Cosmetology License Fees by State (2026): Exams & Renewals

Last Updated: October 31, 2026

Quick Answer: There is no single U.S. cosmetology license fee. Your budget can include an application charge, examination charges, an initial license charge, and later renewal fees. For example, New York lists a $40 initial application, a $15 written exam, and a $15 practical exam: $70 for those listed items. Alabama separately lists $75 for the written exam, $130 for the practical exam, and $50 for the original license: $255 for those listed items. These are state-specific examples, not a national average or an all-in cost of entering the profession. [NY] [AL]

This guide covers individual cosmetologist licensing in all 50 states, with Alaska’s different license structure and Oregon’s field-of-practice certificates identified separately. It uses only state licensing-board or state-government sources for fee amounts. Some amounts could not be verified from those sources and are marked “Confirm.” This is not a fully priced quote for every state. Washington, D.C., territories, salon licenses, instructor licenses, and most out-of-state transfer routes are outside this table’s scope.

How to Read the State Fee Table

  • Application: the processing or application charge named by the state. A license application is not necessarily an exam registration.
  • Examination: theory, written, practical, or other examination charges that could be verified in state-published material. A blank price has not been filled from a testing-company website or a third-party summary.
  • Initial license: the charge for the first credential, where separately published.
  • Renewal: the state’s published renewal amount. A dollar amount without a term is per renewal, not necessarily per year.
  • Late or restoration: the surcharge, total late-renewal payment, or separate reinstatement process, as labeled.
  • Not itemized: the cited material does not separately price that component. It does not prove the fee is $0.
  • Confirm: an amount, its current applicability, or its separation from another charge was not verified. Ask the board before budgeting a total.

Do not add an amount twice when two columns refer to the same state-published combined charge. Regular fees are shown before individual waivers and any additional processing charges unless noted. Each state name links to its official sources below.

Cosmetology License Fees by State

All amounts are in U.S. dollars. On a phone, swipe horizontally to see the remaining fee columns.

Individual cosmetology licensing fees: official-source review, October 30, 2026
StateApplicationExaminationInitial licenseRenewalLate fee or restoration
AlabamaNot itemized$75 written; $130 practical$50$100 / 2 years+$54
AlaskaN/AN/ANo cosmetology licenseN/AN/A
ArizonaNot itemized$100 written; $77 practical$60; $3 service fee also listed$60 / 2 years; $3 service fee+$30
ArkansasConfirmPractical: up to $65 paid to school; written: ConfirmConfirmConfirm: see Arkansas note50% of renewal under published rule; confirm current base
California$75 combined application/examinationIncluded in the board’s $75 combined charge$50$50 / 2 years+$25
ColoradoConfirmConfirmConfirmConfirm current DORA amountConfirm
Connecticut$100 initial applicationConfirmNot separately itemized$100 / 2 yearsReinstatement: $100; separate from ordinary renewal
DelawareExam-route amount: Confirm; $128 on fee page is reciprocityConfirmConfirmAmount supplied in renewal notice+50% of renewal
Florida$45 initial-examination application on COSMO 1Confirm separate testing chargesConfirm whether any separate issuance charge applies$45 / 2 yearsConfirm
Georgia$30 licensure-by-exam application; processing extraConfirmNot separately itemized$50 / 2 years$100 labeled late renewal within 30 days; confirm inclusion
Hawaii$20Confirm$22 license component; CRF and timing charges extraBoard posts $146 active beauty-operator renewal; confirm applicable cycleBoard posts $171 active beauty-operator restoration; confirm applicable cycle
Idaho$30Confirm$60 / 2-year initial license$30 annual or $60 biennial, as applicableReinstatement: $35
IllinoisLicense fee submitted with application; see initial column$200, effective October 1, 2026$30$25 per year under fee ruleRestoration: $50 plus lapsed renewal fees; see rule’s cap
Indiana$40 individual applicationConfirmNot separately itemized$40 per renewalOrdinary late charge: Confirm; reinstatement after more than 3 years: $80
Iowa$60 application chargeConfirmRule calls the $60 a license fee; no second $60 is itemized$60 / 2 years+$60 during 30-day late-renewal period; later reactivation differs
Kansas$60 practitioner applicationConfirmNot separately itemized$50 on board renewal form$75 late-renewal total; $125 total after more than 6 months, per form
KentuckyNot separately itemized from examination/license charges$85 board examination application; $85 retake; confirm any separate testing charge$50$100 / 2 years, beginning July 2026$50 restoration plus applicable overdue renewal fees
LouisianaNot separately itemized$25 theory; $25 practical$35$35 annuallyExpired-certificate restoration: twice the applicable fee per expired year, capped at $300
MaineConfirmConfirmConfirm$20 annually+$50; after 90 days, new application and an additional $25 penalty may apply
MarylandNot separately itemizedConfirm$28$28 / 2 years+$28 reinstatement; $56 renewal plus reinstatement total
Massachusetts$68 applicationConfirmConfirm any separate issuance charge$68 / 2 years+$57; longer-lapsed licenses follow separate procedures
MichiganIncluded in $63 combined application/license chargeConfirm$63 combined application + 2-year license; do not add another $63$48 / 2 yearsLate charge: Confirm; relicensure application: $83
Minnesota$40Confirm$155$115 / 3 years: $100 license + $15 renewal applicationPractitioner late-renewal penalty: up to $45 under statute
MississippiNot separately itemizedConfirm$50$50 / 2 years+$50 after statutory 60-day period; longer lapses can add charges
MissouriConfirm current initial application/license chargeConfirmConfirm$60 / 2 years in board’s 2025 renewal noticeConfirm current operator reinstatement amount
Montana$80 licensure-by-exam applicationConfirmNot separately itemized$80 / 2 yearsBoard renewal form lists $160 total: $80 renewal + $80 late charge
NebraskaNot separately itemizedConfirm$95 normally; $25 for issuance July–December in even years; waivers may apply$118 / 2 yearsDHHS FAQ lists $153 reinstatement; confirm components
Nevada$15$125 testing fee$70 / 2 years or $140 / 4 years$70 / 2 years or $140 / 4 years+$20 per month, accruing after expiration
New Hampshire$55 combined application processing/licensingWritten: $88; practical: $99Included in the same $55 charge$55 / 2 yearsReinstatement processing/licensing: $55 under Plc 1002.07; eligibility rules apply
New Jersey$50 examination-route applicationConfirm separate testing charges$90 in first year of cycle; $45 in second$90 / 2 years+$30 during allowed late-renewal window; later reinstatement differs
New Mexico$10 application entry on fee page; applicability: ConfirmConfirm$100 original license; FAQ also calls this an application fee$100; FAQ says 2 years, fee page says annual+$40
New York$40 initial application$15 written; $15 practicalNot separately itemized$40 / 4 years+$10 if renewed more than 1 year late
North Carolina$49 in-state initial license applicationConfirmSame $49 charge; do not add again$49 total on 2026 board renewal form / 3-year license; see noteStatute lists $10 late charge; older unpaid cycles can add more
North DakotaNot separately itemizedPractical: $25; theory: Confirm$50$50 per renewalWithin 1 year: $50; individual license 1–5 years: $150, per 2026 schedule
OhioNot separately itemized$40 initial examination$45$65 per renewal+$45
OklahomaConfirm separately applicable application charge$50 examination-for-license entry in rule; other testing charges: Confirm$80 biennial cosmetology license fee under rule$80 / 2 years, effective November 1, 2025Board licensing page lists $10 after more than 2 months; confirm with current notice
Oregon$30 per field of practice$45 per field written exam + $45 laws/rules exam; school practical costs: Confirm$35 per field, original certification$65 / 2-year practitioner certificate+$50 per year inactive, up to 3 years; applicable renewal fees also due
Pennsylvania$26 combined initial application/registrationConfirmIncluded in the same $26 charge$97 / 2 yearsConfirm
Rhode Island$25 application by examinationConfirm testing charges; do not assume application covers vendor testingNot separately itemized$25 per renewalReinstatement: +$25 per lapsed renewal cycle, maximum $100, plus base renewal
South Carolina$45 licensure-by-examination chargeSeparate testing cost: ConfirmNot separately itemized$52 / 2 years$152 published reinstatement charge; do not automatically add $52 again
South DakotaNot separately itemized$120 combined examination + initial operator licenseIncluded in the same $120 combined charge$45 annually+$30 for each lapsed year; overdue renewals also apply
Tennessee$60 initial application/license charge$67 theory; $67 practicalSame $60 charge; do not add again$60 per renewal+$25
Texas$50 license applicationConfirmNot separately itemized from application charge$50 / 2 years$75 late-renewal total if expired less than 18 months; $100 total at 18 months–3 years
Utah$60Confirm current examination chargesNot separately itemized$52 / 2 years+$20 late-renewal fee; separate reinstatement fee also listed
Vermont$120ConfirmNot separately itemized$155 / 2 years+$100 reinstatement penalty within 30 days; escalates thereafter, up to $1,500 penalty
Virginia$120 base application; technology fee extra$99 theory; $95 practicalNot separately itemized$120 base renewal; technology fee extra$240 reinstatement includes $120 renewal + $120 reinstatement; check technology fee separately
WashingtonNot separately itemizedConfirm$35$66 / 2 years$131 late-renewal total, not $131 added to $66
West Virginia$35 first-time registration chargeConfirmSame $35 charge; do not add again$35 annually+$10 per month beginning February 1; cap/long-lapse treatment: see board FAQ
WisconsinNot separately itemizedConfirm$11$11; due March 31 in odd years+$25; long-lapsed renewal can require examination
WyomingNot separately itemizedConfirm current theory/written-practical charges$48 for first-year personal license$48 per year; normally $96 for 2 years after first year, with transition prorationReinstatement: $175 plus applicable lapsed license fees; see eligibility rules

Important State Notes and Conflicting Figures

Alaska and Oregon use different credential structures

Alaska’s board states that it does not offer a cosmetology license; hairdresser and esthetician licenses are separate. Oregon does not issue an umbrella cosmetology certificate. Its listed application and original certification charges apply by field of practice. Neither state should be treated as offering a free, directly comparable cosmetologist license. [AK] [OR]

Arkansas: a temporary reduction ended

Arkansas announces restoration of its full cosmetology renewal fee starting January 1, 2026, after a reduction covering 2024 and 2025. The published rule table still displays $50 biennially. Because the notice does not state a replacement dollar amount, this guide does not assume that $50 is the amount currently collected. Confirm the restored amount with the department. [AR]

Hawaii: the $22 license component is not your whole payment

Hawaii’s beauty-operator application separates a $20 application charge and $22 license component from Compliance Resolution Fund and timing-related charges. The form lists $165 in an even-numbered licensing year and $92 in an odd-numbered year for applicants who have already passed the specified examination. These totals include the application component; do not add another $20. Exam applicants should follow their approval and payment instructions. The board’s renewal page also contains inconsistent cycle wording, so confirm the period covered by its posted renewal and restoration prices. [HI]

Idaho and Kentucky: 2026 changes affect comparisons

Idaho’s board publishes fees effective July 1, 2026, including a separate $30 application fee and $60 original individual license. It lists both annual and biennial renewal amounts. Kentucky moved to biennial renewals beginning July 2026 and lists a $100 individual renewal. Compare the period purchased, not just the payment. [ID] [KY]

New Hampshire: use the current rule, not an older $50 schedule

Current Plc 1002.07 lists $55 for two-year personal-license application processing and licensing, including the specified renewal and reinstatement categories. Plc 1004.03 separately lists $88 for the written exam and $99 for the practical exam. An older OPLC fee PDF lists $50; the current rule is the basis used here. [NH]

New Mexico and North Carolina: official labels need attention

New Mexico’s fee page lists a $100 original cosmetologist license and a separate $10 application entry, while its FAQ calls $100 the application fee. Do not assume both are due without confirmation. The fee page labels renewals annual, but the FAQ says $100 covers two years. [NM]

North Carolina’s July 2026 renewal form lists $49 for a cosmetology license expiring October 1, 2026. The statute lists a $39 three-year cosmetologist license fee and a $10 late charge. This guide reports the board form’s $49 renewal total without inventing an explanation for the difference or calling the difference a processing fee. Ask the board to confirm the itemized amount applicable to your record. [NC]

Virginia: a base fee does not include every current charge

Virginia’s fee rule lists $120 for individual applications and cosmetologist renewals. The board separately announces a technology fee of $7.25 per year effective July 1, 2026. The table keeps the base fee and technology charge separate; confirm the applicable term and final payment on your current application or renewal notice. [VA]

Example: Building a Licensing Budget

Example scenario: A first-time Alabama applicant has completed training and passes each required exam on the first attempt. Using the board’s separately published charges:

ItemAmount
Written examination$75
Practical examination$130
Original license$50
Subtotal for these listed items$255

This is a calculated example, not a reported applicant’s bill. It excludes tuition, supplies, travel, optional services, and any charges not listed in the example. Alabama lists reexaminations at the same published written or practical examination fee, so a failed section would increase the budget. Later renewal is a separate expense. [AL]

Renewal and Late Fees: Avoid Double Counting

Read whether the state quotes an added charge or a complete late-renewal payment. These figures are not interchangeable:

StatePublished treatmentBudgeting implication
California$50 renewal plus $25 delinquency fee$75 for those two charges
Maryland$28 renewal plus $28 reinstatement$56 total for those charges; the fee table’s “Late” figure is not another $56 surcharge
Washington$66 renewal or $131 late renewal$131 is the listed late-renewal total
Texas$50 on time; published late totals are $75 or $100, depending on elapsed timeUse the appropriate late total, rather than adding it to $50

Sources: California, Maryland, Washington, and Texas. Long-expired licenses may require another application, retesting, additional education, or a different restoration process. A payment option for an expired license does not by itself authorize you to work while it is expired.

Costs This Table Does Not Include

The table is a fee reference, not the total cost of cosmetology school or starting a salon. Build a separate budget for any required training, books, tools, examination supplies, continuing education, travel, background documentation, and additional permits. Ask for actual prices rather than treating these items as a standard national allowance.

Also check transaction charges. Arizona’s fee page lists a $3 service fee. Georgia’s linked schedule lists $5 online and $10 paper application processing fees. Utah notes electronic payment processing charges. Virginia’s technology fee is a separate item. These should not be silently folded into a national “license cost.” [AZ] [GA] [UT] [VA]

What to Check Before You Pay

  1. Confirm the credential. Use the cosmetologist category, or the applicable Alaska or Oregon credential, rather than a salon, instructor, esthetician-only, or nail-only category.
  2. Choose the correct route. First-time examination, endorsement, reciprocity, reinstatement, and military pathways may carry different charges.
  3. Ask for the itemized amount. Identify application, testing, initial issuance, and mandatory surcharges separately.
  4. Check the dates. Verify the fee’s effective date, the license term purchased, and your next renewal date.
  5. Check examination coverage. Ask which sections are included, whether each attempt costs extra, and who collects payment.
  6. Keep the confirmation. Save the application receipt and the notice showing any combined charges.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a cosmetology application fee the same as an exam fee?

Not necessarily. New Jersey separately lists a $50 examination-route application and an initial license fee. California explicitly combines its board application and examination charge. Follow the labels used by your state. [NJ] [CA]

Why are some examination prices marked “Confirm”?

This guide only uses state-board or state-government fee sources. When a current testing amount was not verified there, it was left unpriced instead of imported from a vendor website or an unofficial summary. “Confirm” does not mean free.

Does a renewal fee buy a full year?

Not always. Maine renews annually, California uses a two-year term, and Minnesota’s practitioner fees cover three years. Initial terms and fixed renewal calendars can also change what your first payment buys. [ME] [CA] [MN]

Can an initial license fee be reduced or waived?

Sometimes. Nebraska’s application provides fee-waiver categories and a lower issuance fee for July through December of even-numbered years. Check eligibility and documentation rather than assuming the standard amount applies to everyone. [NE]

Does paying for the exam guarantee that I can start working?

No. Follow the board’s approval and licensing instructions. Wyoming, for example, says the license must be in hand before working after examinations. [WY]

Are transfer fees included in this comparison?

The table focuses on first-time licensing and ordinary renewal. Transfer routes should be checked separately. Delaware’s published $128 cosmetologist reciprocity application fee is identified as a different route, not substituted for an unverified first-time examination-route charge. [DE]

Your Next Step

Find your state, separate each charge, and check any combined fee before adding a total. The most important variables are your application route, the examinations required, the term purchased, and whether the license has expired. Use the linked state source to confirm the amount due for your own record.

Official State Sources

Reviewed October 30, 2026. Every fee amount above comes from a state licensing board or state-government publication. A review date is not the publication date of every document. Revision or effective dates are identified where available. Older documents currently linked by a board are labeled as such; unresolved amounts remain marked “Confirm.”

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