licenses renew Janu
NebraskaYesBiennial; cosmetologist licenses expire
NevadaYes2 or 4 years (licensee chooses), expirin
New HampshireYes2 years from date of issuance (RSA 310:8
New JerseyYesBiennial (2-year) licensing cycle
New MexicoYes2 years; licenses expire on the last day
New YorkYes4 years
North CarolinaYes3 years; cosmetologist licenses renew on
North DakotaYesAnnual; all personal licenses expire Dec
OhioYes
OklahomaYesTwo years; practitioner licenses expire
OregonYesTwo years; certificate becomes inactive
PennsylvaniaYes2 years; licenses expire January 31 of a
Rhode IslandYesTwo years; licenses expire September 30
South CarolinaYesTwo years (biennial); licenses expire Ma
South DakotaYesAnnual; due on or before the licensee's
TennesseeYesTwo years
TexasYes2 years from the date of issue
UtahYesTwo years; licenses expire September 30
VermontYesTwo years (fixed biennial period; renews
VirginiaYes2 years; expires two years from the last
WashingtonYes2 years
West VirginiaYesOne year; individual licenses renew annu
WisconsinYes2 years; renew by March 31 of odd-number
WyomingYes2 years